Polson’s Big Three know a thing or two about teamwork. This core group of veteran cross country runners has proven time and again that greatness can come to those who balance personal glory with doing what’s best for the team. They’ve run as a ferocious pack for most of the season, and much of last year — each race pushing their peers to reach new frontiers and inspiring the guys behind them to strive to be part of the group.

“A lot of teams may have a runner that finishes ahead of Travis, Jimmy and I, but with all five guys in the 17s, it should be no contest,” senior team leader and frequent top runner Alex Nystrom said of the upcoming state meet.

“We’re planning taking it,” Nystrom added. “We’re going to walk in there with the mental attitude that we’re not leaving without that state championship.”

And the thing is, that already fearsome Pirate roster is about to go from “Big Three” to “Big Five.” Young guns Jared Rubel and Tel Motichka have taken stock in the team’s unified attack and used both talent and hard work to join the fun at the front.

It’s largely a guessing game anymore for coaches Matt Seeley and Jenny Brown to predict the order of finishes among their team. The only thing that matters to this group is the final number, the lowest combined team score, and they feel strongly that by pulling one another along through the chaos that can be the first mile or two in a course, they can keep pace with their goals and finish higher in the rankings.

The Leader sat down with the Big Three last week to find out more about this race tactic and their desire to win a trophy at the state meet.

How did this all start? When did you discover that running together allowed you to push harder to the end?

Nystrom: We all previously knew each other. My first day of practice, Jimmy was there, and watching the older boys running together really inspired us. Somewhere, Jared (Rubel) and Tel (Motichka) found the same inspiration we found and now they’re running up there with us too.

Jimmy Bjorge: We’ve all had those races when you’re running alone and you let your mind slow you down, but with a team member there, we can encourage each other and get back on track.

How does it work out there on the course? What’s the strategy in these big races and how do you know when it’s better to take off and go it alone?

Nystrom: Once the race starts, it’s just madness. We try to hang in there together for at least 2 miles and then, the rule is, if you can go, go. It takes a lot of heart to run the entire 3 miles as fast as you can. It’s great finishing a race and seeing your entire team finishing right behind you.

Travis Hayes: You can really run off of each other and push each other when the pace starts to slow down. It’s a lot of mental help knowing the rest of the varsity team is right behind us.

Most people consider cross country an individual athletic pursuit. You guys know better and your philosophy is to rally together and pull one another along through the tough spots in the race. Tell me a little bit about that team atmosphere.

Bjorge: It’s been kind of a tough year for me, with injuries and other things, but having these guys pushing has helped me finish strong in a lot of the races where I was hurting.

Nystrom: It’s like a brotherhood. Everyone thinks of cross country as an individual sport, but with your teammates pushing you, you really want to be there too. It helps you make smart choices, like taking it easier on a recovery day, eating a smart diet and being prepared for races.

We know we have a good team and we feel we are contenders, but everyone has to want it.

Hayes: You can’t win a race with just three guys — it takes a whole team.

And the vibe is just right in the Pirate locker room. These boys are ready to take on the top teams in the state and do so together.