When cross-country practice began at Greene County High School last week there were nine girls and six boys out for the sport. The total of 15 participants is about half of what coach Kelly Simpson has been used to in recent seasons, but he said he wasn’t surprised by fewer student-athletes. “We saw this coming. We had a large and outstanding senior class last year that graduated and we have just one freshman and only one junior out this year. We’ll try to turn that into a positive with Coach Pat (Gearhart) and myself we now have two coaches for 15 kids instead of two for 30, so we can give more individual attention to those that are out.”

The Rams open the 2015 season on Thursday, Aug. 27 in Ames on the Iowa State University course for the Gilbert Invitational.