SMALL/MEDIUM SCHOOL SEMI STATE WRAP UP
By: Coach Robert Swank
The state meet will have 1 small school, 4 medium schools and 19 large schools in both the boy’s race and the girl’s race.
SMALL SCHOOLS
Most years, there are no small schools represented in the state cross country meet. This year we have the highly unusual situation of having both a boys team and a girls team running. One was expected and the other was a surprise to most observers. The Perry Central boys will be making their third consecutive trip to Terre Haute. Perry Central was a unanimous first place pick in every small school poll this season, and most thought that they had an excellent chance of returning to LaVern Gibson. However, the Tri County girls caught most people by surprise. In the preseason small school poll they were 6th. Since the last small school girls team to qualify for the state meet was the 1998 Dubois Jeeps, one would hardly expect a preseason number 6 small school to make it. It did not take long for Tri County to start making waves though, as they moved up to first on the second regular season poll and were a unanimous first place pick in the last four small school polls of the year. I was still a doubter and stated in the regional wrap up that it would be an upset for any small school girl’s team to qualify for the state. In the Indiana Runner New Prairie semi state preview the Tri County girls were placed in the “looking for a miracle” category. The Cavaliers pulled off the miracle and are on their way to Terre Haute. Congratulation and best wishes. Make the small school backers proud by your performance there.
In the deserved hoopla over Tri County, Perry Central’s accomplishments should not be overlooked. It has been since Northfield’s fantastic teams in the early 90’s, that a small school has accomplished as much as Perry Central has in the last few years. Congratulation and best wishes. Make the small school backers proud by your performance at the state.
MEDIUM SCHOOLS
Four medium school boys teams will be running in the state finals. They are: SB St. Joseph’s, North Harrison, West Lafayette and Culver Academies. These teams were ranked 1,2,3 and 5 respectively in the final medium school poll. While none of these teams is expected to win, all are extremely good teams and could do very well.
Four Medium school girls teams will toe the line at LaVern Gibson. They are: West Noble, Culver Academies, Evansville Memorial, and Heritage Hills. As with the boys, none of these teams is expected to win, but all could have a good showing.
Special congratulations to Culver coach Mike Chastain on advancing both a boy’s and a girl’s team to Terre Haute. Two other coaches, Dylan Barnes of Evansville Memorial and Steve Lewark of West Lafayette, also came very close to advancing both teams. The Memorial Tigers advanced their girls and their boys were 7th, while the West Lafayette Red Devils advanced their girls and their boys were 8th.