(Photo by Trish Dorn)
The Estero Lady Wildcats (pictured alongside the boys team) won four cross country state championships in a row from 2010-2013. In 2014, the team finished 9th. Tragedy struck at the state meet in March, when long-time coach Jeff Sommer collapsed and passed away. The loss of Sommer has been hard on the program, but through it all the kids have stuck by each other's side (Sommer Strong) and competed in Sommer Camp, a grueling training based program. We caught up with Coach Ben Pignantone to talk about the upcoming season and outlook for his team.
How did your team fare last season and what did you take away from 2014?
The team finished up 2014 as best they could, overall they placed 9th at the state meet. We had a couple girls quit or ineligible which made 2014 quite the roller coaster. I am beyond pleased with the effort they put forth last year.
How is the team looking this year?
The team is starting to meld as the summer comes to a close. Summer time is always a tough time for any sport let alone XC. Vacations, injuries, relationships, jobs and much more.
What are your tentative top five and top seven?
It is still pretty early to tell who the top 7 runners will be. I am just ecstatic that we have enough girls for a "top" 7.
What are the strengths of this team?
One big strength that our team has is the experience at the big meets. The younger kids really look up to the older kids for guidance and leadership. Having a few girls on the team with state championship caliber helps mold the upcoming kids of the future. They are all great kids, I love them to death.
What has the training been like?
We typically do not go to camps. However we are always trying new things and new exercises to help make our athletes bullet proof for the fall. Training has not changed much since previous years. We still do hard intervals, we still do boot camps, and we still run long. There is no substitute for hard work.
Any new additions who may contribute or surprise non-returners?
Biggest surprise are our younger kids that have really stepped it up. They have a lot of heart and have been busting their butt all summer. I can’t wait to see them give our older kids a run for their money.
What are the team goals and meets you're keying for this year?
Pre State and flrunners.com Invitational are two big meets we are going to. They are first class all the way and always bring in the toughest competition. We feel honored running at these type of races and they always put on such a great event. A couple goals for the season are to be able to compete with the big schools and hopefully make it back to States.
2014 Returner's Top Times
| Girls 5,000 Meter Run | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:45.00 | Salcedo, Breeana | Foot Locker South Regional | 2014-11-29 |
| 19:03.10 | Cline, Daley | FHSAA Cross Country State Finals | 2014-11-15 |
| 19:05.00 | Giovanniello, Megan | Foot Locker South Regional | 2014-11-29 |
| 19:35.20 | Adams, Olivia | North Port XC Invitational | 2014-09-20 |
Girls 3,200 Meter Run | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:48.21 | Giovanniello, Megan | Lee County Athletic Conference Championships (LCAC) | 2015-03-21 |
| 11:55.17 | Cline, Daley | Lady Tarpon Invitational | 2015-03-05 |
| Girls 1,600 Meter Run | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:06.80 | Cline, Daley | FSU Relays | 2015-03-27 |
| 5:10.04 | Giovanniello, Megan | Pepsi Florida Relays | 2015-04-02 |
| 5:21.05 | Salcedo, Breeana | FSU Relays | 2015-03-27 |
| 5:47.43 | Barrosa, Abigal | 2nd Annual Loretta Purish Invitational | 2015-02-24 |
| 5:48.61 | Goll, Alayna | FSU Relays | 2015-03-27 |
Team Analysis
The Wildcats have a dominant 1-2 punch in Cline (pictured above) and Salceedo who finished inside the top 15 at last year's meet and and have run 5:10 or lower in the 1,600m. If Giovanniello and Adams are up to form, this is a solid and experienced group. Estero sits at number five in our 3A team rankings. Although it's unlikely, they catch neighboring Fort Myers or Chiles, a third place finish at state is a definite possibility, as is a regional runner-up trophy.
Coach Pignatone's Final Thoughts
"Since the passing of coach it has been tough on everybody but the kids have stuck by each other's sides and that is what I am most proud of. We are like family. The parent support is unbelievable and the kids care about each other. The summer flew by and we hope that we can compete this year."