Athletics: Cross Country Championship

Adams State secures women’s cross country championship

Adams State student-athlete, Brianna Robles, recounts her experience being a part of a winning team

When I first arrived at Adams State and earned a scholarship for cross country and track, the first thing I was most eager about was being able to get on stage one day with my teammates, embracing all our hard work and efforts as we held our national champion trophy in the air. On November 20, 2021 those dreams became a reality when I got to experience my first race at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship. It was the moment we each dreamt about and knew was a possibility. But it wasn’t going to be handed to us – it was something that had to be earned.

At the beginning of summer, we were all sent a schedule to follow and even though coach wasn’t present, we each knew we had to do our part to make the most of this opportunity. There were many obstacles we encountered along the way, such as trying to win conference and then regionals for both the men’s and women’s teams. Now even though these two races were not our end goal, we understood that it would help us pave the way to have a chance at winning a national title – and it did. There were moments when we doubted ourselves, especially towards the end when all we wanted to do was take a break. We knew it was small details like this that would separate us from our competitors.

Going into conference we had targets on our backs as everyone wanted to beat the number one ranked team. The men’s team had been ranked second leading up to the national race and did their best to bring home a national title as well. We each knew what was at stake but didn’t let that get the best of us. Every time we run together, we run for each other, and we always try our best to rise to the occasion. That is exactly what took place that day as we took another conference title, and I earned my first individual conference title.

When regionals came around, we still had the same ambition to chase after greatness and continued to run with our hearts as the gun went off. We were able to add our own regional title to the list of many before us, but we knew after that race it was only the beginning. Even though the men’s team were runners-up, it didn’t deter them from having high goals as we made our way to Florida. When we approached nationals, we were very excited to show everyone around us what we were capable of. We had no idea what the outcome would be in the end, but we knew as long as each one of us did our best there was a possibility that we would bring home the 57th national title – and we did. The men’s team ran tough and closed the gaps between each other but fell short of the national title, earning a secondplace trophy along with four men who earned All-American. On the women’s side there were six women who earned an All-American spot, placing in the top forty. Throughout this whole season we carried a chip on our shoulder, and we owed everything to ourselves, to our team, to our parents, and to our fans, to go out there and bring home another national title.

by Brianna Robles ’23

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The Adams State swim teams adapted to changing conditions

The Grizzly swim teams nearly became polar bears this season as they swam in unheated water. Wearing wetsuits, the men’s and women’s teams continued work-outs in the Plachy Hall pool after heat for the pool was disrupted due to building renovations.

“Mental toughness is important for swimmers because you have to be able to push through pain and mental barriers,” said Jon Griffin, interim head coach for the men’s and women’s swim teams.

In the third week of October, the temperature fell below a comfortable level for the safety of the swimmers and the athletes started using the local swimming pool, Splashland, heated by a natural hot spring.

The team workouts were supplemented with dryland activities and daily morning practices included resistanceband training, three-and-a-half mile runs, ab workouts, and strength and conditioning. “We’ve done a number of things to stay competitive,” said KatyRose Heldstab, a junior from Austin, Texas.

The team faced great difficulties since 2020, with COVID-19 erasing any sort of season the team had anticipated. “Even though we have hurdles to jump, we’re making progress,” said Griffin. “To be in such a situation, you have to make sure the swimmer does what they have to do to be competitive.”

You can’t keep a Grizzly down. Both teams finished strong at recent meets. Indiana Steving, a sophomore from Loveland, Colo., won two out of his six events at the Nov. 5 and 6 Kearney, Neb. meet. He was nominated for RMAC Athlete of the Week.

The season’s challenges brought the athletes closer as a team. “In the end we’re going to help each other no matter what,” said Heldstab. The first full week of December the Grizzlies returned to Plachy Hall with the heater up and running.

The season concludes with RMAC Championships in midFebruary. “We train hard, we keep a positive outlook, and we can overcome any obstacle thrown our direction,” Griffin said. “We are proving it every day. Now we get to have fun and do what we love to do, swim.”

by Garrett Carroll ’21