Fossil Ridge HS cross country team looking to build off last season鈥檚 success
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Fossil Ridge girls cross country team is young, led by five students returning from last year’s team, which took 6th place at State. Sophomores Tatum Berg (13th at State), Mia Williams, Sam Geraets, and juniors Delaney Voronin and Alaire Serell are at the helm this year. The boys return all but one from their State team. This year’s team is led by senior Cy Teruel (18th at State) and followed closely by junior Kevin Rodgers, senior Joey Souverein, and sophomore Carter Brazelton, all of whom made improvements during the spring track season. Also returning from last year’s rosters are sophomore Steven Hebert and seniors Zane Kondratieff and Jackson Lang.
Expanding the depth of talent on both teams, we have a contingency of new freshmen and improved returners. Freshmen Anya Gorely, Elise Porter, Lexi Zielke, Brooke Davis, Ryan Ruffer, and Bode Klein have all debuted in Varsity races, while sophomore Diana Hunt and juniors Mady Schimmelpfennig, Jacob Blocker, and Jake Devivo have all moved up the ranks from last year.
The team put in a lot of consistent training over the summer, meeting three times a week at 6:30am with great attendance.
Thirty out of the 73-person roster this year are freshmen or athletes new to the team. Over the years, these runners have done a great job welcoming in new athletes and encouraging them to make an impact in the program, both in performance and culture. It has helped create a 鈥渇amily鈥� feeling and an atmosphere where all runners feel they have a place within the program.
Kevin Rodgers has a great comeback story. He was in great shape at the end of the summer last year, then suffered an injury that took him out for almost the entire season. He continued to show up to practice every day to support his teammates and to cross train and perform any work that would help him return in the final weeks of the season. He ran well in one of the last races and continued to build toward a breakthrough track season. Thus far, in his first cross country season race, he opened the season with a 1:08 lifetime best. The second week he continued his spectacular trend, running 16:35 for a 4th place finish at the John Martin invite.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.