Kaitlyn Richards, Class of 2011: My family always jokes that when I was little I used to follow my dad around the house saying “Goin’ runnin’ dad, goin’ runnin?”, hoping to join him on the track with my tricycle for a few fast loops. Ten years later I would be making those same laps around the track, but by then I was on foot too, training to run for more than just fun. When sign-ups for fall sports began in seventh grade, I immediately joined the cross-country team. Running was already in my blood, but by that time I had no idea just how much writing my name on that slip of paper would change my future. Running has not only kept me focused and determined, but it has also taught me countless lessons I can carry through life, lessons I am sure to find absolutely invaluable in the future.

Cross-Country has always been more than just race times and speed; for it has been a way to fit in and to find a place where I truly feel at home. I joined this high school team four years ago, a scrawny little freshman with chicken legs and too-long hair. It may be hard to believe, but I wasn’t always this tall. I knew little when it came to the mechanics of this sport, and never failed to giggle when coach told us our workout of the day was “fartleks.” I still remember the gun going off for the first time, hearing the clicking of spikes over the path and realizing that this was so much more than just a sport. The solace of a cross-country path has allowed me thousands of hours to think about what this sport really means, and I don’t believe anyone could truly describe all the feelings that pass through our minds in a single season.

Racing brings out the true character of a runner and pushes us to limits we never dreamed to reach. Whether you were the fastest runner this year and fought tool and nail to beat out your opponent in the final stretch, or whether you silently pushed yourself to shave four seconds off your first race time(a truly amazing feat), we all struggled through the hard times and rejoiced when we won. Over the years I’ve had my own share of tough times, but never once did I imagine leaving the sport behind and trying something new. Cross-Country has become so much a part of me that I don’t think I will ever be able to leave these experiences behind. When’s the next time I will be able to run barefoot through three inches of mud in a downpour, or cross a finish line and look up to see a number lower than before?

Through running I have learned that determination and perseverance can take you to all new heights, and that although it may hurt along the way, reaching your goals is one of the greatest feelings known to man. I’ve learned the value of teamwork and I’ve created bonds that will never be broken. I remember sitting at this banquet four years ago, looking at my seniors and not being able to imagine myself in their spot. It seemed so many years away, and I had so much to learn and do along the way. Now I’m standing where they were so many years ago, and I still don’t feel like I’m ready to leave. I know those trails like the back of my hand and can’t imagine not lacing up my shoes to run them one more time, to hear the leaves crunch under my feet as I fly though the Inner Loop or push myself over the crest of one more exhausting hill. I keep thinking I’m going to show up at practice and hear Coach V. telling us he has come up with an more extended interval workout, complete with two death-defying hills, or that Del will there with some corny joke I can repeat every word of because I have heard it since I was in seventh grade. But then I realize that the end has come, and that it is time to move on and run new courses, conquer new hills, and sprint new finishes. It time for me pass the “course” on to all of you younger runners and trust that you will let it teach you the same lessons, and that you will add new experiences to its story.

I just want to thank each and every person here for helping me gain all that I did out of this sport. All I needed was a pair of shoes, a t-shirt and some shorts, and with these I began a new chapter in my life. The coaches have taught me so much about what it means to be a runner and a member of a team, and I trust their teachings to keep me moving through life in college and beyond. The parents have spurred me on at times to greatness, and other times have cheered me through to the finish of a tough meet. Thank you for coming out in the worst weather conditions imaginable, for running the course as much as we do to make sure you are always there to offer a word of encouragement. Thanks to the Leff’s and Emanuelli’s for keeping my belly full. Thanks to Mrs. Gabriel for always being there with camera in hand, even though some of those pictures I could do without seeing again. Thank you to my parents, who were never afraid to tell me what they really thought of my race and who were always there on the course ready to push me on through some of my worse runs. I owe so much of my perseverance to them, because they never let me believe I wasn’t good enough to be there.

And of course my biggest thank you goes out to each and every one of my teammates seated before me, some of whom I’ve know and even “played” with since I was eight years old. You guys were always there to join me in celebration after a great race, and even more importantly to pick me up when I was down. Some of you believed in me more than I believed in myself, and gave the hope I needed to push myself to new levels. I’ve formed some friendships here that I never wish to lose, and for as long as I live this family will hold a special place in my heart. I’ll miss being a proud member of the West Genesee Cross-Country program, but as long as you keep running and pushing yourself as hard as possible, I will make sure I’m there to watch you succeed whenever I can. Spectating is almost as great as the race itself, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this team. It’s sure to be great. 

Matt Gonnella, Class of 2011: Four years ago, a person gave this speech who had a little more fun in cross-country than usual. As he stepped up to the podium to speak, I along with all my teammates expected nothing more than jokes and laughter. I was excited for it. We were all ready to laugh. But we never did. What surprised me was that one runner who never had any running experience, in a sense taught me how to run. In his speech, he referenced a lion chasing a gazelle which to him symbolized us chasing a dream. 

Four years ago I was no better than anyone else. I never really had any success with cross-country and never expected to. But when I heard that speech, something clicked. I figured if I liked it so much and I was going to show up to practice every day, then why not? 

Four years later I can proudly say that I am proud of my accomplishments as runner and my only regret is that I didn’t truly realize what hard work could do before then.  

Four years later West Genesee Cross-Country has put their name on a list of the best running programs in the state. Which tells me one thing: we are all working hard. 

Four years later, whether we know it or not, that speech set the tone for West Genesee Cross-Country. 

Four years later, one runner, in his first and only running season, who never broke 20 minutes in the 5k, showed us how to run. 

Four years from now, I don’t want you to forget his speech. I don’t want you to forget what the power of hard work can do because in four years, we can be four times better than we are now.  

In four years, the impact of my class won’t be seen in stats or memories. 

In four years, the impact of my class will be seen through your actions. I hope and I pray that these actions will be great. I hope that we, as seniors, did our job.  

In the next four years all your actions and all of your accomplishments can be rooted back to your seniors, past, present or future. So whenever you do something great, I know that the foundation was laid by years of hard work by all of you and your predecessors. And that every former Wildcat can be proud of your accomplishments.  

I am going to end this speech with the very words Steve Menges closed his speech with in 2007:  “This is your quest and you control your own destiny.”

2011

GIRLS TEAM AWARDS:

Most Valuable Runner

Laura Leff

 Most Improved Runner

Emily Lynch

 Hammer Award

Kelly Powell

 Impact Rookie Award

Lindsay Weaver

 Wildcat Scholarship Award

 Amy Hannahan

LEAGUE AWARDS/HONORS:

Footlocker National Championship Qualifier

Federation Championship Qualifier

 State Championship Qualifier

All League – 1^st Team

Laura Leff

All League – 2^nd Team

All League – Honorable Mention

All-State 1st Team:

All-CNY

Laura Leff

BOYS TEAM AWARDS:

Most Valuable Runner

Martin Leff

Most Improved Runner

Mike Lannon/Andrew Marotta

Hammer Award

Mike Wells

Impact Rookie Award

Will Randall

Wildcat Scholarship Award

Mark Reilly

LEAGUE AWARDS/HONORS:

Federation Championship Qualifier

Martin Leff - 26th

State Championship Qualifier

Martin Leff - 27th

All-CNY Runner

Martin Leff

All-League – 1^st Team

Martin Leff

All-League – Honorable Mention

Ethan Osborne

Nat Conroy

Cross-Country Banquet Senior Speeches

Olivia Brown, Class of 2012: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, friends and family. Welcome to the 2011 West Genesee Cross Country banquet. My name is Olivia Brown. I am a senior on the girl’s team and have just completed my third and final year of varsity cross country running. First I would like to say congratulations. Congrats to you all on finishing another great season. And congrats to Laura and Martin Leff, who are competing at the New York State Federation Championship meet this weekend. Good luck to you both. 

          Nowadays, you can find all the answers on Google. So I ‘googled’ cross country, and it told me this. Cross country running is a running event in which runners and their teams compete to gain first place on a course over open or rough terrain. What this definition does not include is that cross country running is painful. It is tough, and although it is these things, it is enjoyable. What this definition does not include is that one must have not only physical endurance and strength, but these mental aspects as well. Coach V isn’t kidding when he says that race analyses are vital in becoming in tune with yourself as a runner. Building that mental and comprehensive strength early on will only make you a better runner in the long run, no pun intended. Unlike the definition, cross country’s main goal is not always to win first place; sometimes that is out of our reach. I have learned that it is about becoming successful in your own self. Vince Lombardi once said, “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand." This really signifies what cross country has taught me. Striving to be better makes you better, and setting new goals helps you to work at them, not only in cross country, but in life as well. 

          Most importantly, what the definition does not include is that cross country running brings a group of people together: to suffer, to enjoy, and to thrive in the gift of an art. Our team is a family. I truly believe that no sport is more connected than ours. In cross country, everyone does the same work and runs the same races. Over this, we can bond like no other. This year, the senior class members on this team are closer than ever. I believe that we have the closest group this team has seen in a few years. You have become my best friends, and there is no group of people I would rather end this experience with. I love you all. 

          Thank you to the rest of my teammates: juniors, sophomores and freshman alike. Thank you for all cheering for me during races, and pushing me to the farthest limits in practice. I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of you. And thank you especially to my brother, Joe Brown, who decided to start his first year of varsity cross country with me, while I finished my last year; who had icing parties with me after practice, and who let me cry in his arms after my last race. You really don’t know how much it means to me that I was able to share my favorite season and hobby with you.

          I also want to thank my parents. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for putting on our first team dinner with the entire team at our house. I know four kids at times is a lot to handle, and that having 60+ must have been astronomically difficult. You both have always given me support in everything that I do. I love you both.

          Don’t worry, V, I didn’t forget about you or Del. Recently at the state meet at VVS during the awards ceremony, the coordinator was talking about how the runners must all thank their families, friends, and other supporters for helping them get to where they are. Coach V then turned to us and said, “What about your coaches?” There is a lot I could say about these two men. 

          I have always wondered what V’s office looks like at home. The only way I can picture it is a room stuffed with manilla folders, clipboards, and data charts dating back to God knows when. I don’t think we realize or appreciate how much time V puts into not only our team as a whole, but each one of us individually as runners. He spends hours of his time logging data and thoroughly responding to our race analyses to make us better runners. I want to thank you, Coach V, on behalf of the team for caring so much and striving to make us the best we can be. You always know the highest place we can reach, and you never fail to guide us in the right direction to get there.

          Now, Coach V we can count on for the answers, but we all know we can count on Coach DelSole to make us laugh by cracking his corny, usual jokes. If I had a nickel for every time Del leans against his car, arms crossed, transitions lenses darkened so you can’t tell where he is looking, only to get off his car and start with, “You know something…” or “I’m gonna be perfectly honest with you,” I would be a very wealthy girl. Not only is he a jokester, but Del keeps us focused. He knows just as well as V what we can accomplish, and he will not hesitate to push us harder when he knows we can do better. Nevertheless, Del, you never fail to put a smile on our faces, not even when we are having the most down of days. Thank you for always making us smile, and for keeping us focused in the right direction. 

          I love these two men like fathers, and I will never forget what you two have done for me. A ‘thank you’ from me is not nearly enough to give you both. 

          Another important aspect to a runner’s life is, of course, the food. I have many people to thank for food. Thank you to Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Lannon, and the rest of Friends of Wildcats Cross Country for traveling to every meet and feeding us after our races. I speak for all of the team when I say that probably the brightest face of the day was Katie Lannon after every race, waiting with a huge cup of chocolate milk for all of us.

          I will miss many things about West Genesee cross country. I will miss coming to practice after school everyday, sitting down in front of V’s car, waiting to hear what he has to say. Running through the quagmires, falling in the quagmires. Showing dirt hill no mercy, digging into every crevasse with my FM spike. I will even miss V telling us to do his favorite loop. I will miss the remarkable satisfaction you get when you cross the line, tears in your eyes, mud on your legs, gripping onto the lines trying to catch your breath when all your mind is screaming to you is, “You did it!” Most of all, I will miss all of you sitting in front of me. I know you are all going to have another phenomenal season next year; you are beyond talented. I will be back here cheering for you all next year as much as I can. However, this is not a farewell, not even close. This is merely a see you soon (really soon for all of you who are doing Indoor and Outdoor). And for those of you who are not, good luck with the rest of your year and activities. No matter what, you are always a Wildcat runner. I am blessed to have met and gotten to know, each and every one of you. Thank you. 

Mike Wells, Class of 2012: Good evening everyone. V and Del, you were right once again, once the season starts it really does fly by. Tonight we sit here together as we conclude the 2011 cross country season. That’s with the exception of the Leff family duo, congrats on making it to feds and good luck on Saturday.

