The Hemlock Huskies Cross Country teams wrapped up an outstanding regular season highlighted by team championships, individual medals, personal records and conference honors. Throughout the season, both the boys' and girls' teams demonstrated the dedication, perseverance and teamwork that continue to strengthen the program.
From varsity runners competing for team titles to the growing middle school program and the youngest members of the elementary Huskie Pack, athletes across all levels continued to develop their skills, support their teammates and represent Hemlock with pride. The growth of the program reflects a strong foundation for the future of Hemlock Cross Country.
Team Success Throughout the Season
The Huskies earned team awards and runner-up finishes at multiple invitationals throughout the season. The girls captured runner-up honors at the Carson City Invitational and finished third at the early-season Birch Run Invitational. The boys finished as the small-school runner-up at the St. Johns Under the Lights meet and placed fourth out of 25 teams at the Birch Run Fall Invitational.
The boys carried that momentum into conference competition, finishing second overall at the final Tri-Valley Conference (TVC) League meet at Delta College. The finish marked the team's highest placement since 2015.
One of the season's highlights was hosting the third annual Bill Agresta Invitational in honor of a coach who made a lasting impact on the Hemlock community. The Huskies captured team championships in both the boys' and girls' varsity races, with the top six Hemlock finishers in each race earning medals. Across all levels, Hemlock won team championships in five of the six races held that morning, showcasing its depth from varsity to the elementary Huskie Pack.
Personal Records and Individual Milestones
Individual improvement was another defining feature of the season. Hemlock runners continued to achieve season-best and lifetime personal records (PRs), reflecting the hard work and consistency they brought to each race.
At the Apple 2 Apples Invitational at Uncle John's Cider Mill, 10 of the 11 Hemlock runners competing recorded a season-best or lifetime personal record. The accomplishment came after a challenging race the previous day and highlighted the athletes' ability to push through demanding conditions.
Several runners reached notable individual milestones throughout the season. Zophia Zaleski ran 21:41.9 at Apple 2 Apples, the fastest girls' time for Hemlock since 2019. Thatcher Hodges also recorded a standout performance this season, running 17:30.79, the fastest boys' time for Hemlock since 2017. The season also included personal milestones beyond the clock, as Henry Salowitz returned from injury to record a lifetime PR and Gavin Schmidt completed his first-ever cross-country race.
At the Bill Agresta Invitational, four athletes earned Athlete of the Meet recognition after recording lifetime personal records:
Hannah Villalpando: Improved by 1 minute, 39 seconds
Cora Love: Improved by 1 minute, 19 seconds
Cooper Ward: Improved by 1 minute
Henry Salowitz: Improved by 46 seconds
Conference Honors
The Huskies' performances also earned recognition across the Tri-Valley Conference. Five boys and three girls earned TVC Blue Division honors, while four athletes earned All-TVC honors for their performances across both conference divisions.
TVC Blue Division Honors
First Team
Thatcher Hodges
Grady Galbraith
Second Team
Christian Chamberlain
Mason LaVigne
Colton Siler
Zophia Zaleski
Honorable Mention
Emma Jaremba
Lydia Faubert
All-TVC Honors
Second Team
Thatcher Hodges
Grady Galbraith
Third Team
Christian Chamberlain
Zophia Zaleski
These honors recognize the individual accomplishments of Hemlock runners and the work they put in throughout the conference season.
Looking Ahead to Regionals
The Huskies will carry the experience and momentum of their regular season into postseason competition. Hemlock is scheduled to compete at regionals on Saturday, October 31, at 9:00 a.m. in Deckerville, with runners looking to continue their seasons and earn the opportunity to advance.
Congratulations to Hemlock's Cross Country athletes and coaches on an outstanding regular season. Best of luck at regionals!
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