Sports
Turmoil tears team to tatters
Hard work, passion and drive are the qualities that a cross country team needs to have to endure the pain of running up and down hills with the wind as an enemy. Not only did the team need perseverance to finish the race but also to stay together. Girls cross country encountered what one might call many bumps in the road this season, but proved not only to themselves but to their school mates, coaches and parents, that they could succeed.
Senior Kayleigh Wren has been running for the team since seventh grade. Wren has run varsity all four years of high school.
“The cross country team is like family, it’s not necessarily about the running it’s about the team. We’re just all “lame” and like to have fun with each other,” Wren said.
The girls cross country team had to cope with a smaller than normal roster.
“The girls team was really small, that was disappointing, it was fun because we were close but it would have been better with a bigger team,” Wren said.
Wren’s closest companion on the team is the number one runner Junior Anna Strait. Wren and Strait have been running together for the past 5 years.
“We’ve had our ups and downs as teammates, but we are close,” Wren said.
Wren explained that the team began encountering problems right at the beginning of the season.
“People were complaining about having to run varsity, they wanted to run junior varsity. It doesn’t make sense to me because as a runner you want to run your fastest. Girls began not showing up to practice, then towards the middle of the season began skipping meets, then our number three runner quit the team. That was extremely disappointing,” Wren said.
Not only was the attitude and number of runners looking negative but according to Wren, the team lacked senior leadership.
“I was the only senior leadership on the team, it was disappointing but it was also a fulfilling feeling to be the one that stuck it out. I had the drive and heart to be a leader on the team,” Wren said.
Wren’s responsibilities on the team were not “hard core” by any means.
“It was my job to just be the encourager, we are all just friends,” Wren said.
Wren felt betrayed in some ways by the seniors on the team and the number three runner.
“I felt abandoned, we (the seniors) were all the leaders last year. This year it was just me and since they weren’t there I couldn’t take control by myself, when our number three runner quit it was really devastating, and disappointing,” Wren said.
Junior Anna Strait has been on the team for five years and is the number 1 runner on the team.The cross country team represents discipline to Strait.
“I think it takes a lot of discipline to run eight miles a day. The cross country team are the only people who know what it feels like to run up and down hills for eight miles,” Strait said.
According to Strait, being the fastest runner on the team does not come without its complications.
“I felt frustrated that the team would not let me play powder puff, but they made me run the Indianola meet. So I didn’t get to play powderpuff,” Strait said.
Strait explained the fact that she felt pressured by her parents and her teammates.
“When your parents pressure you so much it takes out the passion,” Strait said.
Strait openly admits to purposely jogging the Indianola meet.
“I jogged the entire meet because my parents and teammates made a huge deal about me not being there. They made me miss powder puff. After that meet I was ready to be done,” Strait said.
Junior Katy Stites has been running on the team for four years Stites remains positive about her involvement on the team, however has a strong opinion towards Strait throwing the race.
“It wasn’t what was best for the team. Anna can do all sorts of things when she has the right mindset. I don’t think she was all there, I feel like when you are that good you should care more about the team,” Stites said.
Stites is also understanding of Straits situation.
“She’s in a tough spot because the coaches expect a lot from her, people expect a lot from her because she is the fastest on the team,” Stites said
Stites relates attitude to a person’s ability to perform.
“Your attitude determines how you run. I don’t think Anna should have even gone to the meet,” Stites said.
Stites was not affected by the lack of senior leadership or members of the team quitting.
“It wasn’t devastating, I don’t really care it was up to them, you get closer to the people who stay, those friendships become more important,” Stites said.
Stites continues to reach new personal best times every year she participates on the team.
“With great speed comes great responsibility,” Stites said.