Grand Junction High School - Tiger Yearbook (Grand Junction, CO)

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Girls Cross Country — Front Row: Tiina Paloncn, Michelle Smith, Lora Heyl, Wendy Rigler. Kylie Howard, Lara Bull; 2nd Row: Coach Larry Ingram, Sarah Morgan. Jennifer Langland, Michelle Paredes. Jill Shenkel, Megan Coit, Coach Ned Pollert. Junior Megan Coit keeps up a steady pace. Juniors Megan Coit and Michelle Paredes race Fruita runners to the Finish. Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Ned Pollert Ned Pollert Junior Jill Shenkel gives it her all. Photo courtesy of Ned Pollert Finish A Winning Season

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Girls Cross Country By Cindy Radebaugh The girls cross country team finished a winning season in style. They took second at state and district meets. At the state meet they missed first place by only one point, When we found out we had lost by one point, we were all upset. But, then we decided that there's always next year,' stated junior Michelle Smith. Led by the team captain junior Jill Shenkel, they finished first at every regular season meet they attended. Shenkel was the Individual Champion in the South Western League competition and the State Individual runner-up. The girls did their best to repeat as state champions. They handled the stress and pressures of trying to repeat with calmness and a matter-of-factness that is only found in true champions, said Coach Pol-lert. Through the entire season the girls approached cross country with a positive attitude and gave each meet their best effort. Freshman Lora Heyl shows her determination to win. Photo courtesy of Ned Pollen Junior Michelle Smith picks up speed at Tiara Rado. Photo counesy of Ned Pollen Juniors Jill Shenkel and Michelle Paredes share a smile after another victory. Photo counesy of Ned Pollen Exchange student Tiina Paloncn skids a corner at Tiara Rado. Photo counesy of Ned Pollen Girls Cross Country MEET PLACE TF.AMS Arapahoe Invitational 1 30 Dual-Palisade 1 3 Cherry Creek Invitational 1 11 Cortez Invitational 1 9 Aurora Invitational 1 19 Montrose Invitational 1 9 District SI Invitational 1 19 Pueblo Invitational 1 18 SWL Meet 2 7 State Meet 2 28 Senior Sarah Morgan runs circles around her opponents. Photo counesy of Ned Pollen 22

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Matt Thyer, freshman, crosses the finish line. Photo courtesy of Ned Pollen. Sophomore Ron Salazar sprints to the finish. Photo counesy of Ned Pollen. Running Strong By Jason Raser The boys cross country team, despite the fact that most of its members were underclassmen, ran well and placed second in the district competition held at Tiara Rado Golf Course. Ron Salazar, a sophomore, ran extremely well and was the team’s top runner. Salazar placed 4th at the district meet and took the 24th position in individual competition at the state level. Senior Matt Lee followed right behind Salazar as the second place runner and James Ricks, another sophomore, took the third place position on the team. Coach Ned Pollert was a real inspiration to the team this year. Ned's a lot of encouragement,” said Salazar, he's the man behind the team.” They placed behind the 1st place team of Durango and ahead of Moffet County's 3rd place team. Cortez, Montrose, Central and Fruita teams followed in that order. This year's sophomores will make GJHS the team to beat for the next two years, for they are very strong. 24