Meet the Cross Country Team

Interviewing head coach Tom McGough, I learned more about the cross-country team. Pierce and Alex are some of the top two consistent runners and everyone else has been doing their role with placing at meets is some of the achievements the team has earned. The boy’s team has won the Big Dakota Conference and the Chamberlain Invitational, and they have also won every meet they have been in. Coach McGough is happy with everyone’s progression so far this season and is excited to watch them achieve more goals.

So far, the season is going very well Coach is very happy with the progress of the team. They always talk about trusting the process, trusting each other, and trying to get a positive mind set for everyone to grow. The team tries to focus on what is happening right now to better for the next event. The next meet is the Hyde cross county meet and next Wednesday will be the final regular season meet which is the Central Conference Meet in Gettysburg. After the conference meet, they will have the region meet which is also in Gettysburg and then the state meet in Sioux Falls. The cross-country team is ending quickly.

Goals for a good season is an important factor is any sport. Here are some goals the cross-country team strives for. A goal for the team was to keep on building what they have but in place from the past seasons and meets to grow has a better runner. Another goal personally and as a team was having a good mindset and working hard toward their goals. Coach McGough believes achieving their goals is by trusting the process and keeping a positive attitude. Cross country is a mind game according to Coach. There are going to be some certain conditions that can push you to be better or might hold you back from where you are wanting to be. Coach McGough’s goal is to make sure his athletes the believe in themselves to become better athletes.

Coach McGough always looks forward to each day of practice. He loves watching his team grow personally and as a team and coming together. He tries to focus on what the team needs to learn today for a better tomorrow and not get to far ahead of themselves. They try to set themselves up for tomorrow and see what it will bring.

Interviewing Coach McGough was a great experience. I learned a lot about the cross-country team and what is takes to be a good team. I hope for the best for the cross-country team at their last few meets and to do well.

2021 Miller Cross Country Team

Head Coach – Tom McGough Assistant Coach – Hillary Smith

24 Athletes – 12 Girls – 12 Boys

9 Baumberger, Pierce

8 Gates, Ellie

7 Gibson, Jake

7 Gortmaker, Allie

12 Gortmaker, Caden

8 Gortmaker, Isaiah

6 Gortmaker, Taytum

8 Grupe, Brody

8 Harrell, Ethan

7 Hofer, Grace

12 Howard, Alana

6 Hurd, Chase

9 Hurd, Kellan

7 Kindle, Tyson

9 Nye, Madeline

7 Nye, Olivia

6 Pugh, Avery

7 Pugh, Emma

6 Resel, Jessa

8 Resel, William

10 Schumacher, Alex

7 VanDerWerff, Jaymin

8 Werdel, Bella

8 Werdel, Gabby