Ethan Locke of Valor Prep in Waco could make the nation aware of his abilities this fall
2025 TAPPS 2A XC PREVIEW: GIRLS
One of the most successful cross country programs in Texas history - regardless of conference affiliation - is the Shiner St. Paul Cardinals. Between 2013 and 2021, the Cardinals of Shiner St. Paul amassed nine consecutive team titles followed by a third-place finish in 2022, a second-place finish in 2023, and a return to the top of the podium in 2024 for a total of 10 titles in 12 seasons.
Can they make it back-to-back and start a new streak?
For starters, six of seven from last year's state meet return, all of whom finished in the top 41. Skylar Mozisek finished third in a time of 13:26.33 followed closely by Kristin Cerny who finished sixth in a time of 13:49.50. [If the surname Cerny sounds familiar, Kristin is the younger sister of Brooke, now competing for Sam Houston State.]
Frances Filip (18th; 14:43.04), Riley Mozisek (25th; 15:32.79), Sally Machacek (34th; 16:04.94), and Emma Marshall (41st; 16:32.30) finished the 2-mile race as Shiner's six of seven - Dallyn Pesek (15th place) graduated. After earning the podium's top spot, the challenge now is to hold off St. Joseph of Bryan and Valor Prep of Waco who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively in 2024.
Coach Paige Brown of Shiner St. Paul chats with MileSplit
- - -
For St. Joseph, who tallied 75 points to Shiner's 46, the challenge is replacing Sophie Barajas who finished in 11th place and Reagan Provin, who finished 16th. Their four capable returners need a boost from whomever moves into the fifth spot while increasing their own standings.
Leading the charge is rising senior Leah Hurley who finished 7th in a time of 13:54.79. Sarah Wagner, who finished 27th, Madeline Brenner (48th) and Bella Ribardo (50th) possess the dubious challenge of chasing down another strong Shiner squad.
It's been said you should never look back, for someone may be gaining on you. In the 2A TAPPS girl's battle, Valor Prep finished just four points behind St. Joseph, yet Valor returns all five starters.
Rising sophomore Clara Gibson finished 5th, Ellie Buck finished 13th, Ruthie Funderburk finished 23rd, Katelyn McCurdy finished 36th, and Kinley Byrd finished 43rd. Along with Gibson, Funderburk and Byrd are rising sophomores, so Valor should be a force for the next few years.
From Shiner St. Paul's IG page
2025 TAPPS 2A XC PREVIEW: BOYS
The TAPPS 2A XC State Championship should be one of the better battles in the entire state. Last year's team champion - Southcrest Christian - returns five of their top 7, two of whom will be sophomores and two will be juniors. Look for Southcrest to remain strong for the foreseeable future.
Runner Up Ascension Academy returns all seven to challenge for the top spot, and third-place Valor Prep also returns all seven from last season. Out of a field of 126 runners last season, all 19 returning from the top three squads finished no lower than 75th.
Southcrest, out of Lubbock, scored an impressive 25 points.
Ascension Academy out of Amarillo scored 49, and Waco's Valor Prep scored 89 points.
Southcrest returners:
Jordan Anderson - 3rd - 17:14.57
Lucas Higgins - 5th - 18:08.88
Caleb Johnson - 7th - 18:51.25
Denver Jewell - 23rd - 20:17.45
Ethan Medrano - 44th - 21:38.16
Ascension Academy returners:
Roman Martinez - 4th - 17:47.56
Owen Chow - 10th - 18:56.07
Zachary Parker - 14th - 19:14.84
LJ Zubia - 15th - 19:31.73
Gabriel Miller - 26th - 20:22.97
Andrew Zubia - 42nd - 21:25.67
London McGaughey - 56th - 22:37.96
Valor Prep returners
Ethan Locke - 1st - 16:09.61 [almost 56 seconds better than 2nd place]
Mason Meline - 20th - 19:50.23
Elijah Monnich - 29th - 20:35.49
Korban Cortes - 40th - 21:21.16
Noah Canalez - 47th - 21:49.01
Levi Scheetz - 69th - 23:09.38
Levi Rucker - 75th - 23:33.65
On the morning of October 27th at Waco's Cottonwood Golf Course, one of the best battles for the apex of the XC team podium will take place in the 2025 TAPPS Boys 2A State Championships.
Southcrest Christian's Boy's Squad, from Pete Christy's KCBD's FB post