Makeovers are all the rage right now. On every other TV station, wardrobes, faces and houses are being made over. The Moffat County girls cross-country team is joining the trend.

The makeover for the Bulldogs will include a little dab of freshmen here, a touch of pack running there and a dash of hard work everywhere. What separates the girls’ makeover from those on TV is that they are making adjustments to bring the same results, not new and improved results.

The girls teams have been in the top two four of the past five years, which included a state title in 2000. Most of that success was from senior leadership near the front of the race.

This year’s team will succeed differently.

If workouts hold true to races, the top runner will be a freshman. Alicia Nelson still is figuring out what it takes at the next level but coach Todd Trapp is sure she’ll catch on.

“Once Alicia figures out what she’s capable of, she’s going to be very good,” he said. “Every workout, she realizes a little more.”

The more experienced runners are fine with having a rookie leading.

“We’ll have a freshie in the front,” sophomore Jeacey Robinson said. “We knew that she was going to be good, and she’ll push us.”

Behind Nelson is a group of girls. That’s another part of the makeover because the girls haven’t been a pack-oriented team during Trapp’s three years.

“We’re working together a lot,” junior Katie Morris said. “It’s been great this year because we’re all running with each other and always encouraging everyone.”

They also are working harder than any girls team Trapp has coached.

“They get to practice, ask what they’re doing, and they do it,” he said. “In the past, we would have some complainers, but that’s not the case this year.”

Trapp hadn’t added up the mileage from the week yet, but he was confident that the girls had put in at least the same amount as most of the guys.

“These girls are aware of the tradition we have, and they don’t want to let it down,” Trapp said. “They don’t want another season like two years ago.”

Two years ago, the Bulldogs finished 11th at state during a “rebuilding year.”

After the three top runners graduated last year the girls can accept the “rebuilding” label, but not for the entire season.

“Early on we’ll probably be a little bit back,” Morris said. “But we’ll come on strong later in the season.”

Morris and Robinson are the team’s top returnees from last year, and they have a history of coming on at the end of the season. They were the fourth and fifth runners on last year’s team, and their performances at the state meet were their best of the year. Add in senior Alyssa Macomber, a mainstay on the cross-country team who has improved every year, and the pack is established.

“We have to run together to be successful,” Macomber said. “It hasn’t been like that in the past, so it’s different this year.”

Joining those three also is Hayden freshman Laura Zirkle. She has regularly been in the top five during the first weeks of practice. Sophomore Caitlin Conci and junior Katie Knez also will be in the mix, Trapp said.