Last year was the rebuilding year. This is the year to get it done.
With a team that is talented, experienced, well-bonded, essentially injury-free, and so deep that Coach Connie Putnam simply could not stop rattling off names of potential contributors, the men's cross country team is poised to have one of its most successful seasons ever, and they know it.
"There's a certain confidence among the guys, even coach," senior co-captain Peter Bromka said. "We expect to be really good."
The Jumbos return 12 of their top 13 runners and both co-captains from last year's team, which finished sixth in New England.
"We're definitely very comfortable with each other," sophomore Matt Lacey said. "It's like last year's team, only we're in better shape and more experienced."
Leading the team is junior All-American Nate Brigham.
"He's a killer front runner," Putnam said, "And when he gets a low number at the top of the pack, it lets us race four on five against the other teams."
Right behind him are Lacey and "his partner in crime," sophomore Neil Orfield. Both runners finished among the top seven at last weekend's Hayseed Classic. Fellow classmates Kyle Doran and Mike Cummings could also play a role.
But while talent is crucial, all good teams need senior leadership. Unlike last year's team, which lost four seniors out of its top seven to graduation in 2002, this team has five solid fourth years: Peter Jurczynski, James Lamoureux, two-time co-captains Bromka and Jon Rosen, and Ian Joseph. Joseph finished first on the team in the Alumni Race after he worked over the summer to get into what Putnam called "the best shape of his life."
Brigham, Lacey, Bromka, Rosen, Cummings, Orfield, Joseph, and Jurczynski all had at least two top five finishes last year.
That roster does not even include juniors Brian MacNamara and Mike Don, who were injured last season after racing in Nationals as freshmen, nor does it mention Rochester Institute of Technology transfer sophomore Matt Fortin. If that wasn't enough talent, the Jumbos also boast a deep freshman class, highlighted by Josh Kennedy and Dan Sullivan. Simply put, this team is stacked.
"There's going to be ten quality runners who won't even run varsity," junior Mike Don said. "We basically have three varsity teams."
While that might cause a problem on some teams, it will not for the Jumbos.
"Last year we tried to build as much team energy and chemistry as possible," Bromka said. "And we carried that into this year, because we know we can fire on all cylinders."
The NCAA coaches recognized the Jumbos' potential in their Sept. 10 poll, voting Tufts #12 in the nation and behind only perennial power Keene State in New England. But the squad is aiming even higher.
"We think we'll place higher than we currently are in both polls," Bromka said. Considering Tufts is ranked second in New England right now, the statement leaves little doubt about where it wants to be at the end of the season.
"Our goals are to win NESCACs, ECACs, the New England Regionals, and get to Nationals," Rosen said. "It's an ambitious set of goals, but we have a good team and we'd like to give it a shot."
The runners, however, are quick to draw the line between confident and cocky.
"We've learned from the past not to think too highly of ourselves or what others think of us," Bromka said.
Two seasons ago, the Jumbos were ranked extremely high before they flopped, finishing 23rd out of 24 teams at Nationals.
"I don't like being ranked so high," Don said. "It doesn't mean anything until we prove ourselves."
Indeed, the team has never won NESCACs nor New Englands, so they shouldn't get ahead of themselves. But everything is pointing in the right direction, including the fact that the team has managed to avoid the serious injury bug that nabbed Don and MacNamara last season.
Right now, Fortin is out with a deep bruise but should be back within ten days, and Joseph has a strained foot tendon but should be back by the Jumbo Invitational on Sept. 27.
That race will be important because not only will the team be racing for pride but, according to Putnam, that is when a steady varsity roster will be determined.
"Right now we're trying to stack things so guys run two out of three weekends," Brian MacNamara said. "Then down the stretch guys will be rested and we'll be able to go with our best."
"Last year we were young and unproven," Bromka said. "Now, we're still somewhat unproven, but in the past we were more anxious, not we're just excited."
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