Rob Callagan and Byron Sanders were named co-Most Valuable Runners for the boys cross-country team, while Olivia Johnson was named Most Valuable Runner for the girls Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the team’s awards banquet.
Coach Billy Snow said the Husky boys benefited from a “great group of young runners,” which brought an increased level of competition to the varsity squad, which finished in the top third of all its races until it was hit by some injury problems late in the season and finished third in the district, behind Philomath and Central.
The girls, who started the season with a total of eight runners and finished with six, also finished third, behind Central and Philomath.
“The girls were shorthanded, but they did well until Elmira,” Snow said.
“We didn’t hit our goals in districts.”
Still, he said, the Huskies enjoyed competing together and showed an ability to work hard and responded to coaching.
In addition to her Most Valuable Runner award, Johnson also was named to the All-State third team by virtue of her 19th-place finish in the state meet on Nov. 1.
The female Rookie Runner of the Year was sophomore Caroline Amendola while freshman Nick Hall was named the male Rookie Runner of the Year.
Senior Nikki Smith was voted Most Inspirational Runner while Callagan was given the Will to Win Award.
Freshman Avery Shamek was named Most Improved Runner.
The Ironman award, given to runners who missed no practices during the season, went to sophomore Jenna Kistner, Smith, and juniors Byron Sanders, Chris Thompson and Michael Simmonds.
Callagan was the lone fourth-year letter winner on the team.
Junior Jill Mahler was the only third-year letter winner.
Second-year letters went to Johnson, Kistner and Carissa Swanson for the girls.
Two-year letter winners for the boys were Smith and Calhoon.
First-year letter winners were Amendola, freshman Sarah Hawkins, junior Natasha Perry, senior Louise Wilcox, Hall, Simmonds, sophomore Joe Stroud, senior Alex Whitlow, and juniors Chris Thompson, Jake Comstock, Casey Keys and Dakotah Keys.