Cross country runners look to follow in footsteps of senior leadership

photo courtesy of Fallon Crowe

As some fall sports begin to wind down, cross country has just begun as runners aim to challenge themselves. For senior runners, the backbone of the team, personal success also means preparing new teammates this season.

Some athletes struggle to step outside their comfort zone. Senior and team captain, Carter Crowe, prioritizes the significance of persistence and the mental game that occurs when facing an implication that runners might encounter.

“I always say the motto is don’t quit; cross country is a sport that is 90% mental and 10% physical,” he said. “You need to have that mindset that you believe in yourself.”

For Crowe, mental resilience is the priority that he seeks to foster within the team. Cross country provides a place where athletes train themselves to be prepared for adversities and discomforts they may face. As they run with different climates and places, resilience inspires them for not just sports but life after school.

“I think being resilient when you face a challenge or a hardship makes a great cross country runner,” he said. “The mental game is one of the most important aspects in your life.”

According to junior Abby Tercha, endurance and mindset conflate as athletes need to reinforce their own experiences and training.

“I would tell them that most of it is in their head, so they need to have a positive self-talk and get out of their head in a way,” she said. “I like to keep telling themselves that they can do it because they have the ability and mindset to do it.”

Cross country head coach Stephanie Polak understands what it means to feel a challenge when running. She believes that the close environment of the team increases team chemistry and encouragement. Practice expands team chemistry, a necessity to succeed at the higher levels. 

“We really try to create a family-type atmosphere and really good team chemistry, so that when we get to meet situations, our veterans, those that have been out before really try to help those new runners to establish what the course feels like and help them through that process,” she said. “We really stress about that unified and supportive environment, striving to that goal.”

Veterans provide the spark that drives the team. Freshman Will Sheik appreciates the impact.

“The seniors helped me a lot,” he said. “One of the seniors that I look up to especially is Carter Crowe. He is a great runner, inspires other teammates, and is a great leader. He picks up teammates and helps them to be at their best when they seem to be struggling or hit their limits when running.”

Polak feels the more experienced runners bring a sense of stability during practice and meets. 

“Of course, the runners are going to be nervous, but I feel like the veterans really aid in that situation and just get them to calm down, relax, and try to go to this meet like it’s another practice,” she said. “Veterans are the key pieces within this cross country team to keep everyone relaxed and calm.”

Leadership skills from the veterans enable the team to have a tight linkage with the runners.

“They get them to calm down, relax, trying to go to this meet like it’s another practice. We just want to focus on the meet, where we break down every aspect of the race,” she said. “Which kind of really keeps them calm, knowing like this is what the first mile is going to feel like, this is what the second mile is going to feel like, and what the finish is going to be like.”

As the season continues to advance, the new talents within the team will arise under the leadership and the mental persistence of veterans and coaches. 

“I feel very excited about the entire team,” she said, “including our new varsity runners that we’ve got some new additions to the team.”

by Mark Jung

Published October 6, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue I