Written by: Devin Varner, Staff Writer
UNDEFEATED: Riverside Poly High School’s Boys and Girls Cross Country team finished league on a winning streak and have high hopes for CIF.
The Poly Bear’s Cross Country team are some of the most mentally tough individuals in the sports world. They run for hours on end with nothing but their own thoughts to accompany them, but the Poly team boldly faces these challenges head on in order to achieve greatness. Our Bears blew through this season with a record of 8-0 for both the girls and boys varsity teams, making them undefeated heading into CIF prelims, and first place in league. Not only did our varsity team go undefeated, but so did both of the Junior Varsity teams. The leadership of Grace Bonzoumet (11), Makayla Anderson (11), Nadia Munoz (11), and Katelyn Michel (12), the girl’s varsity captains, as well as Eddie Garcia (11), Diego Aguilera (11), Mark Ybarra (12), and Ryan Carlson (12), the boy’s varsity captains, have helped foster the atmosphere for a winning team. These leaders served as role models for the rest of the team and kept them inspired to play the sport they love to compete in.
Of course, no team can thrive without the help of a talented coach. Coach Phil Orr navigated the Poly Cross Country team through their many victories. He himself was an extraordinary runner in high school and college, making him an ideal coach for the Poly Bears. He has faith that both the boy’s and girl’s cross country team will finish the fall season with an undefeated record after completing CIF and state. “If we do what we have in other meets, we will all finish 12-0. We can finish no worse than co-champions,” states Coach Orr. The bear community is proud of the accomplishments made by the Poly Cross Country teams this fall season. Keep running toward that CIF Championship!