Harlan County’s cross country team prides itself on its family atmosphere, but this can be applied literally for six of the high school varsity squad’s members.
Seniors Ethan Simpson and Evan Simpson have been running cross country together for “about three years.”
This season is senior Caleb Schwenke’s and junior Jacob Schwenke’s fourth together.
“Officially, this is our third cross country season, but we have been racing each other in our yard since we could walk,” freshman Kiera Roberts stated about her and twin sister Gracie Roberts.
For some, one sibling sparked the other to join the team.
“Jacob definitely inspired me to run,” Caleb Schwenke said. “I saw the success he had during cross country, and I wanted to be a part of the program.”
“I don’t give Evan a lot of credit, but he did inspire me to come out to run cross country,” Ethan Simpson said. “He started cross a few weeks before me and would come home every day wanting me to come out with him. Eventually, after talking to Coach V and Evan, I came out to run.”
For others, the decision to join was unanimous.
“No, we just thought we’d try it. It’s the best decision we could have made because we have made lots of friends, and we really enjoy it,” Gracie Roberts said.
Motivations vary, from a drive for success to making someone proud to good old-fashioned sibling rivalry.
“My motivation comes from a history of excellence in my family,” Caleb Schwenke said. “I’ve always been taught that whatever you do, you do as well as possible in an ‘honor the gift’ type of way.”
“I know I have to push myself to get better. I want to perform my best for the team,” Kiera Roberts said. “I know that when I run better, the team does better. One day I want to beat Gracie in a race.”
“My coaches and teammates motivate me to run because I want to do the best I can for them so that we can be the best we can be,” Evan Simpson said. “My papaw also motivates me to run. He was always my number one fan and biggest supporter; he’s what pushes me the most to keep going. Thinking of him always gives me the most motivation to push myself past what I think I’m capable of.”
Most said the best part of having their sibling on their team is balancing encouragement with competitiveness.
“What I like about having the same sibling on the team is that we get to push each other, see each other’s progress and encourage one another throughout the season,” Jacob Schwenke said.
“The thing I like about having my brother on the team is just knowing I’ll always have someone to pick me up and push me to be the best I can be,” Ethan Simpson said. “Having a sibling always makes you compete to beat the other one and I’m very competitive.”
“Kiera makes me push myself to be my best. I definitely don’t want to lose to her,” Gracie Roberts said, laughing. “I know that if I let down, she will pass me up.”
“The thing I like about having my brother on the same team is that we both get to push each other in practice and in races,” Evan Simpson said.
“I always like talking about races with Jacob and also just being able to get pushed to be a better version of myself with him every day,” Caleb Schwenke said. “It’s definitely fun to get a little competitive, too.”
“When it gets hard to motivate myself, she holds me accountable,” Kiera Roberts said. “Also, we try to eat clean before each race and it’s easier with someone at home doing the same thing as me because I love junk food!”
Some of the siblings feel they are more alike than others.
“I am different in the way I run because I do better at speed work, but he does better in distance,” Jacob Schwenke said. “I do better in finishing and he does better in the off-season. Leading into races, he stresses more but I am more relaxed.”
“Me and Jacob are very different when it comes to running,” Caleb Schwenke said. “He’s very anaerobic and I’m more aerobic. I also tend to stress a lot before meets and he tends to be the one to calm me down before state or bigger races.”
“I am more bullheaded than Kiera,” Gracie Roberts said. “Even though we look a lot alike, we have different personalities.”
“Me and Evan don’t have a lot of differences, but we are the same in always wanting to be the best version of ourselves we can be,” Ethan Simpson said.
Having a sibling on your team gives you “a full-time training partner,” Kiera Roberts expressed. Each person says they train together, whether it be for weekend runs, weightlifting or even martial arts.
“We run together in the offseason and on weekends. We have both trained kempo karate for six years and jiu-jitsu for about three years,” Gracie Roberts said. “I think that all the training has prepared us for the mental and physical struggles that cross country brings.”
“We lift weights together and will go on runs together as well,” Evan Simpson said.
“During the summer we always get some long runs in and workouts together,” Caleb Schwenke said.
One thing that everyone agreed on was one of their favorite parts of the cross country program: coach Ryan Vitatoe. Some talked about his commitment to the program and others talked about his encouraging attitude towards the team.
“My most favorite thing about the cross country program is running for Coach V. You can’t find a better person than him, not just as a coach, but someone I can always call on for anything,” Ethan Simpson said. “He’s definitely the best coach I have had in my high school career.”
“I love the racing part of cross country. However, my favorite is being around teammates who have become some of my best friends,” Gracie Roberts said. “Also, I love Coach V. He always pushes everyone to be their best and to always put the team first.”
Jacob Schwenke said he enjoys “having a wonderful coach and a really strong team to push each other. We are honestly like a family.”
“My favorite part of the cross country program is running for Coach V and being able to see all of our hard work pay off,” Evan Simpson said.
“I love being a part of the team. I have made some of my best friends by being on the team. We can have fun and laugh but we all know when it’s time to push each other to do our best,” Kiera Roberts said. “Coach V pushes me to be more confident in myself.”
“My favorite part of the team is the culture of the cross country team. Coach V could easily decide to cancel practice on rainy days and not push us so hard during the summer. But his commitment to us sets an example for the rest of the coaching staff and the team members,” Caleb Schwenke said. “That’s why you see kids running on Sundays at the track when we don’t have to. The expectation is always greatness, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”