Champion MDCA looks to reload

What’s next for the Bulldogs?

Following two dominant years as, arguably, the top boys cross country team in the state — a claim supported with back-to-back Class 1A state championships — Mount Dora Christian Academy will have to replace three of its top six runners off last year’s title team.

Gabe Curtis — who won two individual titles in the last three years, including last year — along with Mitchell Prium and Sebastian DeLeon have graduated. Curtis, who also won at 3,200 meters and finished second at 1,600 in the Class 1A state track and field finals, earned a scholarship to run cross country and track at Florida State University.

However, the loss of three key runners doesn’t mean the Bulldogs’ run of excellence has come to an end.

Truth by told, MDCA coach Zach White still has a considerable amount of talent and experience at his disposal.

For starters, Curtis’ brother, Mitchell, is back. Now a junior, Mitchell finished 15th at last year’s cross country finals with a time of 16 minutes, 49.55 seconds — about 57 seconds off the pace set by his brother.

In addition, Thomas Valente, who finished 36th, and Nikolas Gibson, who finished 58th, return.

Among the girls, Montverde Academy looks to be a local powerhouse. The Eagles have three underclassmen — sophomores Lily Henne and Ryleigh Sperry along with junior Kendyl Cardwell —who finished in the top 19 in last year’s Class 2A finals.

Tavares and The Villages also could be a factor among Class 2A girls.

The Florida High School Athletic Association Cross Country state championships are scheduled for Nov. 9 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Boys and Girls

Class 4A-District 2

East Ridge, Apopka, DeLand, Orlando Evans, Flagler Palm Coast, Oviedo Hagerty, Altamonte Springs Lake Brantley, Winter Park Lake Howell, Lake Mary, Longwood Lyman, Ocoee, Oviedo, Sanford Seminole, Port Orange Spruce Creek, Orange City University, Apopka Wekiva, Winter Garden West Orange

Notes: The Knights move from District 3, where the girls finished second, but struggled to a 15th place finish in regionals. The boys were third in districts and 14th in regionals in 2018.

Class 3A-District 2

Leesburg, Deltona, Jacksonville Englewood, Daytona Beach Mainland, Palm Coast Matanzas, Middleburg, New Smyrna Beach, Orange Park, Deltona Pine Ridge, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park Ridgeview, Jacksonville Robert E. Lee, Daytona Beach Seabreeze, St. Augustine, Jacksonville Stanton, Jacksonville Terry Parker, Jacksonville Westside

Notes: The Yellow Jackets competed in District 5. Kareena Gladis recorded a 32nd-place finish in last year’s Class 3A girls state finals for Leesburg, while William Troupe finished 47th for the boys.

Class 3A-District 4

Lake Minneola, South Lake, Auburndale, Palm Bay Bayside, Orlando East River, Melbourne Eau Gallie, Orlando Edgewater, Kissimmee Gateway, Harmony, Palm Bay, Heritage, Orlando Jones, Eagle Lake Lake Region, Lake Wales, Kissimmee Liberty, Merritt Island, Melbourne Palm Bay, Rockledge, Winter Springs

Notes: The Lake Minneola girls will have to replace Cadi Rowe, who finished 19th in last year’s Class 4A state finals. South Lake’s Alexander Croy was 55th for the boys.

Class 2A-District 3

Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, The Villages, Port Orange Atlantic, Inverness Citrus, Crescent City, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Gainesville Eastside, Interlachen, Keystone Heights, Citra North Marion, Gainesville P.K. Yonge, Palatka, Pierson Taylor, Ocala Trinity Catholic, Williston

Notes: Tavares girls team got contributions in last year’s Class 3A state finals. Chablis Shreffler with 49th, while Savannah Schwab was 51st. Adrianna Montalvo (72nd) and Kaycie Whitaker (149th) also broke the tape in the finals. The Villages girls finished 15th as a team in last year’s finals, led by Rebecca Clark, who finished second.

Class 2A-District 4

Montverde Academy, Titusville Astronaut, Clewiston, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Belle Isle Cornerstone Charter, Merritt Island, Edgewood, Orlando Lake Highland Prep, Fort Pierce Lincoln Park, Melbourne Central Catholic, Pahokee, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Space Coast, Titusville, Winter Park Trinity Prep, Melbourne West Shore, Windermere Prep

Notes: Montverde Academy’s girls finished third in last year’s finals. The Eagles were led by Lily Henne, who finished fourth overall, and had five runners earn points.

Class 1A-District 3

First Academy of Leesburg, Mount Dora Christian Academy, Wildwood, Bell, Branford, Cedar Key, Chiefland, Daytona Beach Father Lopez, High Springs First Christian, Winter Garden Foundation Academy, Ocala Meadowbrook, Gainesville Oak Hall, Lecanto Seven Rivers Christian, Gainesville St. Francis, Ocala St. John Lutheran, Trenton

Notes: In addition to the boys’ overpowering performance at last year’s finals — the Bulldogs finished 85 points ahead of the second-place team — the MDCA girls finished 24th. Brianna Hall led the way for MDCA’s girls with a 42nd-place finish.