Selbyville success story: SMS cross-country team rosters nearly double for second season
Monday, September 23, 2024
By: Mike Stern, Coastal Point Staff Reporter
19, September 2024 – A shoutout to Charm City Run Rehoboth Beach –
The numbers have nearly doubled.
Last year, the Selbyville Middle School cross-country team attracted 27 girls and boys for its inaugural season.
This season’s squad has nearly doubled, to 42 girls and boys, including a healthy balance of sixth- and seventh-graders.
“I’ve been trying to wrap my head around such a large increase in numbers this year,” said the team’s head coach, Justin Stoeckel. “I’m thrilled that so many new runners have decided to join.”
The Indians will begin their second season away, at Beacon Middle School, starting at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 23. After staging home meets at IRHS last year, they will host their first meet at SMS vs. Frederick D. Thomas Middle School of Lewes beginning at 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 30. The team’s regular season schedule includes three more home meets and two on the road.
According to Stoeckel, the Indians lost only three eight-grade runners from last year’s team. “The growth that we are already seeing from our returning runners is amazing,” he said. “Runners like Athena Fleming-Lloyd, Ava Myoshi, Katelyn Hickman, Leah Donnelly, Mary Carter, Noah Mutz and Collin Connor are ready to put serious effort into this year. And we are fortunate to have newcomers this year, such as Haily Britt, an eighth-grader, and sixth-graders who work incredibly hard every practice, such as Noah Bauer, Kase Cathell and Nolyn Kenney, just to name a few. Every student-athlete on our roster wants to put in the work to be successful, and each one wants to help their teammates be successful, too.”
Stoeckel and his assistant, Dan Grob, give their student-athletes ownership for improving their performances. Each runner completes a reflection sheet the day after each meet.
“The runners reflect on what went well during the race, what they want to improve on, and what practice will look like during that week in order to help them reach their goals,” said Stoeckel. “Each runner has their times from previous races, and they set a goal for the next race. I think giving them ownership of their improvement has led to their progress, because each one has their own specific goal to work toward. It also allows Coach Grob and I to tailor practices and drills to target specific needs. As coaches, our goal is to instill a love for running, and to see the benefits of the sport both mentally and physically.”
The coaches are also creative in designing post-practice time to be both educational and fun.
“At the end of practices, we incorporate games like partner hide-and-seek, zombies, relay races and scavenger hunts,” said Stoeckel. “The kids are still running and building their conditioning. And they are enjoying themselves while they do so.”
Creating feeder programs
The SMS cross-country team has the ability to be a reliable feeder program into Indian River High School’s cross-country program.
“Being a successful feeder program is all about communication,” said Stoeckel. “Colin Crandell, the IRHS cross-country head coach, and I use a common language in our coaching that the middle-school athletes will be familiar with once they reach high school. It’s about building a strong foundation at the middle-school level that enables Coach Crandell to build on as the athletes mature.”
Stoeckel is quick to credit John M. Clayton, Lord Baltimore and Phillip C. Showell elementary schools for serving as feeders to his roster.
“The elementary schools do a tremendous job offering youth running programs. The girls run in the fall as part of a program called Girls on the Run that teaches social skills, goalsetting and a growth mindset through running. In the springtime, the boys participate in a similar program called Let Me Run.
“Last year, Clayton Elementary hosted a color run at the high school, Stoeckel added. “Clayton is also adding a running path to their playground. These are examples of the elementary schools creating positive environments that plant the seed for running. This only helps Selbyville Middle School and Indian River High School.”
The SMS cross-country program also has garnered support from local businesses, such as Charm City Running in Rehoboth Beach, which hosts a Selbyville Middle School Cross Country Day.
“The store managers, Chad and Erin Cecil, provide the kids with pizza, stickers and giveaways,” said Stoeckel. “Runners and their families can also get a professional shoe fitting at the store.”
