TENNERTON – For the first time in over three decades, both the Buckhannon-Upshur boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams will represent the school at the same time in the West Virginia State Championships which will be held Saturday at Cabell Midland High School.
For first-year head coach Justin Bowers, both teams making it to states was the cherry on top of a great regular season.
“The season has been rewarding,” noted Bowers. “I told the kids this week that our practices are the best part of my week outside my family. Watching them, as young men and women, show up and log countless miles and push themselves in really difficult workouts gives me a picture of the type of adults they’re going to be. We’ve been through all the phases this season. Injuries, sicknesses, mental battles, triumphs and mistakes. I’m so proud of them. I keep saying this but seniors like Alex Sappey, Joey Nolte, and Mallory Moss (and previous recent graduates) have built a culture here that is going to set B-U cross country up for a great future. If we can find a few more young guys to jump into the next few years our boys can keep growing. And this girls’ team is going to be a group to watch over the next 2-3 years.”
Bowers said regardless of how things turn out on Saturday this season has been a success.
“In some ways, Saturday already feels like a success,” noted Bowers. “Our goal as a team this year was to get to the state meet. With the reclassifications we didn’t know what it would look like to get out of the Region. There was a lot on the line for us. Our team missed going to states when Joey and Alex were freshmen by four points. That stung a bit. Our B-U boys haven’t been to states since 1999. Both boys and girls haven’t been there together since 1993. So, this is a celebration for us and we’re going to soak it in.”
That said, Bowers said he does have expectations for his two teams on Saturday.
“For our team as a whole, I’m expecting what I’ve expected all year – that they show up and put themselves out there with the most effort and the best attitudes they can,” remarked Bowers. “We’ve talked all season about setting a culture and watching results come from that. Our goals are always to perform to the highest level we’re capable of and walk off the course knowing we didn’t hold anything back.
“For the boys, it starts with Alex and Joey. They’re both ranked in the top 15, but the goal is to crack that top 10. There is some pretty elite competition, but they have it in them to get there. I believe that. With the rest of the boys, we’re young and scrappy. They’re going to learn about what it means to compete at this level, and I expect them to surprise themselves with how they rise to it. On the girls’ side, we’re building for the future. Mallory Moss is our only senior, so we want to send her out with a fun day and a great performance. For the rest of these ladies, I’m expecting them to get a taste of this state competition and catch a vision for the next couple of years and what it takes to be in those top spots.”
Last year, current Ohio Bobcat and former Lady Buc Samantha Shreve won the individual girl’s title. Bowers saw the pride that her victory brought to the school and the community and hopes to build off of that this year with both teams representing at the state meet.
“This is my first year as head coach, but I had the privilege of watching Sam Shreve go to states and win last year,” noted Bowers. “I saw our girls’ teams get there back-to-back a couple years ago. But something feels different this year, having the chance to take both our teams as representatives of Buckhannon. We live in a great place and when you’re competing in a region with teams like Cabell Midland and Hurricane and then at the state level against the University and Morgantown programs, to show heart like we have as a team and still find this path feels like something our town should be really proud of.”
On the girl’s side, George Washington is the favorite to win the title while University is predicted to claim the boy’s title. B-U’s girls are predicted to finish 12th while the boys are predicted to finish 10th according to the RunWV predictions.
“I’ve been telling the kids all year that we struggle now so we can smile later,” concluded Bowers. “We race Saturday at 9 am at the state meet as a boys and girls team going back together for the first time in 32 years. We’re definitely going to be smiling.”
