Coach Greg and Coach Jenny have developed some traditions throughout seven years of winning state. We started practicing in mid-summer, and the workouts got more intense as we got closer to state. The Friday before the state meet, the top thirteen girls and Coach Greg and Coach Jenny piled on a bus and hit up a few thrift stores that we raid every year. After teasing each other with fitting t-shirts, we headed to Madeline’s house for jambalaya and cookies. There the team bonded as we were haggling Catherine Belle about eating fifteen cookies as she does at this dinner every year. After the party ended, the bus was forced to endure the raggedy streets of New Orleans. On Sunday, we met up at Audubon Park for a short practice, the last of the season.
On Monday morning, we met at school and loaded all of our bags and claimed our spots on the bus. Shortly thereafter, we walked to New Orleans Coffee and Beignet and chowed down, one of the many traditions we have. We walked back to school and met our driver who we quickly came to know as Papa Smurf. Then, we began our journey to state with the top thirteen girls on the team. We stopped at the same gas station in Port Allen where we have for the past eight years where Coach Greg gambles and loses exactly $5, one of his many superstitions. It is tradition that the seniors give the state team a gift, and this year, Caroline Bloemer, Estelle Paulk, and Katie Nelson, the only seniors on the trip, gave us Sacred Heart CC monogrammed head warmers, speakers, and candy (the best gift yet). Our next stop was in Alexandria at a tiny, decrepit Subway, also a tradition of the state trip.
After arriving in Natchitoches and dropping our junk off at the hotel, we rushed to the course to catch the finish of the Girls 2A race. After seeing what we would be doing the next day, we went for a two mile jog on the course to get reacquainted with the course. After our run, we all took a sit on the well-worn Top 10 bench on the track as Coach Greg gave us inspiring words. We then headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner downtown. After showers and freshening up, Coach Greg called us into the extra room for a surprise. He had purchased the teams matching neon green long sleeve workout tops. We sported our matching lime green tops and head warmers in downtown Natchitoches area while looking at the Christmas light displays and eating dinner. The dinner consisted of Dionne Bloemer’s infamous salad, accompanied by pasta, chicken, and brownies. We took some team pictures before exerting our last bits of energy on the jamming bus ride back to the hotel.
When we got back to the hotel, Coach Greg awarded us with funny t-shirts that best fit our personalities. This tradition draws many laughs from the whole team. We were nervously laying in bed by 10:00, awaiting the upcoming morning.
In the morning, we woke up at 9:00 sharp for a small breakfast downstairs in the lobby. We loaded our stuff onto the bus before heading to the course. As we neared the course, we sat listening to music with our headphones on as the nervous tension increased. After a few hectic minutes at the gate, we entered the course where, to our surprise, Coach Greg and Coach Jenny had already set up the tents. We went for a short warmup, and before we knew it, it was time to put on our spikes and head to the starting line. Coach Greg collects dirt from the course after every state meet we win and sprinkles it on our feet for good luck and superstition purposes.
The next second, the gun sounded and we were running amongst the blur of French braids and ponytails. For the first half mile, the team stuck together before we (Madeline and Catherine Belle) and Caroline Bloemer took off. A few meters past the one and a half mile, we started separating and Catherine Belle widened the gap between her and the #2 runner at that point in the race. The third mile flew by while Catherine Belle’s mind was occupied with nerves of being passed, but we both pushed forward and finished first and third in the race. Closely behind us were Megan Jackson (5th) and Mary Nusloch (8th). Being interviewed by news reporters was a new experience for both of us. After team and individual pictures with the trophy, we headed to Sonic with our trophy in hand. At Sonic, we wrote on the nook on the wall for the seventh time declaring our state-championship win. The next stop on our way home was the gas station, home to the gazebo where we take pictures every year we win state. The ride back from state is generally quiet, due to the exhausted runners sleeping. When we arrived at school, we were surprised to see a banner had been made and hung outside the gym to congratulate us on our win. We took more pictures, unloaded our stuff, and headed home for a peaceful night. What makes the cross country season so unforgettable are the traditions and bonds we make with our teammates and coaches. Our coaches are really the glue that holds our team together with their qualities of patience and humor, while our teammates support each other through hard work and determination.