Cross Country team reflects on season

Owen Crews
Sports Editor

Members of the men’s cross country team line up for photo after finishing sixth at State at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Nov. 4 Photo by Brady Curtis

Cross Country finished sixth this year at State on Nov. 4. This race took place at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.

Coach Jon Petter had some thoughts about the overall season via email. “Our team finished sixth place at State – the highest finish since 1993 and only the fifth time in school history finishing in the top six at State. The guys competed hard in brutally windy and warm conditions at State and made our team and the school very proud.”

Senior Brennen Ulrich also reflected about his time at State. “At State my original goal was to get All State, but going into the race I struggled a bit mentally, but I still managed to push myself and place pretty high in the race placing 34th, a couple places off from medaling which is good.”

This however led to some disappointments felt throughout the team.

Sophomore Henry Boland mentioned his own feelings of State.
Boland said, “I think we had some high expectations going into State. We knew what we were capable of and could do, and the overall goal was it was just exciting to being there and just a great experience being with the team. We didn’t necessarily get the results we wanted, but still we were there.”

Junior Max Kilstrom also had a similar experience. “Coming into the race, I was trying to give my all, but after the race happened I feel like I had more in me. I think as a team we could have done better.”

The team also mentioned some positives.
Ulrich said, “The team all pushed through and did very well. I am very proud of everyone.” This was also a sentiment that was shared by other racers.

Junior Jack Schneider said, “I think we still overall throughout the season we were doing good as a team and am proud for us getting to State.”

However most consensus of the team was looking towards the future.
Petter writes via email, “We don’t want to allow extrinsic goals to prevent us from seeing our growth, but we definitely are hungry for going after the work needed next season to get us on the podium at State in 2023.”

Sophomore Dominic Buckman also spoke about their placement and how it felt running at State.“I was definitely very excited to run State being a sophomore obviously getting the experience to run state. We got sixth which was kind of disappointing for us though. We were expecting to do a lot better, and so it was bittersweet, but I was grateful for it.”
“The teams that compete for trophies are the ones that work hard and know what it takes – and we expect to be one of those teams that understands and does these things.” Petter said via email.