Like everything in life, teams change as the years go by. Last season, the Boy’s Cross Country Team ended on a high note, winning the state championship and finishing the season with a bang! With four seniors graduating, however, the team lost many valuable assets. Still, this doesn’t mean they didn’t gain new talent—making them a strong competitor once again. Cross country is a hard and mentally challenging sport, which makes it difficult to both enjoy and succeed in.

Newcomer sophomore Mckoy Hackman shared, “I just think about how I’m able to do this during my workouts, so I just need to translate what I’m doing to races. I know I can do it—I just need to get out of my head.”

Despite the toughness of the sport, the Boy’s Cross Country Team continues to strive for improvement, pushing each other through tough workouts and working hard every day to progress throughout the season. With new coaches and changes to their training style, the team has still found success.

Currently the team’s top runner, junior Cannon Bishop, said, “I have seen the team change dynamically. It seems every year the team has a different culture or feel, but what stays the same is the team’s work ethic and dedication.”

Like all teams, people come and go, but the environment remains strong. Throughout the years, the team has always felt like a family, celebrating with pre-race pasta nights and team bonding activities. These traditions make cross country worth it—sharing the pain with teammates and never facing the difficulty of races alone.

Sophmore Asher Fisk explained, “Being able to run with my teammates helps me push through the hard times during tough workouts, making them mentally easier and keeping me more motivated.”

At first, the team worried about their performance after losing so many seniors. But the boys have not disappointed, continuing to give each other hope and confidence this season.

 Bishop added, “I think that we are a competitive team. I feel that most people overlook us because of how many impactful seniors graduated last year, but I think our team still has a great shot at competing for a state title.”

With every varsity runner contributing, the boys have pushed past challenges and overcome the obstacles that make running so difficult. Together, they are creating their own legacy and building a new team determined to reclaim the title.