The Bolles girls cross country team has been among the top teams in the state for over a decade. Coach Tony Ryan gives us the scouting report on this year's squad.
What takeaways did you learn last season that you are looking to apply to the 2018 season?
We ended the season with a young group of girls, with just one senior (#5 girl) and one junior (#1 girl) in the line up at the state meet. So, ideally we just wanted to keep that group together, keep consistently training throughout the spring and summer, and stay healthy -- the core of the team will be together for the next few years, so we just want to continue improving as a team and individually.
What is the best way to describe your coaching philosophy when working with these high school athletes?
My philosophy is, and has always been, is that every girl who comes to practice regularly, who is consistent in her training, and who is a good teammate, is an important part of this team regardless of her age, her years running, and her ability. There is a place for everyone on this team as long as she follows that simple criteria. I think that's why we have a big group on the team (over 50) every year -- because it's not just about the top 7 runners
What has summer training been like?
Looks like summer training has went well for most girls . . . based on what I have seen so far most of the girls are in better shape than they were this time last year.
Any impactful freshman or transfers to join the team this season?
No.
Which athlete(s) on your team do you think will be the biggest surprise and why?
If I told you it would no longer be a surprise, right!!! . . . I do expect (or at least hope) to see a few of the younger girls who were in that 7 to 12 range on the team last year step up and be scorers (top 5) this season.
What will be the biggest challenge your team will face this year?
As always our challenge is to stay healthy throughout the season and continue to improve from week to week . . . last year we had some varsity girls get hurt, although it was more a case of bad luck than your typical overuse injury -- having a healthy and injury free team at the end of the season is usually the biggest challenge to overcome.
From your perspective, what would define success for your team this season? What do you think it will take for your team to achieve that?
We measure success based off being the best team that we can be at the end of the season; last season we were second at state, but every girl ran her best race at the state meet and that's all that a coach can ask for -- six girls ran lifetime bests and one girl a season best and even though we did not win it was a very successful end to the season.
Our JV girls had a great season and not only ran some great times, they pushed all the varsity girls to be at their best at the end of the year. The best way to achieve this is to have every girl working hard and working together regardless of whether she is #1 or #50 on the team . . . and, of course, staying healthy!
What are some of the meets the team is looking forward to this year?
We added a few new meets this year and we are looking forward to them -- we are bringing a big group of girls to the Big Bend Invitational at ARP in Tallahassee and this will give many of our non-varsity girls an opportunity to race on the state meet course for the first time. We are also going to the Adidas Challenge in Cary, NC and this will be an opportunity for some of our girls to race on the Nike Southeast Region course for the first time. We are also returning to New York to compete in the Manhattan Invitational in Van Cortland Park. Hopefully that will be as good an experience this year as it was last year.