Dedham Boy's XC Look Forward to 'Fulfilling' Season

The number of runners on the boy's cross country team may be small, but the enthusiasm level is high as the team looks for its first win in several years.

Coach Bill Weschrob has been making recruiting phone calls since before school let out in the spring and attended the freshman orientation in the hopes to increase his numbers to 15 sets of sneakers hitting the trail.

Always ready with his sales pitch, Weschrob is making a concerted effort to find freshman athletes.

“Running cross country is a great way to get into good overall condition,” said Weschrob. “Whether their goals are to improve academically or to get into shape for another sport. Especially for those who run winter track, cross country lays a solid base so you start the season right.”

While he says his boys have been training hard, competing against larger teams in the Bay State Conference will remain a challenge.  senior co-captains Jimmy Lawless and Keegan Schofield agree.

“The roster is a little skimpy,” Lawless said. “But we have a lot of heart.”

When they compete against teams with 40 or 50 runners this fall, Weschrob says his focus will not be on the team’s overall record, but the personal growth of each runner.

“Some people might look at the wins and losses, but I look at the kids’ individual performances,” Weschrob says. a“I track their times throughout the season, in order to be able to show them ‘This is where we are, and this is what we need to work on to improve.’  We want them to peak at the end of the season.”

Weschrob’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his runners, who openly admire their coach. 

“It’s almost like Weschrob is the sport,” according to Lawless.

Echoing his teammate, Schofield quickly added that “Weschrob is like a father to us, the whole team.”

The two captains, who each run winter and spring track, had a similar outlook on what would make a successful season.

“I don’t think the season is going to come downs to wins,” Lawless said, “but if we can improve and have a good time that will be a fulfilling cross country season.”