All summer long the Palo Verde Girls Cross Country team was out training at 6 AM with one goal in mind- make a run at a Regional title and qualify as a team for state. For Nicole Vanderstelt and Kelsi Koch it has been a goal four years in the making. The last time the team qualified for state, it was Koch and Vanderstelt that paved the way as freshmen. Appropriately enough, two more freshmen, Katie Gorczyca and Marissa Suan, are helping Koch and Vanderstelt realize their ultimate goal. As they took their first steps against state runner-up Arbor View and Sunset Champion Shadow Ridge on August 30th, it was Katie Gorczyca, Kelsi Koch, Nicole Vanderstelt, Sarah Leiserowtiz, and Marissa Suan finishing in the top ten as the Panthers pulled off a huge upset. It was the perfect start to what is sure to be a memorable season for Palo Verde.