Achieving both goals for Roger Haynes’ charges will require copious amounts of hard work. The ninth-year cross county coach says both teams have returned to campus with the right attitude to achieve those goals.

"We talk about academic and athletic goals," said Haynes. "The classroom work is significant to them as a group, and that’s a good sign. Athletically, we’re shooting to have as many all-conference runners as we can."

The Fighting Scots men and women return a combined five of six all-conference runners from last season. The men’s squad is a bit shorter on numbers but high on quality, returning three of their four all-conference performers – senior Damon Bautista and juniors Brad Begyn (Rock Island, Ill./Rock Island) and Clay Staley (Hanna City, Ill./Illini Bluffs).

"Brad had a really good summer," reported Haynes of Begyn, who had the early lead over Staley as the team’s top runner. "He ran well in the Bix race. Clay had seven weeks of Marine Corps training, so he didn’t get the amount of road work in he would have liked to, but he did get a lot of fitness training."

Staley, who just missed a national berth last year, has historically been a fast starter in the early portions of races but has tended to fade in the last few miles, so he could reap the benefits of the summer’s Marine training.

"Clay needed to gain a little more strength," said Haynes. "He starts strong, but needs to be better at the finish."

Sophomores Tim Bentz (Dixon, Ill./Dixon), Matt Peharda (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods), Scott Sheller (Morton, Ill./Morton) and Craig Maher (Oak Lawn, Ill./Oak Lawn) had "solid" summer workouts in preparation for the fall season. "Talented" freshman Jonathan Welty (Dixon, Ill./Sterling Newman), who played football in high school, will dedicate his collegiate fall season to cross country and is projected to be among the Scots’ points scorers.

The women return their top seven from last season. Sophomore Mary Kate Beyer (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) and junior Katie Staab (Batavia, Ill./Batavia), who were both All-MWC runners a year ago, lead the pack and are joined by juniors Kaile Schreiner (Dixon, Ill./Newman Central Catholic), Briana Flynn (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley), Amy Aghababian (St. Charles, Ill./Burlington Central) and Jayme Ayers (Normal, Ill./West) and sophomore Whitney Didier (Dixon, Ill./Dixon). Like Staley for the men, Beyer narrowly missed last year’s national meet.

"Mary Kate is just the opposite of Clay," said Haynes. "She has been very consistent over the course of the race. We need her to get out a little bit faster at the start."

The Scots expect newcomers Taryn Tang (East Moline, Ill./United Township), a junior with no collegiate experience but who has performed well during summer road races, and freshman Ashley Szabo (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) to contribute. Tang’s summer performances have her tabbed as a possible top five runner.

Haynes’ women should get a boost from sophomore Brooke Potendyk (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria), who missed last season due to injury. Once back in cross country shape, Potendyk will add to the Scots’ already deep stable of women harriers.

"We think the addition of Tang, Szabo and Potendyk will make a big difference," projected Haynes.

When the MWC championship meet rolls around, Haynes is hoping his teams will be reaching its peak.

"We need to narrow the gap in our pack times," claimed Haynes. "We’ve been pretty strong in the front, but not as good in the 3-7 as we would like to be."

With a little extra work on the course and in the classroom, the Scots could be in position to achieve their academic and athletic goals while embodying the ideal of the true student-athlete.