RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Heading into their second season under the leadership of head coach Charlie Gonzalez, the Cordova Lancers are looking forward to a new season and new experiences as they continue to build up the program. 

This summer, the team participated in a camping trip at Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino for summer workouts. It's the first time that the team has had that luxury, according to Gonzalez, who took over the program prior to last season.

"I'm pretty excited. We have a young team," Gonzalez said. "It's my second year coaching here and it’s the first time we've been able to do summer conditioning. It's looking good."

This season, the team is comprised of a mostly young roster, highlighted by a trio of freshmen who should contribute in a big way.

On the girls’ side, Mia Joyce stands out, according to Gonzalez, with Sahib Aguilar and Oscar Aguilar exceling early on the boys’ side. 

"They're able to hang with the older kids," Gonzalez said. "They're able to do long runs and stay with them through most of the workouts. They've been really consistent out there every day."

The Lancers finished second in the Metro League a year ago on the boys’ side, with McClatchy making a clean sweep within league competition. This year, Gonzalez is hoping to close that gap and compete for a spot in the California Interscholastic Federation’s Sac Joaquin Sectional meet later this year. 

Gonzalez also hopes that a slew of new experiences will motivate the youth to continue to improve their running times and build a bigger passion for the sport.

In addition to the camp over the summer, the team will participate in the Woodbridge Invitational in September located at The Great Park in Irvine, which is one of the biggest cross-country events in the nation. 

"Hopefully with these new experiences, it motivates the kids to improve and be able to stick to running and love running," Gonzalez said. 

The Lancers will begin their season on Aug. 23 at the Sierra Invitational, located at Sierra College. The first race is scheduled for 8 a.m.