Coach: Young squad building something exciting

Cassville High School’s cross country teams are back in action this fall with one clear goal in mind — breaking through to state after falling just short last year.

“The goal is always to qualify a team for state,” said Courtney Kirk, Cassville XC coach. “Last year, both our boys and girls teams finished just one spot shy of making it, which was a tough way to end the season. That finish has stuck with us and it’s fueling the work we’re putting in this year.”

On the boys’ side, the Wildcats return senior Jacob Hudson and junior Trever Garnett.

“Jacob has a strong work ethic and a solid summer base,” Kirk said. “He’s battled through injuries in the past and seems to be peaking at the right time. If you asked him, he’d say he’s not the team leader, but his actions consistently set the tone for everyone else.

“Trever gives us raw talent and grit. He’s highly competitive and when he’s locked in, he can just go out and get it done and usually pull his teammates along with him.”

The girls’ squad brings back seniors Kayli Anderson and Claire Reuter.

“Kayli competed at the state meet last season and brings consistency, experience, and quiet determination to our girls’ team,” Kirk said. “Claire may not have made the trip to state last year, but her growth over the past few seasons has been impressive. She continues to chip away at her times and push herself each year. I’m excited to see how far these ladies can go this last season.”

Cassville also welcomes a youth movement, with a few newcomers ready to contribute early. Freshmen on the boys’ squad include Donavan Mikesh, Vincent Buttrum, and Clay Williamson.

“Being freshman, they are new to high school cross country mileage but are adjusting well to the higher demands,” Kirk said. “Donavan is capable of leading the pack, and we’re working with him on finding that consistency.”

The girls addd a couple of fresh faces too in freshman Molly Cox and sophomore Leah Walker.

“They are already showing a willingness to learn and put in the work, which is exactly what we want to see at this stage,” Kirk said. “We’re looking forward to seeing how this young group grows as the season progresses.”

Kirk pointed to the team’s consistency over the summer as the biggest contributor to fall success.

“One of our biggest strengths right now is the foundation our athletes built over the summer,” she said. “They did a great job showing up consistently, which has made a huge difference. We don’t have to play catch-up conditioning, so now we can shift our practice focus to speed work, race strategy, and just fine-tuning.”

As the season unfolds, mental toughness will become the primary focus.

“Right now our team is in a good spot physically,” Kirk said. “We just need to stay strong on the mental side of racing. If we can stay out of our own heads and not let nerves or pressure get the best of us on meet days, I think we’ll be just fine.”

Kirk also singled out one meet where homecourse energy could make a real difference.

“Cross country is not the most spectator-friendly sport, but when you have people there throughout the course cheering for you, it’s a huge motivator,” Kirk said. “When runners know there’s fans out there rooting for them, that can be the difference between just hanging on in a race or pushing for a PR.

“It also gives families and community members a chance to see just how tough and determined these runners really are.”

The Wildcats’ schedule remains familiar, a deliberate choice, Kirk said.

“Our schedule stays pretty consistent from year to year, and that’s by design,” she said. “We choose meets where we know we’ll see the same teams we’ll face in the postseason. It gives our runners a chance to gauge the competition, get a feel for different race strategies, and build confidence heading into districts and beyond.”

Despite a young roster, Kirk sees potential growing fast.

“They’ve come together quickly and started learning from each other,” she said. “Even a handful of middle schoolers are practicing up. We’re building something exciting.”

The cross country teams competed in Seneca last week. Both boys teams finished 4th in their divisions. Jaxen Anderson won the middle school meet by a 10-second difference.

Trever Garnett, 19:13,

3rd Jacob Hudson, 19:51, 8th Peyton Anderson, 21:51, 30th Jarrett Paul, 23:56, 56th Donavan Mikesh, 23:57, 57th Daniel Sledden, 26:02, 68th Clay Williamson, 27:11, 70th Vincent Buttrum, 28:49, 76th

Varsity Girls: 3.1 miles, 46 runners

Lydia Cupps, 26:26, 12th Molly Cox, 28:05, 20th Leah Walker, 36:00, 38th

Middle School Boys: 1.6 miles, 103 runners

Jaxen Anderson, 9:47,

1st

Nathan Lyons, 10:06, 3rd Dexter Beyer, 11:02, 22nd Calvin Moore, 12:13, 43rd Aiden Harris, 12:31, 49th

Middle School Girls: 1.6 miles, 72 runners

Hattie Lyons, 11:11, 3rd Blakely Johnson, 14:04, 25th Isabella Cota, 18:05, 62nd