AMBOY – The Amboy cross country season kicked off Tuesday, Aug. 27 and gave Michael Robinson a taste of what his team could potentially do this season.

The coach was excited before the season started but is even more so now.

It starts with his boys team where he has two returners in senior Brysen Full and LaMoille sophomore Jhett Cowser, and a returner in Ashton-Franklin Center senior Atticus Horner.

“It’s nice to have him back. It was hard last year when I was heading to the fifth practice of the year, and I received a text that he was going to play golf instead of running cross country,” said Robinson of Horner, who was on the 2021 AHS boys state qualifying team as a freshman and ran as a sophomore before taking a year off. “I didn’t know what to say, except for good luck. He admitted he missed cross country, and it was a mistake, and he should have ran as a junior.

“Having him back is really exciting. It brings back someone who has some experience and he knows what he is doing. He’s been to a high level with our guys before. He knows what it takes to be successful in this sport.”

Besides Full and Horner as seniors, the rest of the team consists of underclassmen.

Cowser is joined by classmates Henry Nichols, Aaron Costner, and Otto Horner (AFC), while freshmen Jayce Hermeyer and Landon Carter round out the roster.

“We’re young, but I’m excited about what our boys can do. We have been doing some time trials. We look good,” Robinson said. “It’s sophomore Henry Nichols’ first year for cross country, but he ran track last spring. He really surprised a lot of people as a freshman in the mile and the two mile. We’re excited to see what he can do over a three-mile course. When we lose our two seniors next year, we’re going to need guys to step up as leaders.

“He’s all in and has been really excited. We’ll see where it gets us.”

The girls team is returning five runners in seniors Natalie Pratt and Addison Pertell, juniors Samantha Nauman and Anna Carlson, and sophomore Aubrey Wells, who will be part-time as she is running and playing volleyball.

The seven-lady roster is completed with junior Grace Althaus and sophomore Maddie Althaus.

“It’s nice to have a group of runners with a few years of experience,” Robinson said. “We have some depth compared to recent years and they enjoy being part of the cross-country team. All of our five returners have improved from a year ago.

“Grace and Maddie are the last two Althaus sisters from their family. I’ve coached all four of them, Ashley, Lauren, Grace, Maddie, as they’ve joined the team. It’ll be weird when there isn’t an Althaus on the team, but I still have a few years with Grace and Maddie.”

New to the team this year is a familiar name, but in a different position.

Kyler McNinch, who was a star runner for Robinson a few years ago, joins Robinson once again. This time as an assistant coach.

“He’s back in the area. He contacted me during the spring and asked if he could help. I told him, ‘I’ll let you hang around,’” Robinson said “It’s been nice having Kyler around because he’s someone has been on cross country courses and has seen all levels of the sport from basic meets to the state meet.

“Having his experience around has been really helpful this year.”