Mason High School girls varsity cross country have very high hopes for the upcoming 2021 season. Released by the Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas, the Cowgirls were ranked No. 4 in Class 2A in the first preseason poll by the CCCAT.

This should be a very exciting season for the Cowgirls, who will have many returning runners at the varsity level in 2021 with incoming junior Kinsley Jordan, sophomore Kamryn Loeffler, junior Isabel Callejas, sophomore Lynn Lehmberg, senior Tori Perlichek, and senior Gracie Weber. Unfortunately, the Mason girls lost their top runner to graduation from the 2020 season in former Cowgirls standout Ana Segura.

The Cowgirls are accompanied in the preseason rankings by Shiner High School in first, Gruver High School in second, Sundown High School in third, rival San Saba High School in fifth, Christoval High School in sixth, Lipan High School in seventh, Union Grove High School in eighth, Seymour High School in ninth, and Lindsay High School in tenth.

The boys are ranked in the CCCAT preseason poll with Port Aransas High School in first, Hamilton High School in second, Poolville High School in third, Harper High School in fourth, Sundown in fifth, New Home High School in sixth, New Summerfield High School in seventh, Tenaha High School in eighth, Christoval in ninth, and Brackett High School in tenth.

Mason’s first varsity meet of the season will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at the annual Eagle and Lady Eagle Cross Country Meet hosted by Eldorado High School.

Be sure to check out next week’s edition of the Mason County News for more updates on Punchers and Cowgirls varsity athletics. Sports editor Andrew Salmi can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by cell phone at (818) 645-1115.