Physical, mental challenges of cross country grind create unity for Wildcats

Tongues flop out as oxygen becomes less readily available to Wildcat runners coming down the home stretch. Cross Country seemed to be at a crossroads when the season began. The setback from losing integral seniors, however, actually paved the way for the perfect comeback. For the first time in two years, a boy runner was recognized as senior Jerry Sowers was named to the all conference team.

Head coach Stephanie Polak is proud of the team’s performance during adverse circumstances.

“Our schedule is very tough,” she said. “We face really great teams in the state and we have been able to place in the upper half as a team, in every single meet that we have been at.”

Arduous situations require solidarity like no other

“The team always supports each other, and running isn’t easy,” Polak said. “We need a positive atmosphere that the team brings in order to get through those difficult workouts.” 

Senior Braelee Jodarski has been competing on the team since freshman year, and she believes the squad peaked at just the right time.

“We are a second half racing team,” she said. “We do really well in the second half, that’s where we make all of our passes and our team connection is super strong.” 

After suffering a knee injury, Jodarski found a new passion in advising and coaching other runners.

“My goals were to go back to state, obviously that didn’t work out for me,” she said. “But it gave me a new perspective, and led me to be able to teach the younger kids how to race, and I think that has been going really well.” 

After three years of qualifying for the all conference team, goals seemed like they would need to shift for Jodarski after the injury. Still, the senior’s persistent attributes landed her on that list even after only running one meet this season. Freshman Abby Tercha stepped into Jodarski’s spot this season as she nurses her knee.

“It’s exciting, but it’s also stressful,” she said. “It’s nice that Braelee is still there helping me through it, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without it next year, honestly.” 

Tercha appreciates that the discipline of the cross country grind is balanced by the play of teammates.

“One morning, we were all running when it was pouring rain and we were just jumping in the puddles,” she said. “Our long running days are really fun when we're all talking.” 

The South Milwaukee meet was an overall team highlight, and sophomore Carter Crowe fondly remembers it.

“We had a big picnic,” he said. “Some years the team gets to go swimming; this year we didn’t, but it was still a lot of fun.” 

Polak concurs.

“Everyone was just so happy,” she said. “And at the Manitowoc meet, we got to get ice cream. I loved to see everyone so excited over a little scoop of ice cream; it makes me happy.” 

While the camaraderie and togetherness off the course was great, Sowers wishes the runners would have followed that strategy more closely during races.

“A weakness is not running together very well; we don’t always stick together as a group,” he said.

Pack running is an essential part of success for cross country teams. It reminds athletes that it’s a team sport, and intimidates other runners when they make an attempt to pass. Crowe finds the struggles to be more mental than physical.

“We tend to be more negative looking at the better teams, rather than trying to stay positive,” he said. “However the team gets along very well.”

An essential approach to team positivity happens away from race day. Polak enjoys the fun and uplifting team bonding activities that promote such camaraderie.

“Tie dying T-shirts at the start of the season was a great team building experience,” she said. “Our team is always ready to give their 100 percent at practices.” 

For Jodaski, fond memories lie in personal records.

“At the Neenah meet everyone did really well,” she said. “And watching everyone PR at conference was very fun.” 

Polak believes the sport opens windows to the self in a way difficult to achieve in normal circumstances.

“Cross country is one of the best sports in the entire world, because you see people do things they thought they were never capable of doing,” she said.

by Decorah Vienola and Sophie Carlin

Published October 30, 2023

Oshkosh West Index Issue 120 Volume 2