High School Cross Country

“Cross country is a very positive sport. It's really challenging and kids are often pushed to their limits,” said Jeremy Melick, the Princeville High School (PHS) cross country coach. 

Melick has been coaching for cross country for 13 seasons. This year he is coaching four freshmen: Caden Snyder, Mason Rinkel, Luke Pipkins, Treyton Graham, four sophomores: Jayden Roberts, Eli Streitmatter, Natalie Giffin, Carrie Gill, two juniors: Nicholas Miller, Sorin Hilsabeck, and three seniors: Alex Carmer, Austin Hermann, Briar Hilsabeck.

Sorin Hilsabeck is among the returning members for the cross country team. She has been participating in cross country since she was in junior high. Hilsabeck’s desire to run stemmed from her family. Her brother, Briar Hilsabeck is on the team and her mom was a cross-country runner in college. Her family wants her to be a part of their tradition.

“It’s just a lot of fun. The team is like a family,” says Hilsabeck. 

Freshman Caden Snyder just joined cross country. When asked why he joined, Snyder said he enjoys “the thrill and satisfaction of finishing a race and slowly lowering [his] best times.” 

The boys’ team ran their regional meet on Saturday, October 20 and qualified as a team for sectionals for the first time since 2001. In addition, individual girl runners Hilsabeck and Natalie Griffin also qualified.