MOSES LAKE – After a storybook season, the Mavericks cross country team is ready to go farther this season, head coach Larry Dagnon said.  

“Last year was a monumental season. Honestly, not only was it monumental for how the team did, but just having sports was monumental,” he said.  

In the wake of the Moses Lake School District’s levy shortfall, Dagnon said there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding last year's season. Without a moment to take a breather, Dagnon and the Mavs cross country program went from fundraising all summer straight into the fall 2024 season.  

Dagnon said he was pleased with the runner's dedication.  

“They all put their best foot forward,” he said. “They just were a bunch of hard-working kids, and they just kind of fed off of each other. There was great leadership on the team, great commitment and they just did things the right way.” 

Despite the external circumstances creating challenges, both the boys and girls cross country teams had historic seasons. For the boys, an experienced roster saw them qualify for the state meet for the second time in school history.  

The girls were a young team in terms of grade level, Dagnon said. However, that was no reason to hold them back as they also qualified for the state meet for the first time in 40 years, according to Dagnon. He said even though they did not place high, he was proud of his runners for what they accomplished.  

“It was storybook, honestly, it was a very beautiful moment, to look at how the season ended compared to how it started in the summer,” he said.  

As they look to this season, Dagnon’s Mavs will have some key returners for this upcoming season. Rachel Nofziger, Natalie Vehrs, Kaytlyn Russell, Emma Wallace and Alexis Feller return in hopes of topping last season's successes.  

They also have Aspen Hoenes, who recently transferred to Moses Lake High School. According to Dagnon, she has been impressive during summer training.  

“We took her up to cross country camp. She just did really well. In fact, she came in second in our girls race, which is with a bunch of girls who had qualified for state last year and she beat all of them but one,” Dagnon said.  

On the boy's team, Liam O’Shea, Noah Demchuk, Lane Christensen, who qualified for state as a freshman, Max Jolley and Sean Brumet return to lead the team. Brumet suffered an injury that cut his season short last year. Dagnon said he will be motivated to have a successful season.  

Dagnon said the boys team last year was a team full of veteran leaders. While this year they still have a large number of returners, he is excited to watch them find their identity throughout the season.  

As they have trained over the summer, Dagnon said their progression could not have been reached without the dedication of his coaching staff, too. He said their commitment to the Mavs program was instrumental to player retention last year as well.  

“I believe kids do what they're led to do, and at no point did any of my staff bail. None of them jumped ship. We all just kept going forward as if we were having (a season) the whole time and I think (the runners) bought into that,” Dagnon said.  

Dagnon said he believes his cross-country teams will be considerably better this year. He realistically sees his team winning the league championship on their way to another state appearance.  

“We've got as good a chance as anyone in this league to go on to state this year, and if we get there, we're going to do some damage this year. They won't be 16th, they'll move up considerably,” Dagnon said.  

The Mavericks cross country team has its first meet Sept. 5, at the Hanford Jamboree.  

    Runners on the Moses Lake boys and girls cross country teams smile for a photo at the Iolani Cross Country Invitational. Head Coach Larry Dagnon said he believes his team will be considerably better this year.
  

    Moses Lake rising junior Duane Zamora, left in maroon, and alumni Angel Verduzco, right in maroon, competing at the Iolani Cross Country Invitational in Hawaii.