The Crawfordsville cross country teams have reloaded and are ready for more success in 2021.
With a number of championships and postseason success on both sides of the program in the last five years, the Athenians have a strong balance of veteran leadership and youth presence for the upcoming season.
And a year removed from the unknowns of a pandemic driven season, coach Megan Craig knows it all comes down to building back up a team-oriented atmosphere.
“This summer we knew that we had to get back to building a solid foundation,” she said. “We needed the athletes together as much as possible, training and enjoying one another. Building the relationship is key when we get into the competition season. They work to do their best but they also push to make the team great.”
It helps having a big team. The Athenians will carry 12 girls and 14 boys this season — including a talented freshman class on both sides.
Hutton Haas and Max Brumett stand out, while Cole Capper and Jackson Walters are expected to make an impact.
“I look forward to having these freshman boys,” Craig said. “Coming in they are the most talented group of freshmen we have had.”
On the girls’ side, freshman Sophia Melevage is expected to be one of the top runners in the area.
The freshmen will join an already talented returning group.
On the boys’ side, sophomore Ryan Miller along with senior leaders Ian Hensley and Arthur Ruano.
And on the girls’ side, the top returners include Olivia Biddle, Elyse Widmer, Karla Fernandez, and Shelby Green.
Crawfordsville also welcomes sophomore Tyson Fuller, who is expected to make an immediate impact.
