Arcata High School athletics have been excelling during the fall sports season, but two undefeated teams are standing out: Cross Country and Girls Tennis.
Boys and girls cross country both took home a win at the first HDN league meet of the season at the Del Norte Golf Course, and the at second meet at Hiller Park-Hammond Trail, making their current standing two wins and zero losses. The third league meet took place in Eureka on October 4, but the results were not out when this article was written.
Ocean Walker, a sophomore cross country runner, identified the strengths of his team, and attributed their success to their coaching by James Washington and runners’ abilities.
“James is a really good coach. We’ve been practicing a lot all year, and we have a lot of strong runners,” Walker said.
For such a large group, they said they have a good team dynamic.
“Everyone gets along well. We don’t really have any beef on the team,” senior Cross Country runner Emma Martin said.
This season, the team plans to maintain their impressive success, hopefully doing well in league, and even advancing.
“We are trying to go to state this year,” Walker said. The Girls Tennis team is also first in league with their currently undefeated season.
Girls Tennis at AHS has been historically successful, having finished first in the league for sixteen years, finishing undefeated for the past seven.
Ella Manthorne, a senior on the tennis team, described her team environment, and the route of their success.
“We always go out and try our hardest. We have a great group, and we are really motivated,” Manthorne said.
The team also credits much of their achievements to how fun their team is.
“We have fun with each other whenever we go somewhere, or just at practice. And we have a playlist that we make together which I think is a good thing,” junior tennis player Iris Besmer said.
“We have a really good team environment. We are all super close. We have a lot of fun at practice, and we lift each other up. I love all the girls, and it’s just a really fun team to be on. It makes going to practice everyday really exciting,” Manthorne said.
Janet Lanza • Oct 12, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Bella DeCarli, a determined freshman, displayed incredible grit and tenacity during her recent race against a senior from Eureka High. In a nail-biting finish, Bella surged ahead in the last 100 yards of the race, leaving her senior competitor behind at the very end. What truly highlighted this remarkable feat was the unwavering support from her entire team, who joined her in the last 50 yards, showering her with enthusiastic screams and cheers that generated an electric atmosphere. The energy was simply off the charts as they propelled Bella to the finish line. After crossing it, Bella’s sheer effort took a toll, and she collapsed, exhausted. In a heartwarming moment, her dad, who was close by, picked her up, and with their unwavering support, she regained her composure and her breathing. The excitement was palpable, and the entire crowd erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating her remarkable victory. Bella’s finishing time of 22.22.44, which outpaced a senior, was a testament to her resilience and dedication, leaving an indelible mark on all who witnessed this thrilling race. So fun to watch!