State Cross-Country Feature: Youth movement for Fairfield cross-country

For a group of nine young men on the Fairfield cross-country team, they all are a part of what has become maybe the most successful high school program for nearly the past half decade in Highland County. 

The Lions are making their second consecutive visit to the Division III State Cross-Country Championships as a team, and they have had at least two runners race in the event for the past four years.

This year, the Lions were Southern Hills Athletic Conference champions, district champions and were third overall at the regional meet. They've won the district title and the SHAC title for four consecutive seasons. 

"This year, we knew it would be a struggle to qualify for state because we have such a young team," Friend said. "Our Top 6 runners were two sophomores and four freshmen, so we knew it would be a struggle. 

"We ran an excellent race, and qualifying for state is a good thing for the program because it gives the kids the experience to run against the type of competition you run against at state. So, that is something we can really build on, especially with the young kids we have in the eighth grade and even the seventh grade."

Though this is the second year in a row for FHS to earn a berth to race in the state meet, the team compared to last year has a different look. Back from the '13 team are senior Dustin Willey and sophomores Wyatt Evans and Trent Swisher.

This season, Willey's best time was 18:13.40 at the Unioto Invitational, while Evans had a best of 16:29 at the Highland County Invitational in Leesburg and Swisher's best time came at regionals with a time of 17:49.68.

"It was a surprise last year to make state, but we had more confidence this year, and we knew we had the abilities and teammates to return to the state meet again," Willey said. "We were more confident this year with all the new talent on the team."

"Like Dustin said … it wasn't as much of a surprise as last year when we qualified," Swisher said.

Fellow returning state teammate Evans also spoke about returning to the state meet.

"We expected to make it like last year, and we boosted our training so we could qualify again," he said. "It is nice to have our new teammates this season, and they've really made the program that much more competitive."

Coach Friend spoke about his top-placing runner.

"I'm grateful to have the leadership of Wyatt, even though he's just a sophomore," Friend said. "He always pushes the team in practice, and it is important for a team to have someone like that.

"They all feed off each other, and they push each other."

New to the state team in '14 are freshmen Matthew Mangus, Noah Richmond, Andrew Davis and Nick Price. Mangus has a best time of 17:08.90 at the Unioto Invitational.

"We are just really glad to go as a team," Mangus said. "Next year, I would like to qualify as an individual, and we would like to compete as a team in state again. This year, we are glad to make it, but next year, we really want to compete with the best teams at state."

His teammate Davis, who has a best time of 18:17, also at the Unioto Invitational, agreed. 

"It was pretty awesome to make state as a team, especially with four freshmen, and for us to achieve our goal," Davis said.

Price, who ran a season-best time of 18:01.10 at the Unioto Invitational, will also be making his state debut.

"It is exciting to go to state as a freshman and for all of us," he said. "We are looking forward to competing, and it is something we've looked forward to all year. Now is our time to get ready for it."

Richmond is also one of the freshmen who will be running for the first time at state. Richmond's best time this season was 17:33.50 at the Unioto Invitational.

"Like my teammates said, it was awesome to make state, but I'm really looking forward to next year, because I think we can compete at a higher level," Richmond said.

Alternates for FHS are freshman Tucker Ayres and sophomore Dillon Burley. Ayres' best time was 18:28.30 (at the UHS Invite), and he was also a member of the All-SHAC team this season.

"It has been great experience this season and being a part of the team so young that made it to state," Ayres said. "I want to work more and get better, and maybe I can make it to state again next year with the team."

Burley spoke about the competition within the team this season. He was an All-SHAC and All-District member this season. His best time of '14 came at the SHAC Meet with a time of 18:13.60.

"It was harder for me this year to move up, because I wasn't much of a runner last year," the sophomore said. "I got better this year, and seeing all the freshmen come up … we were battling for the spots of top seven.

"We did a good job of pushing each other and making it to state."

So what are the expectations for the Lions at state this season?

"We are at the stage where it is the 16 best teams in the state, and I'm at the point where for as young as we are, for us to go out and beat a few of those teams," Friend said. "Next year, the expectations will be completely different."

Also for the Lions, they have to look at their past to appreciate what their present and future hold for the program that after a few more seasons might have to get their own wall at Grandle Gymnasium for the potential number of banners they could earn in their high school career.

"Without seeing the success of past runners we've had in the program, it is hard to understand this sport," Friend said. "Luckily, we had that with Michael (Mangus) and Blake (Hildebrant) in past seasons."

With the influx of freshmen on the team on '14, the veterans of the team have welcomed them to the program with the highest of regard. One of the traits anyone can see by spending just a few minutes around the team is they have great team chemistry.

"This season has been my most enjoyable year of coaching," Friend said. "We have seniors through the seventh grade that have a good work ethic, they don't complain how much we run, they push each other and they all get along."

Also for FHS, Friend said his team has been blessed with talent, evident by their overall numbers.

"Talent will only get you so far, and these kids … all the way through the ranks they work hard, and that's a part of the equation we have here. You have to be willing to not just put in the miles here, but you have to run in the summer, and we are starting to build that.

"It has been a slow process, but now we are getting that type of competition, where I know these guys are going to be willing to give that effort. They don't want to be left off the roster in the tournament. I can only run the Top 7 in the tournament, and that builds and makes the whole team stronger. They've taken it well, and that type of competition is lucky to have."

In looking at the numbers by Evans, last year he was in the Top 100 in the state race, and this year he has larger goals, as he wants to not just be in the Top 50 overall, but race past those who finished ahead of him from the Division III Regional Tournament.

"We are looking to bounce back," Evans said.

The three who have been there know it isn't easy to just make the state championships and understand what it means to make it to the top level of Division III cross-country.

"It is an honor to make it and get to this level," Willey said.

"It is nice to see all of the hard work pay off," Evans said.

The Division III State Cross-Country Championships will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 11 p.m. at the National Trail Raceway in Hebron.