Mackenzie Schweickart is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Marcos de Niza for AZPreps365.com.

With a smaller team than normal, the Marcos de Niza girls and boys cross country team began its shortened schedule with a new coach this season. Naturally, there were some kinks to work out, but success was still found within the team.

The Padres welcomed coach Vaughn Popeney after former coach Marianne Kim went to a new school. Joining a new program is never easy, but trying to build a program during a pandemic is a different experience altogether.

“It was definitely hectic,” Popeney said. “I couldn’t recruit, and trying to plan summer practices was almost impossible. Just trying to get ready for the season was tough.”

Last year the Padres were plagued with injuries, so Popeney wanted to focus on keeping those low. Reaching the state competition wasn’t as important this year, but that didn’t stop sophomore Luke Sieveking.

Sieveking ran “a picture perfect race” at the Cross Roads meet and set a personal record of a 18:14 pace on Nov. 4, and he placed 63rd out of 150 runners at state on Nov. 12 in Gilbert.

Last year as a freshman, Sieveking reached state, but he over-extended his right leg and didn't finish.

“This year, it was more of a ‘I can finish this race’ situation for me,” Sieveking said. “I wish I was a little faster, but it was still a good race in my opinion.”        Luke Sieveking ran a new PR and rached state this 2020 season (Photo Courtesy: Luke Sieveking)

No matter the size of the team, bonding is a crucial part of sports. Popeney reflected on the lack of team dinners or brunches due to COVID-19, but the athletes found other ways of creating a family atmosphere and building chemistry.

Besides playing "Among Us" or listening to music together on the bus, one of the runners came up with her own idea. Senior Gabriella Ramirez made bracelets for her teammates last year as a way to welcome newcomers to the sport.

“I just wanted to do something nice,” Ramirez said. “It’s intimidating coming into a new sport. Cross country isn’t easy, so I wanted to welcome people and let them know they can talk to me about anything.”

“It was fun to see,” Popeney said. “When they were making them, it was nice to see everyone doing them their own way. It showed their personalities and the team chemistry.” 

                 Gabriella Ramirez poses after a meet this season (Photo Courtesy: Gabriella Ramirez)

Popeney and his runners have set goals for next season, and they are on the same page. Recruiting athletes to build both a girls and boys team are at the top of the list for Popeney as well as sending more individuals or even “making a little magic and taking a team to state.” It’s more so about progress for Sieveking.

“I just want to get faster,” Sieveking said. “I would like to hit somewhere in the 17s or get further down in the lower 18s. That’s one of my big goals.”

When a new coach comes to a program, it isn’t always an easy transition for the athletes. They have to get used to new coaching styles, but the Padres who stayed adapted quickly to the change in leadership.

“I think it’s his experience from having a State team,” Sieveking said. “He knows what he needs to do to push people to go that far; he knows the kind of workouts we need.”

“It was stressful at first,” Ramirez said. “I liked that we did more intense workouts and longer runs. He has a different coaching style, but he’s a really good coach and knows what he’s doing.”