Cross Country (Boys & Girls)

I am a big believer in the mission statement of Crean Lutheran High School: “Proclaiming Jesus Christ through excellence in education”

It is my primary goal to integrate this message (the message of the gospel) into the sport of cross country. I hope to teach life lessons and find teachable moments to help develop all the student athletes on the team.

Practically, we do this daily through sharing our theme verse and praying and weekly with a team devotion centered on a theme for the year. We also integrate our schools acronym CHRIST into everything we do.

(Commitment, Honor, Responsibility, Intelligence, Sacrifice, Teamwork)

It is my goal that every athlete who goes through our program will grow in faith and in character and will become better students, citizens, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, etc. I believe that the sport of cross country, because of its innate challenges, is a great arena to practice and develop perseverance, teamwork, trust, and community.

Combined Boys and Girls GPA by year

2018 - 4.04
2017 - 3.82
2016 - 3.88
2015 - 3.77
2014 - 3.6
2013 - 3.5
2012 - 3.6

Each and every year our cross country team earns some of the highest average grades among any team in the school. We have had multiple Valedictorians (2013, 2016, and 2019) on the cross country team as well. Because cross country causes students to form disciplined work habits and sleep habits, many student athletes in cross country achieve more academic success than their peers and form disciplined habits that can continue on to college and beyond.
Many studies have also shown that participation in high school sports generally can have a positive impact in academics.

While not every runner has the ability to compete at the college level, we have been blessed with several runners on our team who have gone on to compete in collegiate cross country, many with athletic scholarships:

• 2010 Alexandra Sciarra (Biola)
• 2013 Michael Sciarra (The Masters College)
• 2014 Maddie Beavers (Westmont College)
• 2015 Tyler Arnold (Concordia University Irvine)
• 2015 Lauren Maurer (USC)
• 2015 Sean Pino (Lipscomb University)
• 2016 Mandy Reyes (Biola)
• 2016 Shannon Howell (Biola)
• 2016 Ariana Sciarra (The Masters College)
• 2018 Craig Odenwald (Westmont College)
• 2018 Peter Weiss (George Fox University)
• 2018 Emma Lottman (Westmont College)

Long-distance running can have an amazing positive benefit on a person’s health. Cardiovascular health is extremely important and can have an impact in many other areas of life. Learning the discipline to train consistently and to workout for long periods of time can really help a person to develop their cardiovascular system.

Tthe discipline of making good choices with regard to rest (sleeping) and eating are also incredibly important for health.

It is my goal that sudent-athletes who go through our program would gain good healthy habits that they can continue and sustain throughout their lives.

Last, but not least one of the most important roles XC plays in the life of our runners is in the area of social development and in growing friendships! Most of the athletes on the team are friends with each other. They spend a lot of time together at practice, but for many athletes the people on the team are their best friends outside of practice as well.  If your student-athlete does not know many people going into the school year, they will know about 30 athletes by the end of the summer and will gain many close friends as well. Additionally athletes on the team will be part of something bigger than themselves a school community which supports other teams as well.

Crean Lutheran girls and boys cross country teams look to continue success

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7

Crean Lutheran’s girls and boys varsity cross country teams are looking forward to continuing their success during the 2019 season under Coach Robby Cherry. The cross country teams will both be following their bible verse this year. “For our team, this verse is a helpful daily reminder for us to stay focused on our mission and our goals as a team,” Cherry added.

“The mission is to proclaim Jesus Christ through excellence in cross country. That is, to compete to the very best of our abilities in a Christ honoring way. We hope that through cross country athletes would learn the value of hard work, teamwork, commitment and integrity. And just as Paul received a crown of righteousness for remaining faithful, so we hope to be rewarded with personal growth and team success that student-athletes would be able to take with them in their lives ahead."

Girls team:

The Saints hope to utilize their experience for success. “I'm very excited that the majority of our core team from last year is still in tact,” Cherry said. “We finished fourth last season in league and we are returning four varsity runners including seniors Arianna Kochan (captain), Payton McGaffigan (captain) and Maddie Luther as well as junior Julia Cuddyer. “Arianna is our top returning runner from last year with a 15th place finish at league finals (the 10th fastest returner).”

