Junior Michael Butero, left, and senior Eric Kroon will be two of the top runners for The Woodlands this season.

Motivated by a string of injuries and a less-than-desirable finish at the state meet last year, The Woodlands has been working hard this offseason to storm back and claim supremacy over the local cross-country scene.

 

Coach Juris Green knows his team will be facing quite the challenge at the district, regional and state levels, but with the proud tradition of Highlanders’ program lingering through the school’s athletic halls, this year’s expectations will not be tapered.

“Our expectations are high — they always are,” Green said. “They’re maybe higher than some people around us think they should be, but we have always, historically, over-produced at times when people didn’t think we could.”

Junior Michael Butero is the top returner for The Woodlands after finishing ninth at the District 14-5A meet and 11th at the Region II-5A meet last season. He returns alongside Matt Henderson, who took 16th at the district meet. Seniors Eric Kroon and Javier Arana, who won the junior varsity district title last year, will also be called upon to contribute. click here for complete story