After a solid 5-3-1 record last year, boys’ cross country coach Mark Snell and captains Patrick Mullin, Thomas Sauer, Will Peterson and Teddy Madden look to lead a talented team this fall.

The team has had two meets finishing fourth and tenth, and they feel good heading into the next five meets of the season. The team is working to have their best competition at the section race later this fall, “ We would love to be in the top 2 for sections,” Mullin said.

The team’s common goal is to make the state tournament, but it will be hard work. “The only way we will get there is if we all put in more than what we are asked and push each other to be better and better each day,” Plourde said.

To achieve this goal, the team needs to support each other. “We need to have improvements and hard work from the first guy to the last guy, and help each other out at practice,” senior Owen Plourde said.

For the boys, it is not just the running that makes this team so special. From trips to South Dakota to pasta parties during the week, team bonding has been a focus this fall, “This team loves being together…whether it is on or off the track,” Mullin said.

The team’s chemistry is a key ingredient for future success. Team bonding activities can help strengthen this chemistry. The team made the trip down to Sioux falls and had a blast hanging with their teammates and running together. “My favorite memory is going go karting in Sioux Falls as a team,” Captain Thomas Sauer Said.

As well as a cohesive team dynamic, the team has strong individual runners. Freshman Mason Rokola has been the team’s best runner through the first two meets. His being a freshman sets the team up nicely for success in future years. “Rockola is a very consistent runner throughout the whole race and that’s what sets him apart from the other runners,” Sauer said.

Emerson Foley is leading the pack of seniors with his running performances early in this fall season. Teddy Madden is wasting no time trying to catch Emerson. “Madden is achieving a personal record by nearly 3 minutes,” Mullin said.