Crean Lutheran will be adding two sophomores, Emily Reed and Kaela Brenner, who “both are coming off of outstanding track seasons where they ran long distance events,” Cherry said. Brenner was the Saints’ MVP for track and field last year and “certainly has the potential to be one of the top cross country runners in our league this year,” Cherry said. Cherry said he has high expectations for the Saints. “I am hoping that our team can earn a spot into CIF post season with a top three finish in league this year,” he said.

Boys team: 

Crean Lutheran has had quite a run since 2011, finishing either first or second in league every season. “Our senior class, led by the trio of CJ Koerber, Michael Vasquez and Anthony Fitzgerald are going to try to continue that tradition this year,” Cherry said. “While most of our top runners from last season did graduate, I am excited to see how our senior class can respond and create a team of their own.” CJ Koerber and Michael Vasquez, who according to Cherry, ”had breakout track seasons this past spring,” will look to continue that success in cross country. 

The Saints also welcome Fitzgerald, who is primarily a swimmer. Cherry said he hopes Fitzgerald “will be able to duplicate his success from last season to help his team succeed this year.” Athletes who are vying for the final varsity positions include Charlie Wagner, Gavin Burkhart and Gavin Paul. “But I would not be surprised to see someone else break into the top five this season,” Cherry said.

Cross country season features many personal bests by Crean Lutheran athletes

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7

Many Crean Lutheran High School cross country athletes set personal bests this season.

“In total 33 of 37 athletes on the team ran their fastest time ever this season,” said Coach Robby Cherry.

The runners accomplished another important goal, he said. “Our team was very focused on our mission all season of proclaiming Jesus Christ and I believe we succeeded in running the race marked out for us,” Cherry said.

“Our team was also able to serve our community with a service project in connection with Charity on Wheels, an organization which helps to serve the homeless community of Orange County. We were able to worship with this community while also helping to serve them food and distribute clothing.”

In competition, the boys team finished eighth and the girls team was ninth in the small schools division at the Orange County Championships which had more than 20 teams. Crean Lutheran’s Kaela Brenner was first team team all-league.

“The boys team was consistently led by the duo of seniors Michael Vasquez and CJ Koerber, each of whom improved by over a minute and broke into the school's top 10 list while breaking 16 minutes for three miles,” Cherry said. Also contributing were Gavin Burkhart, Charlie Wagner, Ethan Miller, Andrew Sheha and Gavin Paul.

A number of other girls contributed. “Seniors Arianna Kochan, Maddie Luther, Julie Koyamatsu, Ciera Rasmussen and Payton McGaffigan all played a role in our team’s success. Arianna has been consistently our number one or two runner over the past three years,” Cherry said. “Junior Julia Cuddyer and sophomore Emily Reed also contributed on the varsity team.”

Crean Lutheran girls cross country runners show determination and dedication

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7 Crean Lutheran High School’s girls cross country runners worked hard since last summer to prepare themselves for the start of the season, which was delayed until February due to COVID-19. The Saints held their first ever on-campus meet on Saturday, February 6.

“This year’s girls cross country team has been dedicated to training together since August of 2020,” said Coach Robby Cherry. “Over that time our girls team has shown tremendous improvement and we are hoping that we can continue to improve as a team this season.

“Our team verse this year for cross country is Galatians 6:9, which says ‘And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.’ This verse is a key for our team’s growth and success this season as we reflect on how daily commitment is key for our development.

A number of girls are leading the way for the Saints, Cherry said. “Our girls team is led by junior Kaela Brenner who specializes in middle distance running, but has shown that she can also compete at a high level in cross country as well,” Cherry said. “Kaela is amongst the best cross country runners in the Empire League and is also amongst the top runners in our CIF division as well. Emily Reed (junior) and Julia Cuddyer (senior) are the next top returning runners for the Saints.

“As we develop we are going to depend on Julia’s leadership as our sole four-year cross country athlete on the girls side. New additions to our varsity team this year include sophomore Tannis Bailey, junior Allison Bae, sophomore Skyler Rauch, junior Margaret O’Brien and senior Lesley Warren.”

