Saratoga takes two teams to State

This weekend, Saratoga Cross Country brings their season to an end as they run-off to the 2A State Championship. Last year, Saratoga returned home as back-to-back 2A Boys State Champions with Saratoga’s Grant and Grady Bartlett as State Champion and State Runner-up.

This year, the Bartlett twins have seen some competition as they have run against higher conference schools. Head Coach Rex Hohnholt, however, has high hopes for his teams.

“You don’t want them to think of anything less than winning another State Championship. I know that reality has to set in a little bit and our kids know right now they’re not the top team in the state,” said Hohnholt. “We haven’t raced against another 2A school in the state this year. That doesn’t take away from us knowing that if we all run the race of our lives that anything can happen. We have control of our own destiny.”

While the boys team will be running to defend their back-to-back title, and the Bartletts will be running to defend last year’s placings, this year is different in that there will actually be a girls team running at state. Last year, only Amber Stubbs and Kaitlyn Campbell ran in Afton. This year, they are joined by Marilee Williams and Jaden Campbell.

“I just think it’s exciting to be able to have a chance to score at state,” Hohnholt said. “They have something more than just individual accolades to run for.”

Hohnholt believes that the senior leadership from Stubbs and K. Campbell will pay off for the girls while the leadership of the Bartlett twins will motivate the boys to another win for Saratoga.

Saratoga will run on October 24 in Douglas with girls beginning at 11 a.m. and boys beginning at 11:45 a.m.