Lady Red Devils finish season strong despite injuries
Josh Hall
Posted 11/2/17
After battling injuries throughout the year, Evanston still earned a fifth-place finish out of 13 teams at the Class 4A state cross country meet on Oct. 21 in Sheridan.
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Lady Red Devils finish season strong despite injuries
Posted
Josh Hall
EVANSTON — There were not always ideal conditions surrounding the Evanston High School girls’ cross country team this season. Actually, the conditions were rarely ideal.
But the Lady Red Devils didn’t let that affect their season in a big way in 2017.
After battling injuries throughout the year, Evanston still earned a fifth-place finish out of 13 teams at the Class 4A state cross country meet on Oct. 21 in Sheridan.
“No season is perfect,” head coach Ryan Berger said last week at the program’s end-of-year banquet. “No season is spot on. Adversity hits everybody in every season.”
Given the adversity the Lady Red Devils went through this season, Evanston’s performance at state had Berger pleasantly surprised.
“With the girls’ team going up there, to finish fifth, I was like, ‘Whoa,’” Berger said. “A top-five finish in the state of Wyoming, with where cross country is right now, is a really, really good accomplishment.”
Brittany Barton (junior) led the Lady Red Devils at state with a 14th-place finish in 20:06.72. Barton broke her toe two weeks into the season. She gradually worked her way back into form, but never felt 100 percent.
“I don’t think I was where I could have been,” Barton said. “I think the season ended well for as many girls as we had injured. I’m super excited for how the team is going to do next year.”
Reghan Worley (junior) took 16th in 20:11.89 while Quetzalli Penaloza (freshman) was 33rd in 21:07.20. Both runners will be back next season to help lead the Lady Red Devils, who finished eighth as a team in 2016.
“Every single year we’re getting faster,” Worley said. “Every single year we’re doing better. Next year, we’re definitely looking at top three.”
Seniors Hadley Gebs (40th), Graycee Kennedy (43rd) and Micah Harvey (48th) rounded out their cross country careers in fine fashion. The Lady Red Devils also graduate Alexis Walk, who will go into the National Guard after high school.
“Those senior girls wanted to end on a good note,” Berger said.
Berger expects more good things to come from Evanston next season.
“If this girls’ group comes in healthy next year, they could compete (for a championship),” he said. “It should be a lot of fun.”