Hot temperatures haven't melted the cross country team's desire to dominate their sport this fall. The team has been growing and becoming more competitive and, this year, has joined the Division 1 ranks.
The first test of the Eagles' mettle came Aug. 27, when both boys and girls teams take on Bay Village. Bay is one of the more challenging teams, according to Coach Tara Gruskiewicz.
“Elyria Catholic also joins our conference this year, so they will be a challenge, as well. Rocky River girls are one of the top Division 1 teams in the state this year.”
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Gruskiewicz added that the Elyria Catholic and Bay Village boys will also be tough teams to beat this year.
“The team started training June 22,” Gruskiewicz said. “We practice in the morning, and the heat hasn't been that bad. During the hottest part of the summer, we were just doing base miles. As soon as we started picking up the effort with harder runs the past two weeks, the weather has cooled off, which has been great.”
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Pay-to-play hasn't affected the team as it might other sports, according to Gruskiewicz. In fact, the team has grown from having 38 athletes last year to now having more than 50.
“I think cross country is cheaper than other sports. All you need is a pair of shoes, maybe spikes, and a team T-shirt. I really try to keep the costs of being on the team down.”
There is a six-day team camp that costs $250 during the summer, but Gruskiewicz said it is optional.
Guskiewicz is proud of how the team has meshed this year and is looking forward to a successful season.
“This is a really fun group of kids, but they work hard. I think that they know my expectations and our team routines, so they really take charge, and sometimes I feel like they don't even need me at practice,” she said. “Even though we have 15 newbies on the team, you would never guess it by the way they interact.”