Most of the time, the top runners on a cross country team are not recognized for the leadership they provide, Sweet Home High School Coach Dave Martin said. This year, senior Justin Temple was recognized as the team’s most inspirational runner as well as the outstanding boys runner.
Maria G. Andrade, a senior, was named the team’s outstanding girls runner.
The outstanding runners are models of what Coach Martin would like to see in his runners, he said. They show a good attitude and work ethic.
The team voted on the awards.
For most improved, there were 16 votes cast, Coach Martin said. Seven of 16 runners received a vote, a testament to the improvements made as a team this year and showing that a lot of runners had a great season this year.
The runner who received the most improved award had a significant margin in the voting after improving his time by two and a half to three minutes. The award went to sophomore Richard Westvik.
Westvik worked hard and shot into a varsity spot just before the end of the season, Coach Martin said. The scope of Westvik’s improvement is something Coach Martin would not have expected at the beginning of the season.
In addition to team recognition, Coach Martin recognized Temple for his achievements, earning a spot at state all four years in high school. With that, Coach Martin inducted Temple into the Sweet Home High School Cross Country Hall of Fame. Other inductees include Cora Adcock, Joe Olson, Jesse White and Jessie Schra.
Coach Martin thanked the team’s parents for their work getting his runners to practice, especially morning practices. He also thanked Debbie Temple, Billy Snow and Kevin Tarpenning for their assistance with meets throughout the season.
Coach Martin thanked the team “for a great season” and said this year was “one of the most fun.”
On the girls team, nearly all improved by two or three minutes. The boys improved anywhere from 30 seconds to more than a minute for Robert Couch, two minutes for John Lovik and nearly three minutes for Westvik.
The boys team making state with two other schools favored for the spot in the district meet was the big highlight of the year, Coach Martin said. As he looks forward to next year, “all the underclassmen have such tremendous potential and already have had good seasons” that both teams look “very promising” for next year.
Earning their first letters were freshman Megan Snow, freshman Andrea Martin, sophomore Ana Andrade, senior Jessica Brocard, senior Kalee Schaefer, freshman John Lovik, sophomore Robert Couch, sophomore Richard Westvik, senior Jay Mariner and senior Jake Dahlenburg.
Earning their second letters were senior Maria G. Andrade and sophomore Kyle Temple. Senior Andrew Allen earned his third varsity letter, and J. Temple earned his fourth. Junior varsity certificates went to Michele Anderson and Amanda Comer.