At a time when casual observers would expect Brentsville District to struggle during the sports year, the boys and girls cross country teams are setting out to prove that running is still the school's bread and butter.

Typically, Brentsville fields well over 100 runners at the start of each season for cross country. Last year, 120 students tried out.

This year, the roster is down to 75.

Previous teams have also been loaded with experienced, upper-class talent. And while this year's squads still have age and running time behind them, there are few varsity returners ready to run as seniors.

For head coach Darrell Earman, that means he's shifting his strategy to relying on his veterans to teach the routine things to doing it himself.

"Go back and re-teach things" is the way Earman put it. After 27 years on the job, "I got complacent," Earman admits.

Yet, even as underdogs, he expressed that the Tigers still are expecting nothing short of reaching the podium at states, at least for the boys team.

"We're not just satisfied with getting to the state meet. We want to place at the state meat," said the coach.

While that may seem like a lofty goal, to Earman, the key is not to lower expectation for a team that has racked up more state titles than any other program in Brentsville history.

That said, Region II is known for its tough competition.

"We're in the region of death," said Earman, noting how last year's team earned a number seven ranking in the state but still could only make it to fifth in the region.

Senior Alan Komiscarik and juniors Mike Blair, Kyle King and Griffin Peters are among leading the Brentsville boys' A team this fall while junior Haley Ruiz and senior Lindsey Bradshaw have top billing for the girls.

In the case of the leading boys, they've all been in the program at least three years. Meanwhile, Bradshaw is the only varsity runner for the girls who has prior post-season district experience.

Given her role on the team, that also means she is expected to set an example for the up-and-coming runners.

"I don't think I've ever seen her in a bad mood in two years," said Earman of Bradshaw. "She's a workaholic... She would literally work herself to death if I let her."

There are also some new faces joining the Brentsville A-listers this year, though they have prior running experience. Blair is a state-caliber 800-meter runner in track while Tom Blair excels in the 400-meter events. Mitch Catron, a senior transfer student from Germany, has field experience in hurdling.

Meanwhile, sophomore Corey Tooke has run for most of his life, according to Earman, and should be a top talent this year. He earned the Tigers top spot on September 3 at the Chancellor Invitational with Mike Blair seconds behind him.

"So every kid in our program expects to win," he said.

Earman's tallied about 15 girls that have a reasonable shot at making the top seven throughout the year while the boys have a solid 10.

On top for the girls, the junior Ruiz could truly light up the field this year if she stays in top running shape this season.

"She's probably, in my 27 years of coaching, one of the most talented young ladies I've had," said Earman.

If she and other Brentsville runners stay healthy and adopt the relentless training style of Bradshaw, the Tiger girls could pull a big surprise this year, especially given that at least six of them are running within 20 seconds of each other in the top eight positions.

Potentially joining Ruiz and Bradshaw on the A squad are Gillian Lowe, Shannon Pascucci, Maria Ulisse and Izzy Longenecker among a host of others on a list that includes freshmen and juniors alike.

Earman said his hope is that the team's work ethic propels them back to the top spots at districts, regions and states this year while all the early-season attention is on other Group AA schools throughout the state.

"We're harder on ourselves than anybody else could be," he said.