A Family Affair

“Crank that up!” somebody called from the back seat. The volume knob on the stereo was dutifully turned up two notches. Whoops and cheers sounded throughout the school van; another cross country season had begun. The excellent pro-team attitude and relatively small number of participants (our boys and girls teams were represented by only four runners each at the Dallas Center Grimes meet on August 30th) makes the Interstate 35 cross country team a family affair. All members of the team including reserve runners and managers get into the spirit of being part of this family and whole-heartedly join in the fun. Members of the I-35 cross country team can be spotted at meets carrying a red, blue, and white painted garden rake (affectionately termed the “Rally Rake”), yelling exceptionally loudly for their teammates, or even playing a vuvuzela (a large, plastic bugle-looking apparatus) as a method of cheering on their team! It’s no surprise that the group was ecstatic when senior Maddie Beeler placed 5th in the senior women’s division and sophomore Holly McKinney charged in 2nd place for the sophomore women’s division at the Dallas Center Grimes meet. What the team lacks in size, they make up for in spirit.
“We are small but mighty” says senior Rachel Brownlee, and no doubt great things are expected this season from this eccentric, close-knit family of runners.


By: Mariah Lewis