GREENVILLE – To raise funds and build excitement among Greenville cross country runners and fans, the Green Wave hosted their inaugural Meet the Team Night on Thursday at Memorial Hill in the Greenville City Park.
With music blaring and cheerleaders forming a tunnel, all of the Greenville cross country athletes were introduced in front of their friends and family prior to running their time trials for the upcoming season.
“I thought the event was fun today,” Greenville cross country coach Stephanie Lind said. “I think it was nice to be able to recognize the kids and let them have an opportunity to try out their legs here in the heat. We’ve been practicing in the morning, so good opportunity for them to show where they’re at this early in the season and start to mentally get prepared to race.”
Greenville cross country has seen a lot of progress recently, as evidenced by the junior high boys team that saw its roster more than double in the past year.
“Their level of competitiveness and their work ethic is really substantially improved, and then our numbers are starting to grow,” Lind said. “That’s exciting for us.”
With the team growing, Lind hopes to see community support grow for the Green Wave athletes as well.
“I think it’s important having the teams cheer for each other and all the parents here,” she said. “Next year when we do it I hope the whole community comes out and supports the kids.”
Greenville’s high school runners will begin their season on Aug. 26 at the Moeller Primetime meet in Cincinnati, and the junior high athletes will start off with the Bob Schul Invitational on Aug. 27 at Milton-Union.
The Wave then will host their Treaty City Invitational on Sept. 3.
“That’s a big job,” Lind said of Greenville’s home meet. “The whole community pulls together for that.”
