Graphic/ Walpole High School XC

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, the Walpole High School (WHS) boys cross country team capped off their season with a win against division rivals Weymouth High School. Much tension had been surrounding the race as Walpole (4-3) and Weymouth (4-4) were both competing for the Herget title. The Walpole boys had not won the Herget in the past nine years and were hoping to change that. With the addition of it being senior night for the Walpole team, this was one of the most important meets of the season.

This year, the team has been focusing not on individual accomplishments and PRs (personal records) but on winning meets as a team by running as a group. This strategy is called pack running. Head Coach and WHS history teacher, Timothy Giblin has been refining this gameplan all season and the Weymouth meet was a shining example of the team’s tactics getting them the win.

“The difference between the first runner and the tenth runner might be a minute, but the difference between the 51st runner and the 60th runner is probably about ten seconds, so having that number 5 guy move up ten seconds, is going to impact the team more.” Giblin said.

The meet ended up being a blowout for the Widcats with Walpole being able to get their first four runners to the finish before Weymouth’s second. Senior Sean Kerin and Sophomore Luke Zahurak finished over 20 seconds ahead of the third place finisher, both getting a time of 13:33 which was also a personal best for Zahurak. This stellar performance by these two and the rest of the team won them the Herget, the goal that they had been working towards all season and for the past nine years.

“The Bay State League is one of the premier cross country leagues in the state, there was stiff competition from all the teams and you know the guys ran really well this year so we’re really proud of that.” Giblin said.

The boys have many reasons for their success, such as the leadership of captains Tommy Capozzi and Dylan Bent. Outside of practice, the boys take on many responsibilities and stay out of trouble, another thing that one can attribute to their success. With many other runners also having experience that they are passing on to their younger teammates, there is a wealth of knowledge on the team.

“Sean Kerin was a medalist at the divisional meet last year, Cole, Jackson, Luke and Tommy all have raced at the divisional level before so they’re experienced and then you know you add, did I say Declan, Declan too, and if you add somebody like Luke in this year who came over from soccer, he’s been running well, that was a tremendous addition. Also add in the fact that people like Roger and Anshu and Dylan Bent are kind of putting pressure on those varsity guys to keep their spot.” Giblin said.

Whilst it is a major accomplishment for the team, they need to keep looking forward with the postseason starting up very soon. The runners and coaches hope to carry the success of their regular season into the Bay State Conference Championship. The team has hope for a postseason just as successful as the regular one.

“We want to do well, we want to get back to the all-state meet and have a good showing at divisionals.” Giblin says, “it’s been a really wonderful environment.”