            I want to start by thanking the committee and staff that puts this banquet to together season after season. It is a night that runners, coaches, and parents alike all look forward to. Also a special thanks to the “partners in crime”, Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Lannon, who filled our stomachs after meets, and to Mrs. Osborne who stepped up to capture all of the season memories for the season DVD. These parents, along with all of the other parents, grandparents, and siblings, combine together to be West Genesee XC’s biggest fans. You travel across New York State in all different weather conditions to watch a sport that many compare to watching grass grow. None the less you continue to support us. Thank you.

            Coach V and Del, has it already been 4 years? It seems like just yesterday that I was an awkward little freshman on packet night and now it’s the banquet of my senior year. You two with your workout ideas and summer mileage requirements, which always seemed insane at the time, have put me in the best shape of my life. Coach V, it’s your dedication to the sport that I admire and aspire to adopt most. You put countless amount of hours into updating the running database and writing out these weekly e-mails that always seem to take a half hour of analyzing for me to read. The dedication you have is unimaginable. Hey Del, which NCAA teams are playing tomorrow night? You always know how to make us crack a smile during practice when you quote the lyrics of one of the latest hit songs. You know the difference between when it is time to work and when it is time to play. You set high expectations for each and every one of us and hold us to these expectations as you watch us progress from season to season. Thanks for all the support and everything you have done for me over the past 4 years. 

            Now onto the team. You guys are one of the main reasons I continue to run season after season. The size of the team has grown since my freshman year, when I thought the team was already huge. However one thing I have noticed is as the number of athletes continues to grow, the memories and friendships throughout the season continue to grow as well, especially with the seniors. This group of seniors has become my best friends, which might be because I spend as much, if not more, time with you guys then I do with my own family. Yes, we have had our disagreements and heck even our fights but we put all of that aside to make our senior year the best season yet. Thanks guys. You’re the best.

            I lastly want to thank my parents the most. You are the ones who since a very young age have encouraged all of us boys into participating in sports and extracurricular activities. You made it out to as many meets as you could and made it a priority to wish us good luck before every meet. You guys have the hard task of taking care of all 3 of us and everything at home as well. I know that is by no means an easy task, but you find a way to get it all done. You’ve always gotten us to and from practice when it’s needed and you support us with each and everything that we do. Thank you for everything. I love you both. 

            Cross country has been the best experience I have had through high school. It has taught me lifelong skills that I will take with me to college and use in life.  It’s been my social life over the past 4 years and has given me many memories and laughs. The sport has taught me to be determined; you won’t be successful in cross country without the determination to do the work and the determination to get better.  It has also taught me perseverance, you won’t get better with each season if you don’t have the perseverance to push through the tough workouts and keep going, even when it gets harder. The sport has also taught me team work and leadership skills. During workouts and warm-ups I have always stepped up to be a leader and help push my teammates that I’m running with. I’ve given them helpful pieces of advice from me personal experiences to help ease their nerves a little. 

            I started Cross Country in 7^th grade and quit because I decided that it was too difficult for me to do, but a lot of my friends did the sport so I went out for it again in 8^th grade and completed the modified season. The only reason I decided to continue on to varsity cross country was because my older brother Dave had done cross country and loved the comrodery of the team. I started freshman year and ran my first ever 5K on our home course, I finished with a time that now seems like forever, 33 minutes and 33 seconds. It was from then on that I established I had needed to work my butt off to improve. It was my senior night race that I captured my new personal best on the home course with a 20:55. So in 4 years, and a lot of hard work I have taken off over 13 minutes on the home course. This just shows that anyone can run cross country. If I can take that amount of time off, anyone willing to put forth the work can too. No matter how slow you are, if you’re willing to put forth the effort and work you will get better, and as long as you improve you have been successful as a runner. My all-time favorite moment though was the McQuaid Invitational in 2010. My one and only goal was to get under 20 minute. During the race I knew that it was going to be tough, but as I was sprinting down the final stretch I saw a 19 on the clock and knew I still had a shot. I crossed the finish line and my first reaction was a fist pump in the air as read the clock, a 19:57.  There is no better feeling than having a milestone race and getting a time you have never gotten before.

            As I finish tonight I want to speak to all the juniors, sophomores, and freshman. Start your work for West Genesee Cross Country 2012 now. Start thinking about your goals for next season. Begin building your base up because both of the teams have the potential to be great teams.  Start working for your goals now. I will be on the sidelines cheering all of you on when I can get there. Good luck and remember to set your goals high and work hard to reach them. 

