The Troy Girls Cross Country Team placed third out of 15 teams at the Troy Cross Country Meet this fall, qualifying them for the IESA State Final Meet.
The state-qualifying athletes consisted of students from two Troy Community School District 30-C schools – William B. Orenic Intermediate School and Troy Middle School.
They were Leah Blunk (7th grade, 13:17), Erin Santerelli (6th grade, 13:24), Rachel Saxon (7th grade, 14:00), Ava Offermann (8th grade, 14:04), Kendall Santerelli (7th grade, 14:24), Briahna Klobnak (8th grade, 14:50), and Emma Vugteveen (6th grade, DNF, injured). Bailey Williams (7th grade) did not run in the sectional competition, but did compete at the state competition in place of her injured teammate.
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Head Coach Stephanie Oswald said the athletes shared a special camaraderie and talent this year and embodied the team’s motto, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.”
“The girls had a wonderful season,” Oswald said. “We are so grateful to have sports again after missing a season to Covid. These ladies understood the challenges they faced being one of the few teams in the conference to not have had a season last year. The other coaches and I are so proud of their accomplishments, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds.”
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"It was so nice to see the Cross Country Team back in action,” said Troy Athletic Director Meagan DeGroot. “Just watching their first meet after a year off sports gave me the chills. The Troy Cross Country Team was our first team to make it to state since the pandemic. It took a lot of practice and time but these girls fought hard and persevered."
Other coaches of the team are John Davis, Allison McGinn, Heather Offermann and Alison Radek.
