The boys cross country team has a long tradition of winning and positive attitudes, but one new thing they will have to learn is leadership.
Last year, three of the four captains graduated,leaving lots of open spots for leadership roles. One of the people to fill a leadership role is Max Murphy, and he is ready to take on his new task. “I learned a lot from my previous years,” Murphy commented, “It’s my job to pass the traditions on to the freshmen.” He is hoping to have a successful season this year, and started out as the sixth runner in the state during the preseason.
Another experienced runner who is ready to help the team is Ian Kaffenburger. He is coming off of one of his best seasons, and was a junior captain. This season he is worried about more than just himself and his personal goals. “ Our job as captains is to show the freshmen how to represent the school and our team.” Kaffenburger is looking out for the future of the program, and is hoping to keep the team’s identity intact for years to come. His previous experience will undoubtedly help him teach the freshman how to carry on the PV legacy.
The Spartans have a long history of winning, and in 2018 were the MAC and district champions. Coach Nick Sacco said, “We have a lot of parts that make us a great team, but without leadership, we wouldn’t be even close.” The new leaders this season have big shoes to fill, but are not coming in without experience. Both co-captains Murphy and Kaffenburger were in the top ten of the PV Boy’s Cross Country team by their sophomore years, and are now two of the top varsity runners. They have watched previous seniors lead the team and are now ready to take the reigns themselves.
There may be new leadership throughout the cross country team, but the overall goals remain the same: to win the MAC again and have a burst leading up to the state meet. With the experience throughout the various grade levels, the coaches are optimistic about continuing their future success.