Wildcats XC Post-Season – 2013

Girls Team Awards

Most Valuable Runner – Laura Leff

Most Improved Runner – Delaney Nolan

Hammer Award – Lindsay Weaver

Impact Rookie Award – Maria Matkoski

Girls Sectional Awards/Honors

Top-25 Finishers: Laura Leff(3); Elise Dunshee(20); Maria Matkoski(21);

Lindsay Weaver(22)

All-CNY: Laura Leff, 1^st Team

State Championship Qualifier: Laura Leff

Federation Championship Qualifier: Laura Leff

Boys Team Awards

Most Valuable Runner – Will Randall

Most Improved Runner – Sean Beney

Hammer Award – Matt Romano

Impact Rookie Award – David Leff

Wildcat XC Scholarship - Nate Conroy/Jack Erhard

Boys Sectional Awards/Honors

Sectional Top-25 Finishers: David Leff(12); Will Randall(13); Nate Conroy(16)

Jack Erhard(22)

All-CNY: David Leff, 2^nd Team; Will Randall, 2^nd Team

Federation Championship Team Qualifier: David Leff; Will Randall; Jack Erhard

Mike Lannon; Sean Beney; Nate Conroy; Mike Richards

Cross-Country Banquet Senior Speeches

 Mike Richards(Class of 2014):

How’s everyone doing?  First off, due to recent safety codes I am legally obligated to inform Ryan Dunning that there are several poles located at the exit of the building as well as a few trees next to the sidewalk, so watch out for those.  I would like thank our coaches for a great season, Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Lannon for feeding us like kings every race and to Mrs. Smith and that other lady for setting up this banquet.  Lastly, thanks to all the parents who have put in their own mileage driving all over the place this season to drop us off and watch us compete, as well as for supporting us on our toughest days.  Without you guys, none of this would be possible. 

It’s been quite a season.  We started off by winning the Chittenango Invite and since then we’ve seen a lot of our teammates grow and finally put all the work to good use for an awesome performance at Marathon.  Ya know, it’s too bad the school doesn’t have a case big enough for our trophy, I mean, unless they let us get rid of some of that lacrosse junk, right?  Our most exciting performance was at Sectionals, where we reminded everyone out there that there are not two but three great Section 3 teams, as well as secured our school’s fourth Federations bid since 2008.  And although we might not have done quite as well as we hoped to at Feds, Will and David still managed to crack the top 32 overall.  I can’t wait to see those guys take off even higher next year.

I can’t thank Coach V and Del enough for the amazing commitment they have to this team.  I swear they must see us more than they see their wives.  Many people don’t even realize the extra time Coach V puts into compiling all that data for those books he calls emails.  And Del, where would we be without seeing Will Ferrell’s “Get Off the Shed” clip at practice for the 500th time? I mean, other than home 5 minutes earlier?  But seriously, you have both been great role models for me, and have always pushed me to do my best no matter how bad of a day I’m having.

On to the freshmen: Every year when one class graduates and the next one comes in, you can’t help but think that the new guys will never fill the old guys’ shoes.  Six months ago, this group of tiny doofuses stumbled over to CMS for the first summer practice.  They couldn’t have been more different from last year’s seniors.  But soon they each played an important role on the team.  These guys quickly became like little brothers, often times annoying little dorks but always our annoying little dorks.  You can tell them something a million times and they’ll never get it in their heads.  I’m not sure David’s ever gonna be able to wipe his nose without us telling him to.  He better figure it out quick, or it’s gonna be a loooong indoor season.

To all the underclassmen: I know it sounds like a cliche, but don’t take a minute of what you have left for granted.  Go after every race with everything you have.  You don’t want to spend a single minute wondering what could’ve been.  Make it happen.  Don’t settle for anything less than your best.  The future of West Genesee Cross Country is in your hands, and I know you won’t let us down.

Lastly, 1247 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes and 17 seconds. That’s how long the rest of the seniors and I have been Wildcat runners.  In those 1247 days, we’ve been through thick and thin together.  We must’ve put in almost 5000 miles altogether over the last four years.  The blood, sweat and tears we’ve put into this sport could fill an Olympic swimming pool. That would be a pretty gross swimming pool.  During practice and after, we’ve built bonds that can’t be put into words.  I’ve never known a better group of guys.  The years pass by though, and we may begin to grow apart as this season begins to fade into memory, but:

“We in this day shall be remembered-

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

Shall be my brother.”

