The Northwestern boys cross country team finished fourth in the Colonial League last season without a senior in its top 10.

With all of the key runners from that team returning this year, and some young talent added to the lineup, the Tigers are planning to pick up where they left off last season.

“They’re hungry,” said Northwestern head coach Chris Stitzel, who is entering his 21st season as head coach. “I think we can make some noise in leagues and districts.”

Junior RJ Zack returns after leading the team with his top 20 finishes at leagues and districts last year. Returning senior Joe Pleban and junior Cole Chukoskie both finished in the top 30 at districts last year, helping their team to a fourth-place finish at in District 11 Class 2A, where they were only one point behind Jim Thorpe and five points behind second-place Notre Dame (Green Pond).

The Tigers also have some freshmen who were among the top runners in preseason time trials. Ninth-graders Matt Santana and Sam Bower could be two of the team’s top runners this year, along with classmates Zack Santana and Will Gruen.

Returning senior Matt Boushell and junior Joseph Chukoskie are also likely to be part of the team’s top seven this season.

“This year it’s the boy’s side that’s deep,” said Stitzel. “I had four guys within 20 seconds of each other [at the preseason time trial]. I can go 8, 9 or 10 deep on the boy’s side this year. And we’re pretty young. A lot of the freshmen are stepping up.

“I’m really excited. I think we’ll be solid for the next couple years.”

The rest of the roster includes seniors Tom Bell, Jaden Derr, Rhys Fenstermaker, Scott Dillon and Tate Emmanuel; junior Jared Stitzel; sophomores Joshua Heilman, Nathan Peters, Zachary Leith, Nathan Peters, Carter Smith and Nathan Vincent; and freshmen Owen Leibovitz, Carson Mesics and Matthew Shuhay.

The Tigers will open the season at the Moravian Academy Invitational, Aug. 30. Their first Colonial League meet is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Salisbury.