The Fannin County High School (FCHS) Rebels and Lady Rebels Cross Country teams returned from the Georgia High School Association A Division 1 State Championship meet Saturday, November 8. The boys team made history and the girls squad turned in another stellar finish.
The boys team of Winn Rickenbaker, Jamari Dunn, Rylin Davis, Henry Schueneman, Grey Ward, Jainil Patel, Gabe Pirkle is the State Runner Up.
This is the first State Runner Up finish for any boys’ cross country team in FCHS school history.
Rickenbaker received a medal and was recognized by finishing eighth at the state championship meet out of over 150 runners.
The Lady Rebels team of Lola Temples, Maddie Schueneman, Kensley Pickelsimer, Charlotte Vallejo, Sydney Ford, Garin Rickenbaker, and Lana Hicks made the podium by finishing third in the state.
This marks the first time in FCHS school history that both the Rebels and Lady Rebels cross country teams made the podium at the state championships during the same season.
Coach Miranda Roof said, “Single A is an extremely challenging classification in Georgia cross country. Based on the times that our FCHS boys team ran at the state championships, our boys team also beat local teams such as Union, Gilmer, Pickens, Lumpkin, Dawson, and White County. Our boys would be State Champs if we would have been running in the AA classification race.”
She continued, “Based on the times that our FCHS girls team ran at the state championships, our girls team also defeated local teams such as Union, Pickens, Lumpkin, and Gilmer County. Our girls would have also placed third in AA. The fourth place team in AA would have finished eighth in our Single A classification. This just shows the strength of our Single A classification and shows how impressive the accomplishments of our Rebels and Lady Rebels truly are.”
“Coach Dr. Lucas Roof and I are proud of our boys team for what they accomplished in being a state runner-up,” Miranda Roof said.
The varsity boys were joined this season by Winn Rickenbaker, Jamari Dunn, Grey Ward, Jainil Patel, Gabe Pirkle, Kyler Wilson, and Mitchell Martin. With Rylin Davis, Henry Schueneman, and Aiden Jones returning, “we knew we had potential,” Miranda Roof said.
Schueneman ran three minutes faster at the state championship meet this season than he did last season, and Davis ran two minutes faster.
“This boys team put in the work throughout the summer and all season long. They never settled and kept a great attitude all season long. Their hard work, good attitudes, and it paid off in the end,” Miranda Roof said.
The girls team lost several runners from last season, including standout Lindsey Holloway. Freshman phenomenal runner Townson Rickenbaker suffered an injury taking her out of competition before the season even started.
Those remaining, “Could have just given up. However, they never gave up, stayed focused, trusted the process, and never stopped putting in the work,” Miranda Roof said.
Varsity runners Lola Temples, Maddie Schueneman, Kensley Pickelsimer, Charlotte Vallejo, Sydney Ford, Garin Rickenbaker, and Lana Hicks were credited by the coach for staying positive and working as a team.
“Our JV girl runners, Addison Head, Claire Saxon, and Kylee Bohnert, also added stability and depth this season,” Miranda Roof said.
“We took a ‘we above me’ approach this season, which allowed us to have success at the State Championship level.
“Coach Dr. Lucas Roof and I just can’t say enough how proud we are of all of our runners for their accomplishments this season. We are only losing one senior to graduation, and we are gaining some very good eight grade runners. So, we are definitely looking forward to next fall’s cross country season,” Miranda Roof concluded.