Wright City Cross Country Coach Ryan Heyel is focusing on the team’s culture and environment as they look towards another season. 

The Wildcats have an increased number of runners on the cross country teams this year, with nine high school athletes running for the Wildcats. There are six runners on the girls team and three runners on the boys team. 

“It’s nice to have a team,” Wright City senior Charleigh Ferrell said. “Normally it’s just three girls or three people total because not many people have interest in cross country.”

Early in practice, Heyel’s focus was on the culture  and environment of the team as a collective whole. They’ve been trying to hone in on a family aspect and he is trying to instill the ideology of a team. Heyel thinks their numbers are a testament to that, with more runners competing in cross country this season. 

Heyel noted his athletes come from different social circles, different ventures and different family experiences. He put a big focus in developing team camaraderie early in the season. 

“The kids have really bonded well this year because of it,” Heyel said. “They have those shared experiences as opportunities to speak with each other just as people…The whole athletic aspect is coming second.”  

Heyel stressed the benefits of fielding a full roster on the girls cross country team. There was a level of excitement during summer conditioning that they would be able to compete as a team in girls cross country meets. 

“It's not just every man for themselves,” Heyel said. “It really embodied that team mindset, which is something that we were lacking last year, just because we didn't have the numbers to support. So they came in this season with even more motivation than last year to go out to the meets, to work harder and practice because they need to support the person next to them.” 

Heyel said the Wildcats bring in several runners who have running experience. Some of their runners took a year or two off from cross country before returning to the team this season. 

Heyel is trying to instill a mentality in his runners for them to keep going and trying to break through even when it hurts while competing. He wants them to improve every time they compete in a race. 

“I tell the kids, I'm like, if you're gonna go out there, you need to go out there with the mindset that you are going to do better than last time,” Heyel said. “And obviously injuries happen. It's a part of life. But every time that my athletes are stepping up to the line, they want to run better than their last race, you know. We use that as a benchmark to try and surpass each and every meet.”