The whole cross country team made it to State this year, the first time since the  2014 season. Both teams experienced success this year, running lifetime bests at season meets and even districts. The team left for Jefferson City to compete at Oak Hills Golf Course for State on Nov. 4 and competed on Nov. 5. The boys placed 14th in the meet, the girls placed 13th.

“It felt good to send both teams, it was basically re-doing my freshman year,” junior Natalie Hyde said.

“It was really awesome to have everyone there,” senior Taylor Lyles said. “It was a really cool experience.”

When the athletes arrived to the course, they walked into a fog-filled course, only able to see their hands in front of their face. The fog ended up clearing as races began, but it still became a hassle to see and made the course somewhat difficult. At the beginning of the boys race, a runner from another team tripped his own teammate, and the race had to be stopped, and started again.

“When the gun shot off, we just started running and I saw another runner just eat it, fell straight on his face,” junior Dillon Ruble said. “Everyone had to stop and go back to the starting line.”

One Pirate runner was also a couple places away from making the All-State team, but ultimately came up just short. Senior Wilson Rosner came in 29th, running with a time of 17:02. A runner has to place in the top 25 to make it onto the All-State team.

“It felt like any other race, so I just ran like I normally do,” Rosner said.

The ultimate goal for the team next year: do exactly the same thing as they did this season – continue running the best they can and send both teams to State.

“I really enjoyed my four years running under Coach Wright, and I’m really excited to see what the team does next year,” senior Reid Bayliss said.