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 seven girls’ cross country graduating seniors. They will be greatly missed!

Maya Ball

How long have you been on the team?

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

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory is the team bonding events like apple picking and making a lot of friends that help push me to do my best.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I have been given was to give it your best and never give up.

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

For a person joining this team, I would tell them that they should definitely join because the team dinners and races are such a fun experience. I’ve never regretted any decision about joining this team.

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

My future plans are to become a physical therapist and continue running throughout my life.

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

Mr. Groth has had an influence on my life because he has helped push me and encouraged me to be the best person that I can be inside and outside of the sport.

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

One challenge that I overcame was the injuries that happened throughout my years of running. I have had multiple injuries, but specifically when I had tendonitis in my knee cap, it was hard to run and I really wanted to do the workouts when I couldn’t. But, when it healed I kept stretching to prevent the injury from coming back and I had huge PR’s my junior season!

Angelika Bourke

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 memories definitely came from all the team bonding events that we did! Not only were we all friends at practice, but we were also able to get together and hang out outside of practice.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice I have been given is "the faster you run, the faster you're done."

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

I would say 100% join! The memories and bonds that you build with the girls are unmatched, and it not only helps build your strength/endurance physically, but it also pushes you mentally, too.

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

I hope to go to college and major in International Business and, in 10 years, hopefully have a stable job and be able to do a lot of traveling (and running)!

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

Mrs. DeGroot has had an impact on my life with her consistent support and positivity! Her motivation and encouragement were always so appreciated, and she always reminded us to have fun before our races!

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

A challenge that I have faced with cross country was trying to stay injury-free. My freshman year, I struggled with knee problems that then didn't allow me to run track, and then this year I had problems with my quad. Despite these setbacks, I have learned the importance of recovery and was able to persevere through, which allowed me to achieve my season's best at the end of this year!

Lola Warren

How long have you been on the team?

I’ve been on the team for 3 years now, since my sophomore year.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My all time favorite memory is making it to state after the girls team hadn’t gone in almost 40 years.

What is the best advice you have been given?

One of my favorite pieces of advice I’ve been given is “just turn your mind off and let your legs do the work” from Coach DeGroot.

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

To someone new joining: I met some of my best friends from this sport and it really is worth it.

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

I plan on majoring in nursing in college along with joining ROTC Air Force. In 10 years I see myself being a CRNA in the Air Force.

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

Coach DeGroot has had such a positive impact on my cross country career and life by always being there for me and the team and being the most supportive coach I’ve ever met.

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

At the beginning of this season I struggled a lot with motivation and having a positive mindset when I run, but thanks to my teammates I was able to have fun with running and enjoy the rest of my season.

Avery Gilmartin

How long have you been on the team?

Four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

Going to Noah’s Ark every year with the girls was so fun. I love all the team bonding events because I grow so much closer with everyone.

What is the best advice you have been given?

To keep your negativity to yourself before a race. Even though I might not have done well in a race, I still need to cheer on my teammates and support everyone.

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

Enjoy every bit of it because it goes by so fast. Have fun with it even though sometimes running can be the hardest thing to do. Become close with your teammates because that’s the only thing that will make the season fun.

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

I hope to have a job as a pediatric occupational therapist and to live somewhere in the mountains. I hope to enjoy what I’m doing and travel a lot.

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

Mrs. DeGroot has had such a positive impact on my life. She always gives me positive messages that keep me going through the season, even when I feel like giving up.

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

I never got injured, but I definitely would lose confidence in myself when I didn’t see growth in my times. I overcame it by remembering that as long as I am trying my best that’s all that matters.

Claire Schumacher

How long have you been on the team?

Four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory was going to state my sophomore year. It was such a fun experience and the team grew super close in those couple of days!

What is the best advice you have been given?

The best advice given to me was that cross country is 5% physical and 95% mental. Cross country is one of the toughest things I have ever done, but is so rewarding. Through the sport you learn how to positively talk to yourself—once you start to doubt yourself and your capabilities, the race is already over.

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

I would say that this sport is HARD. If you don't give it your best, it will be hard to improve. However, some of my best friends have come from this sport and cross country girls are genuinely some of the best people I have ever met. The community that running gives you is totally worth the mental and physical stress.

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

In 10 years I hope to be working and a graduate from college with a degree in business management (or something similar). I also hope to keep running—maybe even with a marathon under my belt!

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

Coach DeGroot has been with our team since my sophomore year, and has made a large impact during those three seasons. Running is such a hard sport on your body, but Coach always makes sure to bring snacks and treats to keep our bodies nourished. At the beginning of this year, she made a whole pamphlet for the whole girls team describing everything our body needs—shoes, nourishment, vitamins, water—which helped us figure out how to be successful all-around athletes. Coach DeGroot truly helped me realize that running can be fun and that listening to our bodies is super important.

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

I think every runner has experienced early season injuries. For me, it was my sophomore year and second meet of the season, where I sprained my ankle. I was out for most of the season and had to cross-train instead of running like the rest of my friends. I was super upset that I couldn't continue to run, but I made the most of it by bringing a camera to meets and taking pictures of my friends who were running. Also, at the end of the year when I could finally race again, I ran my personal record!

Lucy Daniel

How long have you been on the team?

I’ve been on the cross country team for four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite memory of cross country is meeting some of my best friends.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The biggest piece of advice I have been given as a runner is to listen to your body and remember to stay healthy.

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

I would tell someone who is thinking about joining the team to remember to not put too much pressure on themselves, and remember to enjoy the journey.

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

In ten years I see myself starting a career, but still running often.

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

One of the girls’ coaches, Coach DeGroot, has influenced my life in many ways. One of these ways is her many words of encouragement and advice that go beyond running.

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

One challenge I have faced in cross country is coming back from an injury. Training after being hurt is both mentally and physically challenging, but eventually you come back stronger.

Ava Struebing

How long have you been on the team?

I’ve been on the team for four years.

What is your favorite memory of cross country?

My favorite cross country memory is on an easy day in freshman year when Claire, Avery and I ran past Loca Latte. On the way back we got tired and started walking, and Avery’s dad was driving, saw us and picked us up to take us back to the school.

What is the best advice you have been given?

The more you work, the more rewarding it ends up being. I would say don’t stress, have fun with your teammates, and enjoy the time you have because it goes by fast.

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

In 10 years I see myself done with nursing school, either being a NICU nurse or forensic nurse possibly traveling unless I have a family.

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

Mrs. DeGroot has taught me to keep going and enjoy the moments.

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

Sophomore/junior year I had Achilles tendonitis, so I had to get dry needling done. It hurt to run sometimes and even walk, but in the end I came back better senior year and beat my freshman PR.