Getting into school history books makes winning championships even sweeter. The Polk County High School Cross Country teams captured two back-to-back double championships for the second year in a row. Both the men’s and women’s teams defeated all schools in the Western Highlands Conference at Thursday’s conference meet. This is the first time in school history that both teams have won back-to-back conference championships.

Runners from Avery, Hendersonville, Madison, Mitchell, Mountain Heritage, Owen and Polk County would set out on a 3.1 mile soggy race course to attempt to bring home the victory. Each Wolverine squad had other plans and would get their top five runners to line ahead of all other conference schools top five runners.

Polk won decidedly over the runner up Madison. Mitchell’s Zach Boone won the boys individual title with a time of 15:56. The Polk boys placed four runners in the top 10, each earning All-Conference honors. Sean Doyle (17:44) placed third, Mitchell Brown (17:58) took fourth, Jacob Wolfe (18:14) finished sixth and Mark Federman (18:54) finished 10th. Both Wolfe and Federman ran personal records. Al Russell, with a late surge ran (19:32 PR) took the 18th spot overall to round out Polk’s top five runners, on which team score is based. Also competing for the Wolverines; Connor Holtz (21:48), Luke Collins (25:15 PR).

The Polk girls put three in the top 10, each also being named to the 2014 All-Conference squad. It would come down to the wire, and Polk would end up with a narrow seven-point win over Owen. Avery’s Kylie Polsgrove won the girls individual title in a time of 20:59, edging last year’s individual winner Polk’s India Godlock. Godlock ran 21:13 to take second followed closely by teammate Emily Kocher (21:17) who passed two competitors in last 60 meters of the race to grab third. Kocher’s time was over one minute better than her best time this season. Hayley Kropp finished 10th overall, joining Godlock and Kocher on the All-Conference Team. Alli Swope (23:25) took 13th and Selena Chavez (23:45) placed 19th to round out the scoring drive for the Lady Wolverines.

Also competing for the the Wolverines; Leah Hardin 23:49, Savannah Robbins 24:02, Shelby Wells 24:15, Ashton Capozzi 24:27, Haley Fowler 24:30, Haven Dufford 25:15, Sophie Young 25:23, Karli Wood 26:42, Colleen Burke 28:28, Jessica Bailey 30:06.

Boys team scores: 1. Polk County 41; 2. Madison 63; 3. Hendersonville 67; 4. Owen 88; 5. Avery 137; 6. Mitchell 142; 7. Mountain Heritage 171.

Girls team scores: 1. Polk County 47; 2. Owen 54; 3. Hendersonville 65; 4. Avery 80; 5. Madison 125.

The Wolverines will race in the 2A West Regionals at Freedom Park in Morganton Saturday, Oct. 25.

– article submitted by Jenny Wolfe