Small Town News

Cross-county for cross-country

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The Grafton Spoilers Cross Country team took home third place honors in both girls and boys varsity at the Grafton meet on Sept. 10.

With the Spoilers name across their chests, these kids ran thousands of meters on the Fair Oaks Golf Course, but some of them came cross county to participate in their home meet.

"We're pretty much Walsh County," said Head Coach Jeff McKay. Grafton Cross Country currently has open co-ops with Midway, Park River, Drayton, Valley, and Grafton. "Next year, we're looking at getting St. Thomas and Minto," he added.

The team, which has almost 40 kids participating from grades 7 through 12, has six participants who have taken advantage of their schools' co-op status. Ben Schanilec, an 8th grader from Midway; Rebecca O'Toole, Carly Augustin, and Kaci Phelps, seniors from Valley; Thomas Shephard, a junior from Valley; and Johnny Caulder, a sophomore from Park River have all tied on their running shoes and donned the maroon and gold.

Augustin, Shephard, and O'Toole are all in their second year as a part of the team. They took rums carpooling and they cheered each other on and challenged each other that first season all while making friends and staying in shape.

Augustin said that her mom was a big supporter for her joining the team and she wanted something to do other than volleyball. As a track distance runner, Augustin found crosscountry to be a good fit.

Shephard, who McKay has noted as being one of his top returning boys runners, said that he wanted to join to get in shape for basketball season.

"And for the social aspect," Shephard added about why he joined the team. As a junior, Shephard has another year of cross-country too look forward to.

"I'm a competitive guy and I'm going to try to do the best I can," said Shephard.

O'Toole joined the team as a way to get and stay in shape. O'Toole said she sees each race as a challenge to herself rather than against anyone else. She looks at the runs as a chance to better herself physically.

"So I can eat more cupcakes," she said laughing about why she joined the team.

Phelps is in her first year on the cross county team and as a track sprinter with the Drayton St. Thomas Valley team, she has found cross country to be quite different challenge. She joined the team as a way to stay in shape.

Sophomore, Caulder and 8th grader, Schanilec have time to build on their training and challenge themselves for the future. This is Caulder's first year running and Schanilec's second.

McKay said that he tells his runners to support the younger ones.

"They take care of each other," McKay said. "It's one big family bunch."

McKay is looking forward to a competitive season and he is already looking ahead to state. Sept. 12 the Spoilers traveled to Cooperstown. Sept. 17 they will be in Cavalier.

Regardless of what color the rest of their schools wear on the field, pieces of Valley, Midway, and Park River join with Grafton to run for fun because winning is fun.



Copyright 2009 Walsh County Press, Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 Walsh County Press Park River, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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