Sophia Briseno
ASU Student Journlist

Growing Higley High School's Cross Country Program

September 3, 2018 by Sophia Briseno, Arizona State University


For the first time, Higley High School’s track and field coaches have taken over the cross country program together.

Girls coach Stacey Fentress and boys coach Devin Slawson-Green said they felt coaching both sports was necessary for the success and growth of the track and field program and the cross country program.

Fentress was the cross country coach a few years ago but took a two-year hiatus and her absence took a toll on the program.

During her break, Fentress said only a couple of the track and field athletes participated on the cross country team, something that shrunk the size of the cross country program immensely.

“Devin first stepped up (and became a cross country coach),” Fentress said. “I said, ‘you know what, we have to step up together and build the program and unity of both.’ ”

Since the two took over the program, the enrollment has doubled in size from the previous year, according to Fentress.

“If we are going to have it (track and field) be successful in the spring, we are going to be successful in the fall (in cross country) and vice versa,” Slawson-Green said. “Just trying to carry those kids over and build up both programs at the same time.”

The coaches have been working close with the local middle school that feeds into Higley High School and the community to help promote and build the reputation of the team in order strengthen and grow the program.

Fentress said through this and younger students seeing the success of their older siblings who are on the team they were able to grow the program to the size it is this season.

While the team’s size is still small in comparison to other competing high schools, they use their size to their advantage.

“We are able to focus more individually,” Slawson-Green said. “I think that’s where we see the most growth. The biggest change to the program is the individual experience. That’s how you get kids to come back and show that we do care about everyone.”

At practices, the coaches are able to examine and work on all the athletes’ running techniques and styles individually. Fentress said because of this they can shed not just seconds but minutes off a lot of the runners’ times.

Not only are Fentress and Slawson-Green seeing improvement in the students’ performance but Fentress said she can see the students improving as leaders and it is one of the strong points of this year’s team.

“They take leadership in the classroom, leadership in athletics and leadership in the community,” Fentress, who has many of the athletes in her classes, said.

Senior Lindsay Simpson said becoming a leader of the team is one of her favorite parts about being the girls’ captain.

“I like that everyone looks up to us (herself and boys’ captain, junior Ethan Whitman) and looks to us for help, and we can cheer them on,” Simpson said.