As the new cross country season approaches, the Moses Lake Mavericks are preparing to take significant strides forward. After a commendable performance in 2025, where both the boys and girls teams qualified for the state meet, Head Coach Larry Dagnon is optimistic about the team's potential for the upcoming season.
Coach Dagnon expressed confidence in the current squad, noting, "They’re better than last year." Despite losing three key scorers—two from the boys' team and one from the girls' team—the core of the team remains intact. He highlighted the strength of the girls' team, stating, "Our girls are going to be very strong, and the boys are going to be very strong as well." This depth and talent will be crucial as the Mavericks aim to improve upon their previous finishes, with the boys placing 16th and the girls finishing 15th at the state meet in Pasco last year.
Last season, several Mavericks runners made their mark by finishing in the top 100 at state. Notable performers included Liam O'Shea, Colton Lucero, Lane Christensen, and Max Jolley for the boys, while Aspen Hoenes, Rachel Nofziger, Kaytlyn Russell, Natalie Vehrs, Emily Bong, and Emma Wallace represented the girls. Coach Dagnon acknowledged the competitive nature of the state meet, reflecting, "We wished we had run faster, obviously, but you could just tell when it was all said and done — that was a fast group of people they were racing with." This year, the Mavericks are determined to elevate their performance.
The girls' team has shown remarkable depth, with 14 athletes clocking times under 14:28 during a recent time trial. Key returners include Hoenes, senior standout Nofziger, and recent time-trial winner Vehrs. Other contributors like Russell, Bong, Sarah Humphries, and veteran leader Wallace, who has been part of every state trip, bolster the squad's strength. Rising talents such as Amelia 'Millie' Olascon and Khloe Helm, along with a promising freshman class featuring Charlotte Chesley, Aleyah Loera, and Adelyn Chamberlain, are all pushing for varsity spots. Dagnon believes the depth is so significant that he could field a highly competitive second varsity group.
On the boys' side, the roster mirrors the girls in both quality and depth. Key returners include Lucero, Christensen, and Jolley, who have been preparing diligently, including attending a summer training camp at Brigham Young University. Dagnon noted, "They did really well down there and came back really fired up, even more so. Those two breathe cross country." The team also features strong contributors like Noah Demchuk, Liam Roseburg, Gabe Cabiao, and Jonathan Sandoval. A standout to watch this season is Keenan Russell, who has made significant improvements, shaving nearly two minutes off his time from last year.
Leadership will play a pivotal role in the Mavericks' success this season, especially with the graduation of key figures like Liam O'Shea and Lexi Feller. Dagnon has observed Colton Lucero stepping into a leadership role for the boys, saying, "Colton has been such a leader. He has seamlessly stepped in, tried to lead, and he’s been a really good leader." On the girls' side, Emma Wallace has emerged as a new captain, effectively rallying her teammates.
As the Mavericks look forward to the season, Dagnon is eager to see how far his athletes can progress. The previous season marked a historic achievement for the boys, who qualified for the state meet for only the second time in school history, while the girls reached the state meet for the first time in 40 years. This year, the goal is to see athletes standing on the podium at the state meet. Dagnon remarked, "It’s never happened. I don’t know if it’ll happen because you get there and it’s just the fastest of the fast, and it just has to be your day." He also emphasized the importance of winning league championships, as the boys team shared the league title with Eisenhower last season while the girls finished as runners-up.
With the season opener set for September 4 at the Hanford Jamboree at Leslie Grove Park, the Mavericks are ready to face a competitive league, including strong teams like West Valley, AC Davis, and Sunnyside. Dagnon acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains focused on the potential for success.
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