Bella Vista High School Cross Country Season Preview

The 2021 cross-country season for the Bella Vista High School team is shaping up to be a promising one. Coach Harold Kuphaldt is enthusiastic about the team's potential to qualify for D2 state championships in both the boys' and girls' divisions this year. With a strong core of returning players and some promising new additions, the squad is aiming to be at their best-come race day. We had the chance to speak with Coach Kuphaldt about the team's goals, top players, challenges, and coaching philosophy. Returning players from last season are the backbone of any team, and Bella Vista has some exceptional talent coming back. On the boys' side, Calvin Fear, Aaron Thompson, Everett Rohm, Jonah Wooden, Ronan Emanavin, Ben Campbell, and Griffin Keel are all returning with a 17:50 5K time from the previous year. These runners have the potential to be top performers this year, with a mix of experience and determination. Fear, in particular, stood out as one of the best freshmen in the country last year with impressive times in the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and 5K. Thompson also has a sub 16:00 5K time under his belt from last season, making him a strong contender. On the girls' side, Bella Vista is returning all of their top varsity runners from last year, including an outstanding group of juniors. Zoe Corder, Haley Mazzei, Sophia Pham, Jayden Fritz, and Fia Nicolaescu are all formidable runners with impressive track records ranging from 800m to 3200m. Additionally, senior Angelyna Bedal has a 21:05 5K time, making her another valuable asset to the team. With these returning players, Bella Vista has a solid foundation for the upcoming season. But it's not just the returning players who are making waves. Coach Kuphaldt predicts that some new team members will make an immediate impact this year. Freshmen Lincoln Manweller and Kai Patrick, both with sub 5:00 1600m times in 8th grade, are two names to watch out for on the boys' team. On the girls' side, there are some promising new freshmen who could potentially break into the varsity lineup.