Crean Lutheran boys cross country runners ‘doing the right things’

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7

Crean Lutheran High School’s boys cross country runners and coaches set some goals for the season, which was delayed until February because of COVID-19. Crean Lutheran hosted its first on-campus meet Saturday, February 6.

“This year's boys cross country team has been all about growth, culture development and consistency in the midst of an uncertain season of life,” said Coach Robby Cherry. “Since August of 2020 our boys cross country team has been training consistently and developing successful habits, routines and mindsets that are helping us to become an excellent program.

“Our theme verse for this season is Galtians 6:9 which says, ‘And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.’ This theme verse has been a helpful reminder for me to focus on consistency and on doing the right things and trusting that the outcomes will follow. More importantly, this verse reminds us to remain faithful in our walk with Jesus and to not give up.”

Cherry said he is optimistic. “We believe our team could finish in the top three in the Empire league this season,” he said.  “Our goal for the boys team this season is to have four boys run under 17 minutes for three miles in the same race and have a team time under 83:45.”

Some individuals are expected to lead the way, Cherry said. “This season we expect our team to be led by freshman standout runner Hayden Rivas who has burst onto the scene as one of the top runners in the Empire League this year,” he said. “Jeremy Lauro (junior), Gavin Burkhart (junior) and Ethan Miller (junior) have each made great strides this season as our 2-3-4 runners and David Whitney (freshman), Russell Mo (sophomore), Lucas Tanikawa (sophomore) and Bobby Westerfeld (sophomore) have each contributed on the varsity level this year as well.”

Crean Lutheran High School cross country teams have high expectations

 ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!’ -Psalm 150:6

Girls

The Crean Lutheran High School girls cross country team has a theme verse for the 2021 season from Psalm 150:6 which says: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

“Our girls cross country team is practicing living out this verse through our sport of cross country,” said Coach Robby Cherry. “The girls team is coming into the 2021 season with a lot of momentum from the 2020 season where the team finished fourth place in league and returns our top four runners from last year.”

The team will be led by seniors Kaela Brenner and Emily Reed who finished second and sixth place respectively in league finals last season and “are amongst the top returners in the league this season,” Cherry said.

“Junior Tannis Bailey and senior Allison Bae also bring experience at the varsity level to our team this year,” Cherry said. “In addition to this core of runners the Saints have also added junior Kailey Lew, who ran the 1,600-meters in track and field last year for the Saints, and many new runners who are all eager to contribute this season including ninth graders Grace McGuff and Anna Gwon.

“Our team is focused on improvement and doing our best each and every day to honor Christ and on remembering to give thanks to God in all circumstances.”

Boys

There is plenty of optimism this season for the Crean Lutheran High School boys cross country team.

“With the entire 2020 varsity cross country team returning from last season, the Saints are looking to be very experienced and ready to make some waves in the Empire League on the boys side this year,” Coach Robby Cherry said.

“After finishing third place last year in the Empire League and only coming a few points away from the top team in the league last year, the Saints hope to compete for a league title this season in the Empire League.”

Cherry said he hopes the team will “make a deep run and compete amongst the top teams in (CIF) Division 4,” during the postseason.

Crean Lutheran returns sophomore Hayden Rivas, senior Gavin Burkhart and senior Jeremy Lauro who finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively at the league finals last season.

Also back is senior Ethan Miller who Cherry said “was also a consistent top scorer for us last season. Additionally we have several other young runners hoping to contribute on the varsity team including sophomores David Whitney, Tyler Burkhart, and Christian La Motte and juniors Russell Mo, Bobby Westerfeld, Lucas Tanikawa and Ryan Zeighami.” 

The team will also be fulfilling its mission to the Lord, Cherry said.

 “As our team pursues its goals athletically, we are equally focused on our ultimate goal of proclaiming Jesus Christ in everything we do,” he said. “This year our theme verse for our team is Psalm 150:6, which says, ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!.’

“With that in mind, the focus of our team this year is really to remember to be thankful and give praise to God. We practice this as a team once per week in our team meetings, giving thanks to God for the many blessings He has given us.”