Westfield’s Ben Doiron (wearing bib # 746) competes in an indoor track meet last season. He will factor heavily for WHS on the cross country trails this fall. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – We’ve seen it time and time again. A team reaches the pinnacle of success, only to plunge into the murky depths of mediocrity the next season due to defections of all kinds. It afflicted the Chicago Bulls following the (second) retirement of Michael Jordan and the Denver Broncos post-John Elway.
On a smaller scale, the hope around the Whip City’s cross-country faithful is that the defending western Mass. champion Bombers will be able to remain competitive following a mythical undefeated season and the loss of both western Mass. Coach of the Year Dana Geis and the top three runners in last year’s sectional meet, Blake Croteau, Tim Dostie, and Matt Jacobson, who have moved on to the collegiate ranks at UMass-Amherst (Croteau and Dostie) and Bowdoin College of Brunswick, Maine (Jacobsen).
“We’ve lost four of our top seven runners,” said Rich Doiron, who, while entering his first season as Bombers head man, is no stranger to coaching elite runners, having spent several seasons prior coaching at Westfield State University.
Of the top three runners set to don Bomber black and red this season, Doiron believes juniors Ben Doiron and Cheyenne Grabiec, and senior Liam Flaherty, will be asked to shoulder a considerable load to keep the squad above water.
While the preseason crop of fifteen runners may seem small, Doiron is positive that more runners will join the Bombers’ squad as the school year gets closer.
“A lot of kids work summer jobs, so we may end up with more boys on the squad,” said Doiron. “We’re hoping to just pack as many runners as possible (onto the course).”
Coming off of a dominant season only heightens expectations. The Bombers will move up a division this year, and will now face the likes of perennial powers Ludlow, Minnechaug and Northampton. However, Doiron isn’t worried in the slightest about the top of his roster.
“Our top two will have a shot against the best in the division, which will ease the transition from losing those seniors,” Doiron said of Grabiec and his son. “Our two frontrunners will be among the best in the division.”
When asked of his personal expectations for the season, Doiron believes that his harriers will be competitive but perhaps won’t go undefeated.
“I’m hoping for .500,” he said. “I think we’ll be competitive. We’re going to take it race by race.”
