During the fall, Verona residents are enthralled by the various sports in season.  Whether it be supporting the football team on Saturdays or coming out to see a soccer game or volleyball match, fans look forward to the fall season.

However, arguably the most successful sport over the last two years has been Verona Cross Country and odds are a majority of people have never even seen a race.

This past fall the VHS boys cross country team finished undefeated within their division.  Led by senior captain Matthew Carroll this was the second consecutive year that the team won both their division and conference.  Although, cross country does not receive the glamour other high school sports do, members of the team practices just as hard as any other sport, six days a week.  Filling up the trophy cases, the VHS boys cross country team is slowly moving up the ranks as one of Verona’s most successful sports team.

“We had a very solid team this year.  There really was no standout carrying the load, but rather each individual contributing their own part,” explained Matthew Carroll.  Along with Matt, VHS juniors Patrick Cummings and Chris Feury performed well this past fall in various long distance races.  Up-and-coming sophomore stars Ryan Ramstahler and Jim Cuddihy ended up providing the team with much needed depth in the shorter races.  The boys cross country team finished their strong season by placing third in the Brett Taylor Invitational race just a few weeks ago.

Along with the boys the VHS girls cross country team also enjoyed success this past fall.  The team won their second consecutive division championship led by senior captains Melanie Egan and Sarah Conboy.  The team’s success came from the addition of two former soccer players, juniors Amanda Flores and Emily Peterman.  These four runners along with a strong supporting cast of underclassmen helped the girls capture their second straight division title.

“We used the success that the boys’ team was experiencing as our motivation.  We felt as a team that we had to match what they were doing” explained Melanie Egan.  Melanie consistently placed at the top of all her races, mainly participating in longer distance runs; she e plans to continue participating at the collegiate level.  The girls team also capped off their successful season with an appearance at the Brett Taylor Invitational race where Melanie Eagan placed first.

The overall success that both the boys and girls cross country team have experienced these past two years does not seem to be ending any time soon.  Matthew Carroll and Melanie Eagan both agree that the underclassmen which contributed this year will have no problem guiding the teams in the years to come.

If the cross country team keeps up its winning ways, a student section may have to start forming in the woods to root them on in those future matches.