In only two meets this season so far, Cypress Cross-Country has been working hard.
Coach Matthew Tweed reflected on the team’s progress, stating, “This has been by far our best off-season, in terms of intensity, participation, and mileage. It’s been really good on both the boys and girls sides.” He also discussed the boys team’s annual Mammoth trip, where they spent eight days training at an altitude of 8,000 feet. “It’s a chance for the boys to bond, set goals, and train with minimal distractions. We run twice a day, and we also include fitness classes. My goal is not only for the kids to be talented runners but to help them find other ways to stay fit throughout their lives, whether it’s cycling, yoga, or boot camp.” Looking ahead, shared his hopes for the season. “We’re in the new Century Conference, and we want to finish in the top three to qualify for CIF. We have a lot of goals as a varsity team, but as a program overall, we’ve been able to increase our numbers. We have 60 athletes this year, including many freshmen and sophomores, so we’re excited not just about the present but also the future.” Tweed emphasized the importance of building a lasting culture of excellence. “We want the new athletes to understand what we’re trying to accomplish and seamlessly integrate into the program, continuing the tradition we’ve built.”
Team captain Jonathan Rodriguez reflected on last year, saying, “One of the biggest things about our last season was that we were a young team. We didn’t have any seniors, just a bunch of new guys. So, when it came to finals, we lagged a little. But during the off-season, we had the chance to recognize where we failed and started working on it early, so we’re mentally prepared.” He added, “Our team did well last year, but we fell short at finals. A lot of the guys didn’t know what to expect at the varsity level, especially being so young—how fast to start, how slow to go at certain points. One of the biggest challenges for me last year was taking on a leadership role at a young age. But those before me showed me that a captain isn’t just someone who tells others what to do; they have to be there all the time, working the hardest.” Rodriguez also shared how the team balances hard work with relaxation, mentioning trips to the pool and a sports club where they play ping pong, pool, and basketball. He explained that training at altitude took time to adapt to, making even simple things like walking up stairs more difficult.
The team had their first test on Saturday, September 7th at the Pat Hadly Invitational with Sophomore runner Aaron Garcia winning his heat with a time of 9:41.2 over three kilometers. A 5th place for Sophomore Kristina Buttner followed by Freshman Samantha Treadway taking 6th place on her debut. Junior Isaiah Garma explained his pre-race routine “I get there 1.5 hours before I relax for 25 minutes and go to the restroom about an hour before the race, around 45 minutes before I race I do stretching, a 2-mile warm up and some extra drills to get the blood flowing… Usually, as a team we huddle up to get motivation.” Garma was able to get 4th with Nathan Rodriguez rounding up the top 10. Senior William Masanja was able to get 8th followed by team captain Jonathan Rodriguez taking 13th place.
With a strong off-season behind them, the cross-country team is feeling confident as they head into the 2024-2025 season. Their focus goes beyond just qualifying for CIF—they’re building a supportive, hard-working team culture that will carry them through this season and beyond. After learning from last year’s challenges and putting in the work, the team is ready to take on whatever comes next.
