By Mark Oftedal, Head Coach

It’s a tradition for Rowland Hall Athletics to celebrate the accomplishments of our teams at the end of their respective seasons—the team’s accomplishments, and the many individual successes and the growth realized throughout. Our seniors are of course honored, looking back at the number of hours, years, they’ve committed to preseason preparation, in-season practice sessions, individual efforts to maintain gains during school breaks, and to numerous competitions. Strengths, exhibited through dedication, focused near-daily positive habits, and sincere efforts are recognized and cheered; leadership is honored and thanked.

Our 2023 cross country team was the smallest team we’ve had in at least the past 17 years. Our five returning team members were joined by seven newcomers: three ninth graders, two tenth graders, and one each from the eleventh- and twelfth-grade classes. These seven newcomers were all new to cross-country running at the high school level, and most were new to the sport of distance running altogether. In past years, a team dynamic seems to take shape around two groups—those with experience and those with none, following. This team had no followers. On day one, the coaches observed a group of young runners who all believed they belonged. They all had their place on the team. Special newcomers? Yes. But credit also goes to those on our team who already had experience with distance running, had achieved some successes, and had a history on our team. For them, unlike teams we’ve had before, they shelved their past successes— “no resting on laurels”—and arrived at this new season knowing that it all starts over now. That everybody on that mid-August day in the park who had donned their running shoes that morning, had the same work to do, the same things to experience. They were in this together. 

The positive character of our five returning team members, seniors Max Jansen (four-year team member), Dean Hijjawi (three-year member), and Maddi Stufflebeam (two-year member), and juniors Kendall Kanarowski and Erika Prasthofer (two-year members) cannot be overstressed. Our newcomers entered an environment of nurturing, open-armed inclusion, receiving acceptance, understanding, and encouragement on day one, which never diminished during the season. Because of this, the rest of the team—ninth graders Sirohi Martinez, Luke Reymann, and HaUhn Kim; tenth graders Dylan Johnson de Lacy and Amelie Tan; and Carolina Corcoran and Madison Stark, eleventh and twelfth graders, respectively—all contributed equally to a team dynamic that valued and celebrated everyone’s efforts and achievements this season.

On a perfectly pleasant early November afternoon, our team gathered for a first-time-ever end-of-season celebration at Church Fork Picnic Area in Millcreek Canyon. Amongst the remaining fall colors, with sticks of roasting marshmallows hovering above a warming fire, laughter mixed with stories from the season and stories of what will become—recent history and dreams. This was an outstanding season for our team and our coaches. I believe everyone will cherish the memories of hard efforts, friendships made, and lessons learned through running the distance, and in the end this group will shelve their accomplishments for now and be more than ready—to start anew. That’s a win!

The season’s competitive highlights: 

• Carolina Corcoran—Awarded Most Valuable and Coaches’ Choice; 19th at Timpanogos in her first high school cross-country run race; her first Bob Firman; 3rd at Region, individual qualifier for state; 22nd at state
• Dean Hijjawi—Awarded Most Valuable; three-year team member; competed at all seven meets; 28th at Timpanogos; 22nd at Park City; his second Bob Firman; 7th at Region, individual qualifier for state; 34th at state
• Max Jansen—Awarded Coaches’ Choice; four-year team member; competed at all seven meets; 29th at Park City; his second Bob Firman; 6th at region, individual qualifier for state; 63rd at state
• Dylan Johnson de Lacy—Awarded Most Improved; completed his first high school cross-country race at the Timpanogos Invitational; his first Bob Firman and his fastest race of the season, and that on a tough course!
• Kendall Kanarowski—Awarded Most Valuable and Coaches’ Choice; her second Bob Firman, clocking a faster time than the 2021 race, also making it the fastest race of the year
• HaUhn Kim—Completed her first high school cross-country race at the Timpanogos Invitational; finished in 18th place at region, where she ran her fastest time of the season
• Sirohi Martinez—Competed impressively at region for the varsity boys team, while racing his first high school cross-country running race
• Erika Prasthofer—A tough-as-nails team member who trained through low-leg pain the entire season; member of the girls varsity team who represented our team impressively at region while taking nearly three minutes off her earlier season-best time
• Luke Reymann—Had an out-of-the-gate season-best time in his first high school race and applied that same talent, finishing 3rd for our varsity boys team at region
• Madison Stark—Awarded Most Improved; completed her first high school cross-country race at the Timpanogos Invitational; bettered her time by nearly a minute each time she raced this season; finished in 3rd place on our girls varsity team at region
• Maddi Stufflebeam—Our resident stretching guru—no one stretches our team members better than Maddi; completed her first high school cross-country race at the Timpanogos Invitational; competed in her first Bob Firman, where she ran her second fastest time of the season on the tough course; finished in 4th place on our girls varsity team at region
• Amelie Tan—Completed her first high school cross-country race at the Timpanogos Invitational; finished in 12th place at region, where she ran her fastest time of the season; individual qualifier for state; 73rd at state

Thanks to these athletes, and special thanks to assistant coaches Laura Johnson and Jake Colangelo for their dedication and help.