The start of the new school year marked the beginning of a new era for the cross country team because of the separate boys and girls’ teams combining due to the previous boys’ coach stepping down. The teams that were once considered unrelated entities are now one cohesive group with this decision.

Mark Snell, the previous head coach of the boys team, took a different position last year once the season was completed. After this, the hunt for a new leader began. “None of the boys’ assistant coaches really wanted to take on head coach duties. So we decided that Coach Hanson would become the head coach for both programs together,” Coach Zach Zimny said.

In the past, the teams were divided by gender and ran in these separate groups. The system is now based on skill level. Group three is for beginner runners, group two is for an intermediate pace, and group one is for the advanced. This new method of training has been beneficial for the team so far this season. “Comparatively from last season to this season, times have gotten faster. But that’s like apples to oranges because every team is different. This team, for both boys and girls, we went into sections last year and we knew that we had a chance to move on and do something special this season…all summer they’ve worked hard and it’s showing,” Coach Casey Hanson said.

While the team may be benefiting from this change in races, the main concern for the combination was the team camaraderie. In the past, the separate teams were known for having a strong sense of solidarity as individual boys and girls’ teams. In order to preserve the comradeship but still have the benefits of faster times, the coaches have check-ins with the captains to see when team bonding is needed. “The boys have their own special routines, traditions, and culture. So does the girls’ team. We split between keeping the bits of our own history that are important to us, but also combining and making ourselves into one big family as well,” Coach Tanner Stevens said.

All in all, the coaches and runners agree that this new structure for cross country is beneficial for both team morals and races. “Seeing the team mesh the way it has has been a blessing…it’s all been very positive. The boys are learning some of the girls’ traditions, some of the girls like some of the boys’ traditions and it’s been a spectacular season so far,” Hanson said.