The season officially starts in June for our distance runners, and this year looks a little different. 

Recently, Brian Wandzilak stepped into the role of the new head coach of North Star cross country this year. It is a non-cut sport and a great way to be involved with the school and to stay in shape. North Star maintains a successful and traditional program over the years. Cross country is an experience that no one can explain more than experience. It is a special sport because everybody endures the same challenges throughout the season. There are people of all different backgrounds within the team, it is what Wandzilak said, “A place for anybody.” 

His 23 years of experience in coaching give him an opportunity to put his own spin on the environment that past coaches cultivated over the last two decades. Wandzilak steers the cross country community to represent North Star proudly while maintaining competitiveness. Wandzilak relies on assistant coaches Sara Doeier, Mitch Bern, and Ethan Zaborowski to push these athletes for progress from the beginning of the season to the very end. Additionally, Wandzilak uplifts his runners to become leaders within the program. Senior Oztin Testa is a 4-year runner on the boys team and shows his is an athlete that has been a part of the program for all four years and showed great progress, Oztin Testa. On the girls team, senior Emma Lado brings both heart and spirit to LNS cross country. 

Starting this season off strong at the Charlie Thorell Invitational, the North Star Varsity boys cross country team boys team had four boys place in the top five and overall placed first. Along with that the girls team had doubled in athletes compared to last year. Throughout the seasons and meets there are goals to strive towards. For the boys team is to maximize and utilize talent and leadership. Now for girls the main goal is to continue to build numbers and become more competitive. 

Cross county is the embodiment of “It doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.”