In a sport which focuses mainly on individual accomplishment, the Clarkston High School girls cross country squad has bought into the team concept.
The team is having a season to remember with a league championship and a number one ranking in the state of Michigan. The Wolves are also ranked fifth nationally.
While the top seven varsity girls are receiving most of the credit, when you look deeply at the team you will find another group of talented junior varsity runners who are sacrificing for the good of the team. They are competing well for coach Jamie LaBrosse and have kept the varsity players injury free.
“The junior varsity players are so good that I ran them at all the dual meets this season,” LaBrosse said. “That has given us the advantage of being able to rest the varsity players. Some of those players were injury prone in the past and now they are in great health. Our strength is definitely our depth.”
The junior varsity group doing the dirty work for the Wolves include Whitney Bonier, Lauren Witt, Lisa Sickman, Anna Kerr, Maria Timm, Lauren Dedow, Kara Bogard along with alternates Courtney Coulson, Jenny Baibak and Andy Levaseaur.
“In the summer that group was right with us working extremely hard. I told them if they trained hard they would get the opportunity to compete. If we win the state championship they will be a big reason why,” LaBrosse said.
The group has made the most out of their opportunities to compete. In addition to being undefeated in dual action, the group was also given the chance to run in some varsity invitationals. Two first place finishes and a fourth place finish affirmed that the junior varsity team members could be running varsity in just about any other school in the area.
Despite being elated with the league meet victory, LaBrosse was saddened the only runners being recognized during the trophy presentation were the seven varsity members who ran in the race.
“I felt bad for them because I know how hard they worked and how much they helped this team,” LaBrosse said. “All the other teams we compete with had players who were hurt or banged up, but not us. The junior varsity did the dirty work by winning the duals for us. We are getting some national recognition and they deserve some attention.”
While the coach was feeling bad for the junior varsity, those girls were enjoying the moment. They have embraced the team concept and realize the role they play.
“We get a sense of satisfaction when we see the varsity doing well,” Bonier said. “ We know that we are part of that and we hope the girls go out and get number one in the state.”
Witt echoed her teammate’s comments.
“The junior varsity team has run really well and we have really come together as a team. It feels good to help the program and it gives us experience for the future,” Witt said.
Clarkston is getting ready for regional action this weekend and hopefully a state championship the next weekend.
The Clarkston team finished second in the state last season.
“I feel better this year than I did last year going into the postseason,” LaBrosse said. “Our team is talented and our health is good but when you race at state is just a matter of who wants it the most on that day.”