Photos submitted by athletes.

Throughout the cross country season many accomplishments were made! The team just ended their season with a banquet highlighting the athletes’ successes and achievements. The team sent four athletes to State (Beckett Lauer, Grace Elberson, Lauren DeGroot, and Vaughn Ybarra). This was also the time the team could recognize and thank the 16 seniors leaving this year. Below are the nine boys’ cross country graduating seniors. They will be greatly missed!

Charles (Charlie) Westby

How long have you been on the team?

I’ve been running since 7th grade, starting on the Templeton team for both my 7th and 8th grade years. After that, I joined the high school team and have been part of it all four years. I was on varsity from freshman through junior year.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memories of cross country are going on those long runs with my teammates to the quarry or slash pad to cool off in the summer, while having some crazy conversations.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I’ve been given was from my dad when he told me that “obsession beats talent every time,” basically saying that if you are determined enough you can beat anyone.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

I want to say always try your best, whether it’s training or a race, no matter what. I would also say to make sure you do stretches before and after runs to prevent injury. Also, just have fun. If you have a bad race don’t worry about it. Don’t beat yourself up about it. There’s always another one.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In ten years I plan to be working for an international company in a data analysis or a business AI field.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

The coaches have always pushed me to do my best and taught me that hard work pays off.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

After freshman year, during the winter, I broke my ankle and had to have surgery. This really delayed my progress since I was not able to train in the off-season or run track. However, I continue to push myself to do my best and still did well my sophomore and junior year.

Mason Ritchie

How long have you been on the team?

I have been on the team for four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory on the team was running to the quarry and swimming during practice my freshman year.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I was given was to keep running even when you think you can’t run anymore.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

Advice I would give to incoming runners is to have fun.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years I see myself working as an electrician at a company near Milwaukee.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

Coach Loferski taught me that if you commit to something you have to see it through until the end.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

One challenge I’ve faced was this year when I started getting really bad headaches while running. I rested for about a week, then started running again, and I overcame the headaches.

Charles (Chuck) Morris

How long have you been on the team?

This was my first year in cross country.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory of cross country was playing football with the team at Pike Lake.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I was given was get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It took a minute to figure out what it really meant and I took it as being uncomfortable all the time is how I will change.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

To anyone joining the team, the work pays off. From every workout to every easy day you will improve as long as you put in the effort.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years I see myself working a job in some type of engineering.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

One of the coaches that has had an influence in my life has been Coach Marcus. He is always there for any questions about running and has been a very uplifting person in regards to running.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

A challenge that I faced in Cross Country was achieving my personal goal. My season goal was to run a sub 20 minute 5k and as someone who was starting out at a 22 minute 5k, it was an ambitious goal. However, I ran every day, whether it was a hill workout or just an easy run on the bugline. By working at it every day I was able to run a 19:22 minute 5k something that I never thought I was going to do this year.

Noah Nybroten

How long have you been on the team?

I have been on the cross country team for two years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memories of cross country were the team dinners and hanging out with people on the team like when running to the quarry in the summer.

What is the best advice you have been given?

A piece of advice that stuck with me was, “it’s a great day for a run,” giving me that mindset to take advantage of the day.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

A piece of advice I give to future runners and students is to go with your gut and believe in yourself because if you don’t take a chance on something, you could be missing something great.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years I see myself as a great teamworker in whatever field I choose to work in because of my time in cross country.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

A coach that has impacted me was Coach Marcus as he always pushed me and others to do better. I had him for track and cross country so I worked with him a lot throughout high school.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

A challenge I overcame in cross country was entering cross country as a junior with no experience; I was super nervous but I am so glad I did it.

Vaughn Ybarra

How long have you been on the team?

