While the majority of the high schoolers are hitting snooze on their alarm, these students are up and running miles after miles. They are the cross country team. Getting prepared for an early morning run is an important part of every morning.

“Depends on the day, every day we start with stretching and weights and Coach Knapp talks with us for a little bit, he does a lot of inspirational stuff it’s kinda funny. Depending on the day we either do sprints or distance runs, and we post run stretch,” senior captain Addy Brow said.

The morning run has its advantages.

“My most memorable moment is morning practices, everyone is having a blast and it is just so much better than being here after school where it’s ten times hotter,” senior captain Josh Weisenborn said.

But the practices have one real important mission and that is to prepare the runners for competition, and because of practices and competition the team has developed some traditions.

“Whenever we run down Salem Avenue there is a tree that we touch where there is a branch cut off, it’s for good luck. It started with a group of seniors six years ago,” senior captain Devin Seest said.

Some of these superstitions and traditions have become habit.

“We have a team prayer before every race,” Weisenborn said.

Some even have a certain routine they must follow.

“As soon as I get off the bus I have to use the bathroom, then go walk the course even if I have run it a thousand times I still have to do it. Then every race I wear crazy socks, I don’t know why I’ve always just done that,” Brow said.

Like all sports teams, the team is ultimately hoping to do well in district and conference, but some goals are more specific.

“The goal all season has been to beat Waynesville and we have done that every time,” Seest said.

Beating a rival team always boosts the team’s spirit and some members know just how much teamwork matters toward success.

“I would like for our team to get better at working like a team, to be a better team to each other, more sportsmanship and having fun together,” Weisenborn said.

A long and hard season can result in lots of injuries, but what it comes down to is how you and your team persevere.

“Considering how much we have gone through this season, I just want everyone to say that they ran their hardest and I’d like to see everyone get a P.R. which a lot of girls have this year. I just would like everyone to do their best, if we could move on to sectionals as a team that would be great,” Brow said.