The West Holmes girls cross country team concluded its season with an 18th-place finish at the state meet staged at Fortress Obetz on Nov. 1, marking the program’s fifth straight trip to the state championships. The team’s presence at the meet continues a multi-year pattern of postseason success that has become a hallmark of the Knights’ program.

Junior Iriel Mena paced the Knights with a time of 19 minutes, 40 seconds to place 49th overall. Close behind was Katherine Kaster in 55th place. The West Holmes scoring roster was rounded out by Alexis Wagers (119th), Ellie Babitt (176th) and Chelsie Cooper (192nd). Those results sealed the team’s showing at the state level and brought to a close what the program described as a strong postseason stretch.

State qualification and repeated appearances at large events such as Fortress Obetz carry practical benefits beyond individual race results. Continual state-level competition raises the profile of West Holmes athletics within the county and the region, reinforcing the school’s ability to attract and retain student-athletes and coaching talent. For local residents, the team’s performance provides a recurring source of community pride and offers measurable returns on local investments in school sports infrastructure, coaching, and youth development programs.

Sustained success at the state level also has implications for younger athletes in Holmes County. Repeated appearances create role models for middle school and club runners and can strengthen feeder programs, which in turn helps maintain competitive depth in future seasons. For school administrators and community stakeholders, the pattern of state qualifications offers data points useful for budget discussions and resource allocation, particularly when weighing priorities among extracurricular programs.

While end-of-season rankings are the most visible metric, the season-long development of athletes — from training regimens to race experience at district and regional levels — is what enables programs to qualify repeatedly for state competition. The Knights’ finish at Fortress Obetz suggests that West Holmes has established systems and coaching practices capable of producing consistent postseason results.

Looking ahead, the program’s leadership and community supporters will likely examine how to build on the momentum of five straight state appearances. Attention will turn to sustaining athlete development pipelines, maintaining competitive coaching, and ensuring facilities and funding match the expectations set by repeated state competition. For Holmes County residents, the Knights’ performance remains a tangible example of local athletic achievement and an invitation to support the next generation of runners.