 I get bonus points for quoting a Shakespeare play, right?  I consider it a great honor to be able to call you guys my brothers.  I know that we will soon have to say our goodbyes as we each head off on our own great adventures, but I’ll never forget the brothers I gained on this team, or the memories that we’ve shared.  Thanks everybody, and have a great night.

Allison Iles(Class of 2014):

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the 2013 West Genesee Cross Country Banquet. My name is Allison Iles and I am a senior on the team who just completed my third year of cross country.

When I sat down to write this speech, I started to think about where my relationship with cross country began. It was one modified track practice in 2010, when a then intimidating Coach Vermuelen approached me. He had seen my success as a sprinter on the team and told me I should consider giving cross country a shot in the fall. He then handed me a brochure highlighting all the aspects of cross country.

To my surprise, I found that I still had this valuable paper stored in my room today. There’s a section dedicated to the basics, such as “What is cross country?” and “Cross-country training”. He even highlights the annual Manhattan trip and banquet. I got to the page entitled, “Why run cross country?” The top reasons Coach V has listed are everyone competes, we go places, and you will never be more fit. He also promotes the fact that both teams regularly qualify as Scholar Athlete teams, and that you’ll never know how good you could be at cross country until you try it.

  All of those are definitely a part of what makes cross country such a unique sport. But there is something missing off that list that perhaps may be the most significant. What is not included on this list is the special bond you become a part of when you join the West Genesee Cross Country team. Our team is a family, we succeed together, we suffer together, but we are always there supporting each other no matter what.            

My sophomore year, I decided not to do cross country due to an ongoing knee injury. At the time, I felt like I was making the right decision. Maybe it was better for me in the grand scheme of things, but it wasn’t until that fall that I realized how important running cross country was to me. Up until that point, I was just going through the motions of running. As I watched my teammates compete that season, I realized how much it meant to me to be running along-side them, and I swore that I would never let that happen again.

With that being said, I would like to thank all my teammates here tonight.  Thank you so much for believing in me and pushing myself to achieve my biggest goals. To the seniors, I’ve enjoyed growing up with you these past four years and watching you become amazing people, inside and out of running. I can truthfully say many of you have become my best friends and I will never be able to express to you how much that means to me. 

Before I continue, I need to give an important thank you to Mary McGlynn. Without you and my sister, Emily, encouraging me to join the cross country team my freshmen year, I would have never been introduced to such a remarkable experience that I can’t imagine my life without.

Next I would like to thank my coaches, V and Del. Although many may compare them to “the serious one” and “the funny one”, you are both so much more than that. There is no doubt you have both taught me how to become a better runner throughout the years. However, what you have also taught me is how to set goals and achieve them. You have taught me how to push myself when I thought I had nothing left. Your guidance means the world to me, and I’m glad I still have two track seasons left to fulfill my potential as a runner. It’s evident that you both care so much not only about the sport but about the well-being of your runners, and that kind of passion is hard to come by. 

I would also like to thank Mrs. Powell and Mrs. Lannon for all their hard work. Not only does Friends of WGXC provide us with delicious food every meet, but the fact that you’re willing to travel many miles to support us is something that we all appreciate.

            Lastly, I would like to thank all the parents in the room. Without your unconditional love and support, I don’t think many of us would be the runners, let alone the people we are today. I would like to give a special thank you to my parents, who honestly didn’t know anything about running before I joined the cross country team. I wouldn’t even know how to start to repay you for all the things you’ve done for me over the years, but thank you for dedicating your time to come support me at all my meets and for always having the perfect words of encouragement.  

It’s hard to believe that I will never run another meet on the picturesque trails of Camillus Middle School. It’s hard to believe that I’ll never again experience the satisfaction after I’ve given a tough 5k my all. It’s hard to believe that I’ll never spend another summer and fall running with my favorite people.

 It’s true that you really don’t know what you have until it’s gone. On that note, I‘d like to close with a message to the underclassmen. Cherish the rest of your time as a wildcat cross country runner. It truly does go by fast, and before you know it you’ll be at your final banquet. Good luck next year, and remember that no matter where life takes all of us, we are all part of one, big, happy West Genesee Cross Country family. Thank you.