I have been an active member of the varsity team for all four years of my high school career.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory of running is the un-spoken bond between runners after you finish a race. No matter how the race went, everyone just pushed themselves to the limit together and it’s a special bond that exists at that finish line.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I was ever given is that I wasn’t enough and didn’t belong in this sport. I carried those words with me and used them as fuel when the sport got rough.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

I would tell them to be prepared to work. This sport is grueling and challenging, it’s a sport that others consider punishment, yet we get up everyday to do it. I would tell them that running will teach you so much more than physical fitness. It forces you to acknowledge the weak part of yourself both physically and mentally. This sport is difficult, but it will forge something inside of you that you won’t get from other sports.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

I hope to be still going out on runs for myself to enjoy the sport. I’m not sure where I’ll be in 10 years but I know running will be a part of it.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

Marcus Paulson is a coach that played a central role in my cross country career. Not only was he a coach he was my teammate when I had no one. He taught me discipline, respect, hard work and resilience.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

Especially my senior year I dealt with a major injury. It all but stopped my training for almost the entirety of my season. However I was able to push through for the last two weeks of the season and qualify for state.

Jackson Niebler

How long have you been on the team?

I have been running cross country for Hamilton for all four years and I ran for Templeton 7th and 8th grade.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

A memory from this team that stands out to me is from freshman year, when me and the other guys ran 3.5 miles down to McDonalds and all got slushies, just to brace our stomachs as we ran the 3.5 miles back to Hamilton.

What is the best advice you have been given?

I like to think that the greatest aspect of this sport is the mental game. When you are back in the woods with no one cheering around you, it is up to you and your mind to keep pushing; that is why the best advice I have received is that the true champions shine when the lights aren’t on them.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

If you're looking to give this sport a try, a little warning is that they might push you till you puke or pass out. But on a more serious note, I truly recommend giving cross country a thought. The Hamilton XC team has an incredible atmosphere to it where you can find so many welcoming friends, no matter the grade level. Also, it grants you a great chance for top tier exercise with a super competitive aspect to it.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years time, I would like to have my masters for architectural design, a fit and healthy lifestyle, and although the chances are slim, a wife and a family wouldn’t be half bad either.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

I have had many coaches in my life through various sports but my cross country coaches are surely ones to remember. They will push you to strive further than you ever have, and I would like to personally thank them for delivering me and my friends an unforgettable 4 years. Thank you!

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

A challenge I faced in my XC journey was that I fell into a slump my junior year. I'm not sure what happened, but I just felt like I couldn’t push myself anymore in races like before, and it’s because cross country is hard. But I was able to get over myself through the help of my coaches and teammates and was able to drastically improve my times and get back to my old self.

Conner Wasserburger

How long have you been on the team?

I have been on the cross country team for four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory of cross country was during freshman year when we swam in the SSI retention ponds during practice after a big storm.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I have been given was to always try to be 1% better than the previous practice.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

To any incoming freshman thinking about joining the team, make sure to have fun and don’t just focus on the competitive aspect of cross country.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years, I see myself living out west with a comfortable job.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

Coach Loferski has impacted my life by teaching me that you have to go through hardships in order to succeed.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

One challenge I had during cross country was staying committed to the sport. I overcame this by thinking how far I had come in the sport and thinking back to the fun memories I made.

Charlie Schumacher

How long have you been on the team?

I’ve been on the team for all four of my years in high school.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory in cross country is playing football at the team dinners.

What is the best advice you have been given?

Find your group of people and make the most memories with them.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

Get ready because high school cross country is not easy.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

I see myself working as an engineer.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

Coach Groth wrote me my letter of recommendation for college.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

I went from never running over a mile, to being in high school cross country.

Santiago Pina

How long have you been on the team?

This is my first year in cross country.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory was participating and supporting my team during the Midwest Invite, and after I accomplished my goal for the season of breaking sub 20 during JV State.

What is the best advice you have been given?

Always improve 1% every day.

What would you say to someone who was thinking about joining the team/incoming freshman?

My advice to those who are thinking about joining the team is to just do it. This sport will train you physically and mentally during every practice and race, and everyone is always friendly.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years/future plans?

In 10 years I see myself very well positioned in life, and if not already being the head of my business, I will be starting it.

How has one of the coaches had influence in your life?

I'm very grateful for having Coach Loferski as my coach. He helped me to achieve my goals by motivating and always setting me on the right track during practices and races.

What was one challenge you faced in cross country that you were able to overcome and had a positive outcome?

Pushing myself out of my comfort zone was the biggest challenge during cross country, like during my first meet. But every meet you attend, every new friend you make, and every lesson you receive makes you understand why pushing yourself is the only way to progress.