The Braves and Lady Braves cross-country teams are some of the top teams in Wyoming’s 4A classification each year and yet there still seems to be some surprise among those less attentive types when they take home some hardware more often than not in October.
The 2026 season schedule begins Thursday afternoon at Valli Vu Golf Course in Afton as SVHS hosts the More Cowbell Invite. The winning teams earn the coveted Christopher Walken-themed trophies and individuals are showered with similar praise. A total of 13 teams are expected to take part in the event which is considered one of the more challenging efforts in the region. Wyoming teams include Evanston, Jackson, Lyman and Mountain View. Teams traveling in from Idaho will include Firth, Idaho Falls, Shelley, Sugar-Salem and Teton. Box Elder will be coming up from Utah for the races as well.
Coach Ty Draney commented on this year’s roster as they prep for another run where they are aiming for podium finishes.
“Pretty normal numbers for us with just over 40 kids out,” he answered. “Obviously we lose some pretty key seniors. The kids have worked extremely hard this summer. We feel that top to bottom they’ve worked exceptionally hard this summer so we’re excited to see how that pans out. It’s always early because we have a big bunch of kids who did the work and some that did too much and a small group who didn’t do anything so we get things figured out and in a rhythm.”
There is also a little shift in number from recent years.
“We have more girls than boys for the first time in a long time,” Draney said.
They also know some of the teams to beat.
“We know that Central was fifth or sixth in all of Nike Northwest,” Draney added. “They have everybody back but one. The Cody girls are back in 4A as well but we like where we’re at. There’s a great team vibe going on right now.”
“The boys team will be led by Luke [Harris] and Caleb [Crowther], our team captain, has had an amazing summer,” Draney stated. “We’re anxious to see how that all fills in. We have some injuries to get healthy as well.”
Ben Hirschi and Maven Oliversen also return from last year’s state qualifying squad.
Kellsie Dunne, Carlee Angell, Tylita Bond, Kylee Linford, Evelyn Scharmann and Adrie Kennington return from the state meet last year for the Lady Braves.
Draney knows the programs will surprise some.
“What’s always crazy to me, especially in our region, people are shocked that our boys are good,” he laughed. “That’s the power of tradition and belief. In the ’72 Olympics, Frank Shorter won the gold medal in the marathon. And he said its kind of disappointing to find out that it’s just me. It’s so much easier to buy in when you see people do it and the road map. That’s the power of tradition and belief.”
The SVXC teams will be at the highly-competitive Cardinal Classic in Soda Springs next Saturday, September 5. After that will be one of several new events on the slate with a race at the Bozeman XC Invitational in Montana on September 12.
