State Boys Team Rankings
Countdown of Hot 100 continues 

 By Rich Gonzalez, Dyestatcal

Thousand Oaks Lancers (Southern Section)
Rich's Ranking Tier Classification: 3
Coach: Shawn Morris
League: Marmonte
2008 Finish: Placed 10th at Nike Cross Nationals
Returnees: Only one varsity returnee from last year.
2009 Outlook: This was easily the hardest team to position in this year's Hot 100. Only one varsity returnee and a non-varsity crew that is pretty good, but matchable by other programs. Yet, the veteran-laden Lancers of a year ago stepped up like no Golden State team we'd ever seen, enjoying a storybook season punctuated by a Southern Section team title and then a 10th-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland. Chalk it up to a perfect storm? A coaching wizard in the making? A senior-dominated lineup on a mission to trounce Royal and Co.? Can the winning recipe to be duplicated in 2009? Questions, questions, questions. Kevin Joerger (9:21.44 in track), the lone returnee from a year ago, could be a big part of the answer, the ember hoping to ignite a new firestorm in Thousand Oaks, where sophomore Tommy Lopez (4:25.75 as a frosh), Daniel Smithers and Michael Spencer offer up a solid start point for '09.