Entering its fourth year, the Dolores cross-country program is still young.
But it's growing.
Last year, head coach Nick Kohler had around 10 runners out for cross country, and to start the 2015 season he has 16.
As for the middle school teams, there are two girls and seven boys out.
While the girls cannot score as a team with only two members, Kohler hopes for them to do well individually.
But he believes the boys' middle school team will be strong.
"I want these middle school boys to be in the top three as a team everywhere we go," he said.
The high school teams are built similarly. The girls' team is comprised of seniors Teegan Hite and Kit Kelly. Although it is the first time running cross-country for each of them, Kohler believes their track experience will translate, and he envisions big things for Hite.
"I think she'll go, and be all-state," Kohler said of the senior. "I think you've got to be top 15 at state to be all-state, and I think she's got that much talent."
The boys' high school squad is young, but the head coach isn't worried.
"As freshman, you don't know how they'll do," Kohler said. "But our four freshman are very good."
"I think Brennan Hite and Phillip Hufman, those two, I don't know if they have a chance to go to state because they're freshmen," Kohler said. "But they will be going I bet you by next year. And they're going to do well and place well in all the meets we go to."
Brennan Hite, Phillip Hufman, Cael McHenry and Andrew Primeau are the four freshmen, and junior Tristan Holgate is the final member of the Bears' group.
The team will head to Monticello for the Lloyd's Lake Classic on Wednesday, September 2 for their season-opening meet.
