Auburn Mountainview cross country coach Tyler Nugent admits that the expectations for last year’s boys squad were a little low.

The Lions, after appearing in their first state 3A meet in 2008, entered last season with a roster full of freshman runners and just three seniors.

“We had lost four of our top five runners,” Nugent recalled.

Despite the lowered expectations, however, the Lions rose to the challenge. Led by senior Nick Lipinski and a strong core of freshman runners, they Lions took seventh place at the district meet and qualified for their second straight state appearance.

“(The freshman) helped boost our team and head back to state, so that was a pretty exciting accomplishment for us last year,” Nugent said.

This season, Nugent says the expectations are again high.

“With that group of freshman coming back, plus Dylan (Summerlin) and another junior, Ethan Rumbaugh, I feel like we’ve got a really strong team,” Nugent said. “We graduated three seniors from varsity last year, but we had three freshman at state last year, and I think we were the only team to do that. We are pretty excited about that.”

Co-captains Summerlin and Vassilly Yakobchuk will lead the way, giving the Lions the ingredients needed to make another run at state.

“They really do have good unity. They get along well with each other,” Nugent said. “It’s a smaller team compared to some of the other teams in the state. But what we lack in size, we make up for in hard work. I feel like in this sport, more than others, your work ethic is more important that the talent.”

In addition to the return of Summerlin, the Lions also bring back sophomores J.J. Lacey, Aarun Rumbaugh and Chris Scharer, all state competitors last season.

Although still a relatively new program, Nugent said that a winning tradition is already becoming a part of the program.

“The boys team is definitely building that tradition,” Nugent said. “We’re a newer school, so it is still building. But with the team going to state back-to-back years and returning a strong squad, I’m hoping cross country will be recognized as a strong sport at our school. And with that, maybe we can build some numbers. But the kids we have out now work hard, and we have some really talented runners.”

For Summerlin – who is expected to run in Thursday’s meet after recuperating from a pinched nerve in his back – it’s all about continuing to build that tradition through success.

“I’m taking (my leadership role) very seriously,” Summerlin said. “Right now, the main goal is to get the whole team to go to state again, because that’s a big deal. Two times in a row, you want to go the third time. I think it’s a big thing for the school for us to go.”

ALSO: For the girls squad, Nugent said it’s all about trying to attract some runners.

“We struggle with numbers,” Nugent said. “We have some strong sports in the fall. Volleyball and girls soccer are both really strong, then we have swimming and a couple of others. It really makes it hard to get the numbers that we need.”

Beyond senior captain Tayla Alfrey, now in her fourth season, the team is thin, Nugent said.

The addition of assistant coach Anecia Grigsby, who previously coached at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane, will help the building process, Nugent said.

“We’re hoping to build some success with the team to get some more turnout,” he said.