Eve Roddy
How do you feel going to the season as a captain this year?
I feel very hopeful for this season! We have an amazing team of friendly, talented, hardworking girls and I think we can do really great things this year. Both our Varsity and JV lineups won our first meet against Framingham and we proved that we can work together as a team and inspire each other to reach our goals. I am very excited to work with this team and make so many fun memories with them over the course of the next three months.
Do you feel different going on to the team as a captain versus before when you were not a captain?
I definitely feel different going into the season as a captain. As a team member, you don’t always realize the effort that the captains put in and the many responsibilities that they have. However, now I have grown to realize that a captain is not only just another teammate that leads warmups and plans team dinners, but also a leader, a role model and a person of trust for everyone else on the team.
Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?
Probably not on the varsity level. I do enjoy running though, so it is possible that I will go on runs on my own or join a running club.
What are your goals for the team this season, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Previous to last year, our team goal was to get to States. After achieving that goal in 2022, that has continued to be a more achievable goal for us to lay back on if needed. However, last year, we won third in our division, 1 point behind second, and 5 points behind first. I think this year, we can continue to do well in Divisionals. As a team, I think we should focus on making at least top 3, maybe even first. In order to achieve this goal, we must continue to work as a team, run our races in packs with our similarly paced team members, and encourage and inspire each other to race their best.
Do you do any clubs/activities outside of cross country?
Outside of cross country, I am involved in National Art Honors Society, take piano lessons, work at Rita’s and volunteer at GOFI.
What is your advice to the newcomers for cross country?
For any newcomers to cross country, I would say that it is no secret that this is a very demanding sport. It might take a long time to see progress, but it really is about the journey along the way and the people you share it with. Make lots of memories with your team and always be sure to have confidence in yourself and your ability to reach your goals.
Did you ever foresee yourself being a captain in the past, or when you started cross country?
I think my sophomore year was when I realized that I would want to be a captain in my senior year. I really enjoyed welcoming the new members of the team and I could see myself entering into more of a leadership role later on.
What are you looking forward to most this season and why?
I am really looking forward to making great memories with this team. This team is such a wonderful group of people and I’m so glad that they are the ones I’m spending the hours at practice and meets with. Additionally, I am very excited to see what our team is capable of at the end of the season and at Divisionals.
How do you feel as this year is your last year being on the cross country team as a senior?
As a senior, I am glad I am able to act as a friendly leader on the team. However, I am very sad that I will leave my team. I’ve always loved cross country for the tight bonds that we build over the season. It will be hard to leave the cross country family, but I know that the team will be left in good hands, whoever the future captains are, and will continue to do great things!
Laura Costa
How do you feel going to the season as a captain this year?
I’m really excited! We have a super great group of girls this year and my co-captains, Eve and Kayla, are amazing.
Do you feel different going on to the team as a captain versus before when you were not a captain?
Because we just lost Ms. Murphy as a coach, we have a lot more responsibilities on our plates. Our coach, Cashman isn’t able to get here from Walpole Middle School in time for practice every day, so sometimes it means we have to fill in the roles as coaches, which is a lot different than I’m used to.
Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?
What are your goals for the team this season, and how do you plan to achieve them?
I’d really like us to qualify as a team for all states! We have a really strong lineup this year and I think we have a good shot. We’ve been doing a lot of practice with pack running so we can hopefully knock Marblehead and Longmeadow out of the running. We just barely lost to them last year (by only a few points), so I’m hoping we can lock in and change that this year.
Do you do any clubs/activities outside of cross country?
I do Mock Trial! Mr. Balkus is a great coach outside of the classroom, and I love it.
What is your advice to the newcomers for cross country?
Run, run, run. You can’t just join cross country with never having run a mile in your life. Yes, you can join with having very little running experience, but it’s more ideal to train during the summer beforehand. If you don’t, it really slows down your season as you start from scratch, when most of the girls have been running 30-35 miles a week all summer.
Did you ever foresee yourself being a captain in the past, or when you started cross country?
Yes, I knew I wanted to be a captain from the get-go. I love this sport, and I really wanted to be able to work with my teammates and coaches in improving the team as a whole.
What are you looking forward to most this season and why?
I’m really looking forward to the Twilight Invitational! It’s a super fun meet down in Barnstable, MA, in the middle of October. The varsity race goes off at 9 p.m., and we run in the dark and there’s tons of Christmas lights and it’s overall a really fun atmosphere.
How do you feel as this year is your last year being on the Cross country team as a senior?
I’m really really sad. As much as I dislike competing, I love this team and my coaches, they are like a second family to me. I’ve been familiar with this program for over a decade (I have an older sister who also went through it), and it’s just not gonna be the same without Walpole XC being in my life. Sure we have track to look forward to, but again, it’s just not the same.
Kayla Ahern
How do you feel going to the season as a captain this year?
Excited to see the improvement of each girl as the season progresses and excited with the new opportunity this season presents.
Do you feel different going on to the team as a captain versus before when you were not a captain?
Not particularly, obviously there are new responsibilities that come with being a captain but at the end of the day cross country is still the same sport I’ve loved these past few years.
Do you plan on continuing your sport in college?
Not officially but I would love to join a running club.
What are your goals for the team this season, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Not officially, but I would love to join a running club.
Do you do any clubs/activities outside of cross country?
Speech and Debate.
What is your advice to the newcomers for cross country?
Work hard, cross country is not a sport that you can just show up to and be good at it takes a lot of effort and hard work to make it work.
Did you ever foresee yourself being a captain in the past, or when you started cross country?
What are you looking forward to most this season and why?
Building relationships with the girls on the team and watching them improve and reach their goals.
How do you feel as this year is your last year being on the Cross country team as a senior?
Excited to have been apart of this program but sad for it to be almost over.
