There are nine new faces on the twenty-man roster of the this year’s Panthers cross country team.

Masanet said after last year after Eastern’s fifth place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, there were some changes that needed to be made.

“I just went out and recruited hard, and I think it’s going to pay off,” Masanet said. “These young guys are really, really talented and it is by in large one of the best recruiting classes we’ve ever had – if you go back thirty years even.”

This young men’s cross country team is preparing for its final week of training before its first meet on Aug. 31 at the Belmont Invitational. The men’s team was picked by the Ohio Valley Conference coaches to finish fifth again.

Masanet said when it came between putting ten new guys on the roster or keeping some older guys that hadn’t produced as much, he went with the ten new guys.

“It is a tough decision between holding on to that guy that tries really hard but only has maybe one year left or bringing in a new guy that can help us now and in the long run,” Masanet said.

Some of the older guys on the team have noticed a change in the way practices go now with all the freshmen.

“I definitely have to do a lot more leading. And that’s a little bit different, since we have definitely had some good leaders in the past,” senior Brad Butler said.

Even though they are new to the team, the older guys said they know better than to underestimate them just because they are freshmen.

“We’ve been showing them the ropes and stuff,” sophomore Aaron Iaun said. “But they are all really good, so we definitely have a lot to look forward to. They are going to be an immediate impact on our team this season.”

Iaun remembers how difficult the transition from high school to college level running was for him. He said he wishes it is easier for the freshmen this year.

In high school, guys are expected to run a 5,000-meter race or about three miles but in college they can run up in between 8,000 to 10,000 meters.

Freshman Bradley LaRocque said the mileage wasn’t the part he had to get used to; it was the speed.

“In high school it was seven minute practice per mile and here it is six minutes, or a 6:20 pace,” LaRocque said. “And it’s college, it’s D-1. It’s definitely a higher level.”

Masanet even recruited two runners from his hometown of Crystal Lake.

Freshman Ryan Hoklas is one of those freshmen. The other is Derek Ericson.

Hoklas has been sore ever since he arrived here and is definitely feeling the difference from high school.

“It is much more intense. But we have a great team, so it is all going to be worth it in the end,” Hoklas said.

Masanet said the Panthers are trying to build and continue to get better for this year as well as the next few years.

“We are training right now for our big goals that we have set for the next couple of years. And how this year fits into that puzzle, we will just have to see,” Masanet said. “Just going to take it one step at a time.”