The Northland Pines varsity cross country team will have experience on both teams this upcoming running season with six returning letter winners on the boys’ side and three for the girls.
After a season of good results and plenty of PRs from Pines athletes in 2025, the experience will only help the Eagles this season. The boys’ team only had two runners with varsity experience last year, and with consistent results from the underclassmen last fall, that experience will impact the team positively. Ethan Miller and Griffin Beyer are the two seniors who will lead by example throughout the season.
“I have six returning letter winners for boys, which will have a big impact on their team success this season. The sophomore boys will bring a lot of experience from their freshman year to the team,” stated Head Coach Patrick Gauthier. “Our two seniors are leading the boys by setting the example of hard work, dedication and positivity.”
Great Northern Conference competition is set to be high once again in the boys field, with Lakeland and Rhinelander returning a decent amount of state-qualifiers for their team. Coach Gauthier did mention that confidence is high that the Eagles could finish high within the conference with the returning experience.
“The conference for the boys will be a strong completion. The boys could finish high in the conference,” he mentioned.
For the girls, senior Ava Gaetano and juniors Emily Ritter and Anna Chicka lead the pack as the returning letter winners for the Pines girls’ team. Gaetano is a team captain and has set great examples for the younger runners.
“As the captain, she has set high expectations for the girls team by leading as an example of dedication, working hard and supporting her teammates,” Gauthier said about his senior runner.
The girls’ side of the conference is also set to be a tough one. Coach Gauthier said many runners from around the conference are returners in 2026. Pines is aiming to finish somewhere in the middle this season, which would put them in fourth or fifth place. Tomahawk and Rhinelander will once again be the front runners in the girls’ division.
The team hopes that the way they’ve come together ahead of competitions starting will push each side to work together throughout the season.
“The team goals are all about being positive and teamwork. They have quickly come together as a team. They encourage and push each other everyday,” stated Gauthier.
Northland Pines’ first competition is set for this Thursday, Aug. 27, at Rhinelander High School. The Eagles will compete against nearly a dozen other schools, which include a handful from the GNC and Three Lakes-Phelps.
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