GAMES
RANKINGS
The 2023 All-VYPE Girls Cross Country Team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Another year on the trails is in the books, and it was surely one to remember.
The Houston competitors were a force to be reckoned with, as dozens of representatives made their mark in their respective state meets.
In the private school sector, Episcopal was as dominant as ever. After six of their runners finished in the top-20 -- including the first and second-place winners -- the Knights would go on to win their third-consecutive SPC-4A championship. Additionally, the St. Agnes Tigers took bronze in the TAPPS-6A competition.
Moving on to the public school scene, The Woodlands featured three racers who ended up in the top-40 out of over 150 competitors, which earned the Highlanders a third-place finish in the Class 6A meet. Shortly after, Kingwood would take the No. 5 overall spot.
With all that in mind, it's time to announce the 2023 All-VYPE Girls Cross Country team presented by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
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All-VYPE Private School Team
First-Team
Olivia Kiefer, Episcopal
Averi Garrity, St. John XXIII
Theodora Popovic, St. John’s
Sophie Da Silva, St. Agnes
Julianne Carr, LPCA
McKayla Childs, Houston Christian
Georgia “Gigi” Bass, Episcopal
Zoe Calimani, TWCA
Maya Bernal, Kinkaid
Mackenna Bessler, Bay Area Christian
Second-Team
Ryleigh Leo, St. Agnes
Tori Walton, Kinkaid
Tahira King, John Cooper School
Rebekah Gerard, Houston Christian
Shepherd Gregg, Episcopal
Marin Goebel, St. Agnes
Hayes Watson, LPCA
Maddy Billip, Kinkaid
Milla Signorelli, John Cooper School
Megan Groeschel, Concordia Lutheran
Third-Team
Sarah Wheeler, St. Pius X
Elaina Formica, TWCA
Asher Luengas, Episcopal
Sarah Haglin, LPCA
Madeline Lara, St. Agnes
Alexis Seymour, John Cooper School
Palmer Popov, Episcopal
Kate Holden, Incarnate Word Academy
Bentley Shoulders, Concordia Lutheran
Julie Arrazolo, Logos Prep
Honorable Mention
Sidney Arnold, FBCA
Mia Fulton, Lutheran South
Sara Griffin, Second Baptist
Calleigh Richardson, St. John XXIII
Lydia Ward, Lutheran South
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All-VYPE Public School Team
First-Team
Felicity Hamilton, Klein Cain
Lily Fawcett, Bridgeland
Stoya Laydevant, The Woodlands
Claudia Klander, Mayde Creek
Alexis Garza, Tomball Memorial
Julia Shimel, Kingwood
Jamie Klander, Mayde Creek
Naomi Weller, The Woodlands
Maddy Hunter, Katy
Valerie Haros, Magnolia West
Second-Team
Liliana Campos, Oak Ridge
Laney Nash, Tomball
Haley Hill, Bridgeland
Marian Mann, Klein
Lexi Cooper, The Woodlands
Clara Dye, Kingwood
Naimh Collins, Stratford
Elina Bailey, Kingwood Park
Rowan Saacke, Clear Falls
Eliana Contreras, Kingwood
Honorable Mention
Penelope Rios, La Porte
Kaitlyn Gale, Clear Falls
Summer Cali, Atascocita
Brooke Marshall, Lake Creek
Mary Van Dyke, Kingwood
Rebecca Wylie, Klein Cain
Bissinatt Abdelasis, Alief Elsik
THE 411: Dejesus prepares to go the distance for Lee cross
WHEN IT COMES TO LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING, AN INDIVIDUAL SUCCEEDS OUT OF SHEER WILL AND ENDURANCE.
Fortunately for Baytown Lee, one of their premier cross country runners –senior Lesly Dejesus – has endurance to spare.
Coming off a 2022 season in which she advanced to the UIL Area Meet, Dejesus intends to step up her game this Fall with a reinvigorated confidence to surpass her goals.
This is the 411, where we get a more in-depth look at Lee senior Lesly Dejesus.
VYPE: What made you get into cross country?
DEJESUS: “Well, I first got into cross country starting in elementary school. Other people might have hated the Pacer Test, but it really unlocked my passion for running and I’ve kept up with it ever since.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
VYPE: Has that passion gotten stronger as you’ve improved?
DEJESUS:“Yes. I really have to give credit to my coaches. They support every decision we make and have pushed us to our limits, which is something that is necessary in this sport.”
VYPE:What are your goals for this year?
DEJESUS: “My goal is to advance to Regionals. I missed out on the Regionals by one spot a year ago. That was mostly because I lacked confidence, but now I trust in the training I’ve been put through and I know what I’m capable of.”
Some of the stars of 2023-24 Baytown Lee Cross CountryJamey Wright (VYPE)
VYPE: Take me through a day in your training life.
DEJESUS: “I really only train on the weekends. That consists of my long runs. So, I will wake up at 5 am and get ready to run. I mostly choose treadmills nowadays because of the heat, but after that, I make sure to re-hydrate and refuel.”
VYPE: What do you want to do in the future?
DEJESUS: “Right now, my goals are to become a teacher and coach for track and cross country.”
VYPE:What do you like to do outside of the sport? What’s something people might not know about you?
DEJESUS: “Well, I really like to bake during some of my free time. It’s also fun to try new recipes and see what I can create."