The 2026 season has been a successful one for both the boys and girls teams this year at MLHS. Most recently, the girls secured the district and league title while the boys team came second, but both qualified their teams for the upcoming state meet on Nov. 7.  

Lane Christensen from the boys team was the sole representative of the Mavs on the first team, with Colton Lucero, Liam Roseburg and Maxwell Jolley earning second team honors. Jonathan Sandoval and Gabriel Cabiao were named honorable mentions. 

"It was really just a really solid year for the boys," Dagnon said. "Gabriel jumping into the honorable mention, getting into that top 21 was a very big deal, and Jonathan was just seconds away from being in the second team. We really did have a good year across the board with both teams." 

Cabiao being a sophomore, making the progress he has this season, gives the coach a lot of optimism for his trajectory as an athlete.  

"I've been telling him for about a week that I think he's going to make a huge difference for us at state," said the coach. "Just watching him move, watching his focus, which is way different than what it was even four weeks ago, we've really seen him step up, and he really has wanted to capture a spot that's just absolutely his. He didn't want to mess around with being an alternate, being the number seven. He just decided he was going to go and take a spot, and he really did. It was amazing." 

For the girls, Rachel Nofziger, Aspen Hoenes, Amelia Olascon and Natalie Vehrs dominated the first team honors. Emily Bong and Kaytlyn Russell rounded out the honors on the second team list. Earning unified honors was Torin Trexler and Naomi Nofziger. 

The Mavericks have been all over this season, travelling to Hawaii for the Iolani Invite, the Nike Bob Firman Invitational in Spokane; Yakima, Walla Walla and nearby at the Gorge Amphitheater. Time and time again, both squads have put together a healthy mix of season and personal best performances at each outing.   

Receiving this recognition also provides a chance to highlight some of the runners who have made a jump in production from the previous seasons. Dagnon pointed to Olascon and Vehrs as two athletes that stand out.  

"Natalie and Millie both had really good jumps this year, both into the first team," said the coach. "Kaytlyn jumped up nicely, and Emily Bong, she was only 1.6 seconds away from qualifying for the first team, we would have had five inside the top seven. So, it would have been amazing." 

Bringing home the sportsmanship awards were Lucero and Russell, highlighting the character they bring to the sport in addition to their skills.  

"They just represent themselves super well at every meet we're at," Dagnon said. "They're friendly with all the kids from the other teams. They're great teammates and it totally shows." 

Not to be overlooked either, Dagnon himself earned Coach of the Year honors. Despite the award only listing his name, he feels the credit really should go to his coaching staff of Joseph Johnson, Brendan Thompson, Bradley Tripp, Tom Davenport, Christian and Jodi O'Shea. 

"I've always said that's really a staff award," Dagnon said. "If you're coach of the year, you've got a bunch of people who are working with you, working with your team, who are doing their job and doing it at such a high level that it reflects on them every bit as much as it reflects on me. They all have their great strengths that they offer to the team, and at the end of the day that makes us so much better as a coaching staff." 

All-Big 9 Cross Country 

Coach of the Year – Larry Dagnon 

Boys 

First Team: 

Lane Christensen, junior 

Second Team: 

Colton Lucero, senior 

Liam Roseburg, junior 

Maxwell Jolley, junior 

Honorable Mention: 

Jonathan Sandoval, junior 

Gabriel Cabiao, sophomore 

Unified: 

Torin Trexler, junior 

Sportsmanship: Colton Lucero, senior 

Girls 

First Team: 

Rachel Nofziger, senior 

Aspen Hoenes, sophomore 

Amelia Olascon, junior 

Natalie Vehrs, junior 

Second Team: 

Emily Bong, sophomore 

Kaytlyn Russell, junior 

Unified: 

Naomi Nofziger, freshman 

Sportsmanship: Kaytlyn Russell, junior

    Maxwell Jolley keeps a steady pace during the 5K at the Gorge Invite earlier this season. Jolley was one of seven Mavericks who earned All-Big 9 honors.