Cross Country added to FHS fall sports

The Fredericktown R-I School Board approved the addition of cross country to the fall sports offered at the high school at the board meeting April 23.

According to Fredericktown High School Athletic Director Craig Gibbs, the school will compete in the MAAA Conference Cross Country Meet as well as various other meets in the area. The program will include both a boys and girls team.

“We are thrilled that our board of education approved the initiation of a high school boys and girls cross country program,” Gibbs said. “As the program develops we hope to try and configure a course locally for our athletes to train on as well as a possible host site for a meet.”

Gibbs said the new coaching position will be posted until May 4 and interviewing will begin shortly after that.

“We are happy to be providing our students with another opportunity to become involved with something they enjoy,” Superintendent Brett Reutzel said. “We have had about twenty students participating on their own in a running club in our after school program. Due to the minimum cost for the program and the level it seemed logical given that already eight other MAAA schools compete.”

Fredericktown High School Principal Shannon Henson said there is always a concern about drawing students away from current sports when adding a new one.

“In this case, we had a substantial amount of athletes interested in cross country that were not currently involved in other sports during the fall season,” Henson said. “We are very excited to add this sport, which can now compete with other schools in our MAAA conference.”

Henson said the MAAA has several schools with strong cross country programs and Mineral Area College has recently announced the development of its own.

“It makes sense to provide our kids the opportunity to participate in a sport that is offered at our local community college,” Henson said.

Kelly A. Burlison Middle School Track Coach Colton Wooldridge said he is happy about the opportunity to have cross country at FHS.

“A fall running sport will really help promote our track and field program in the spring,” Wooldridge said. “Our track team has been really successful the past few years by winning districts in 2015 and 2016. A cross country team would really contribute to our track success.”

Wooldridge also said students can benefit a lot from running.

“It’s a lifetime sport that promotes a healthy lifestyle,” Wooldridge said. “Running can be attributed to higher self esteem, a stronger immune system, prevents cardiovascular disease and increases brain function.”

Gibbs said the cost of adding the sport will be a minimal and the track uniforms could be used for both sports.

“I think it is a minimal investment to have something for these kids to participate in,” Gibbs said. “It is a great way for students who aren’t in a fall activity to be a year-round athlete.”

According to Missouri State High School Athletic Association, the school will be allowed to participate in up to ten regular season meets and must participate in at least five to participate in districts. 

MSHSAA states the courses are between 1.5 and 3.1 miles in length and are to be clearly marked. 

Fredericktown High School cross country will follow the same guidelines of all other MSHSAA activities including attendance polices and grade requirements.

The Fredericktown High School Blackcats will begin their first cross country season in the fall of 2018. 

In other R-I Board business Reutzel said U.S. Tool has reached out to local schools to partner with them to prepare students to enter their work force. He said he would be attending a meeting to gain further information for the district. 

Reutzel also said the EPA has contacted the district regarding remediation on the soccer fields saying it will take place in the near future.

In closed session, the board accepted the resignation of Gayla Singleton, high school math instructor and Lt. Col. Neil Beckman, JROTC Instructor, both with the intent to retire. The board also accepted the resignation of Nickey Reutzel as high school head volleyball coach.

The board hired the following instructors during closed session, Buffy Jo Jack, high school special education instructor; Brenden Jones, high school math instructor and Rebecca Stites, seventh grade math instructor. In sports, the following were hired as coaches, Morgan Bailey, assistant softball coach; Jon Hall, assistant high school boys basketball coach and Ryan Thompson, assistant high school girls basketball coach.

The next Fredericktown R-I School Board meeting will be at 5 p.m, May 15 at the district office.

Fredericktown High School adds cross country to its list of fall sports.

Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com