WARSAW – In a world where everyone is onto the next thing within seconds, every once in a while something that happened almost a year ago sticks.

In what has become THE rivalry in the Northern Lakes Conference as far as girls cross country goes, Warsaw didn’t forget what Northridge did at the NLC Championships last October at Ox Bow. Taking advantage of a late surge by its back half of the pack, Northridge edged Warsaw by one point to split the NLC crown in half with the regular season champs from Kosciusko County. That bitter pill, despite a run to the state final by the Lady Tigers, surprisingly still smarts.

“Northridge just got us, but we remember what it felt like when they won,” Mia Beckham said of the NLC race. “They are going to be tough again, and I think everybody was disappointed that we didn’t win that title. It was encouraging, just a little, that they only beat us by a point. That tells us we were right with them.”

Beckham, who emerged as a legitimate contender in a conference full of elite runners, gave Warsaw quite a breath of fresh air. Beckham, entering her sophomore season, placed eighth at the NLC and second at the sectional then gave Warsaw a top-25 at the semi-state before running a 19:51 at the state finals. Warsaw placed 16th in the team standings at Terre Haute, but were four places behind pesky Northridge.

Beckham, who joins a nearly-completely intact lineup returning this fall, hasn’t let that go, either.

“We just got back from team camp and our team goals start by beating Northridge,” Beckham said. “We want to treat them as they would treat us. I think the rivalry is as high as ever. It’s going to be a good race against them later this year.”

The freshman cross country campaign for Beckham parlayed into a fine track season, and the sophomore now is itching at the chance to build upon something great.

“I wasn’t really expecting too much out of my freshman year, just do what I could do,” Beckham said. “But this team is set up for big things this year with everyone back. I’m more motivated to help this team reach our goals.”

The Lady Tigers themselves didn’t have much trouble winning sectional and regionals titles, then claiming third at the ultra-competitive New Prairie Semi-state to claim a ticket to state. With an eye-popping 56 girls on the preseason roster, competition at the start should be fierce to reclaim their status among the state’s elite.

Coach Scott Erba returns after a year hiatus, taking the reigns back from Matt Campbell, who remains on staff as an assistant coach. Erba’s outlook is always positive, and with nearly his entire top 10 returning from last fall, much has already been said.

“A top-10 finish at state is our tier-1 goal, but our tier-2 goal is to be a top-five podium finish team,” Erba said. “These are huge yet achievable goals for us.

“Warsaw Lady Tiger cross country is a known entity in the state and we want to keep our relevance.”

Seniors Hannah Dawson, Emma Hayward, Claire Kehler and Brooke Rhodes all have multiple years of varsity experience. Juniors Anna Craig, Allison Miller, Charlotte Orr and Lauren Orr all were frontrunners last season. Miller was the workhorse if there was one, winning the sectional and regional championships and taking fourth at semi-state.

Erba listed senior Emma Lehman, juniors Susana Pizano and Taylor Strickler and sophomores Sierra Palmer, Amanda Hermann and Meredith Phipps as potential breakout candidates.

Warsaw begins its season Aug. 22 at the Huntington North Invite.

Wawasee Warriors

Key Returners: Reagan Atwood, Delaney Bame, Keyanna Clevenger, Aubrey Kuhn, Valeria Pizana, Bailey Schroeder, Molly Swartz, Elizabeth Zorn

Key Losses: Sarah Harden, Courtney Linnemeier

Key Newcomer: McKenzie Smith

Coach Slabaugh’s Comments: “I’m excited about this group. It’s a very tight-knit group. I don’t know if we have a strong lead runner as one through five could be anyone. But we have the girls that can do it.”

Tippecanoe Valley Vikings

Key Returners: Breelyn Conley, Brooklyn Conley, Karly Kitch

Key Losses: Courtney Burns

Key Newcomer: Haley Hoover

Coach Inglehearn’s Comments: I think that our girls team will contend in our conference this year. I also think our team has an opportunity to advance to the regional as a team this season. We had three girls compete in the regional as individuals last year.”

Triton Trojans

Key Returners: Michaela Best, Aimee Gladieux, Makayla Greenawalt, Baylee McIntire

Key Losses: Makayla Musilli

Key Newcomers: Alysha May, Abigail Powell

Coach Schori’s Comments: “I’m very excited to see what the girls team can do, especially with the amount of experience we have returning this year, and because of the success last year. Our junior high program is very good again this year as well, so the future of Triton cross country looks very bright.”

Whitko Wildcats

Key Returners: Brigit Nemitz, Hanna Yohe

Key Losses: Courtney Edwards, Michelle Kelsey

Key Newcomer: Lizz Foutz, Anna Ousley, Suzi Sickafoose

Coach Bradley’s Comments: “The girls team will rely heavily on the three newcomers to fill the void left by graduation. Brigit is our most experienced and fastest runner, and she already has plans to run in college. Hanna has also run each year of high school, and she has improved a great deal since last season.”