When talking about the most dominate sports program in the area the past few years, it is one that doesn’t get a lot of press. We have had teams have success for a year or two but when it gets down to it, nothing currently compares to the Blue Eye Cross-Country Programs.
The Blue Eye Girls have a State Championship, A State Runners-Up, and a State Sixth place finish. The Boys have a fifth and two State Runners-Up finishes in that same time period.
And, neither team looks to have any fall back this year. On the girls side: Riley Arnold will be looking to move into rarified air. She will be gunning for her Fourth Consecutive Individual Cross-Country State Championship. She will likely be joined by her twin sister, Avery, who finished second in 2018 and 2019, before missing last season with an injury. Three time All-Stater Braylynn Siercks is also back. In fact, the entire Varsity team from last year will be back for the Lady Bulldogs
For the Boys: Ryan Cardenzana leads the way. He finished fourth at the State Meet, last year after a third place finish in 2019. Jadon Weaver returns as well, as do all seven of the Bulldogs Varsity Members.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs will open their season by running in the SouthWest Missouri Cross-Country Coaches Meet on Sep 04th. There will be plenty of chances to see them run in the area. They will be taking part in meets at Branson and Hollister, as well as hosting the SWCL Meet.
You can’t blame Coach Jacob Thompson-Krug if he is a little excited about this season.
