Competing through tough conditions has been the theme for the cross-country team this season.  

This was especially true at the Dan Huston Invitational on Oct. 5, where the Storm ran in heavy rain throughout the day.  

“You can’t prepare for it, you just have to deal with it,” head coach Heath Moenck said. 

The men’s team finished eighth out of 16 teams while the women finished 11th out of 13 teams.  

This was the lowest finish of the year for both teams, but the competition level was high.

“We need to perform at a higher level than we have been,” Moenck said. 

Spencer Moon, a freshman, was Simpson’s top male finisher, placing 28 with a time of 27 minutes, 11.5 seconds. Emily Buchheit, junior was the top female for Simpson, placing 83rd with a time of 26:03.2.  

Moon has been one of the top runners for the Storm this season as a freshman.  

“Spencer Moon has lived up to the hype,” Moenck said. 

Eric Baldus and Noah Nelson, both freshmen, finished 4th and 5th, respectively, on Simpson’s squad. Baldus clocked in at 28:01.7 and Nelson was just behind him with a time of 28:06.9.  

Having three freshmen in the top six of the team certainly bodes well for the future. 

“Our freshman class is running at a really high level,” Moenck said.  

The other three top finishers were Jonathon Facio, senior, Shane Breheny, junior, and Ryan Courtney, junior. Facio posted a 27:36.8, followed by 27:39.6, and then wrapped up by Courtney with a time of 28:18.8.  

For most, a 42nd place finish would be good, however Facio wasn’t too happy with it.  

“Personally, it’s been a rough start and I haven’t been hitting some of my same times from the last couple years,” Facio said. 

However, he added that he is starting to get on the right track in practice and in nutrition.  

“I’ve had some good practices and I’m figuring out my nutrition and sleep and some of the other elements of running,” Facio said. 

With the hard work and discipline, Facio hopes he can be the senior who leads by example for the underclassmen.  

“I’m not a big speech person or anything so I hope the underclassmen feel like I lead by example,” Facio said.

Hard work and a disciplined approach to the running plan is what will determine the course of the Storm’s season.  

“I hope everyone can help each other out by trying to run races with teammates and beat as many people from other teams as we can together. Ideally third or fourth in the conference and top ten in the region is where we want to finish,” Facio said.  

The women are also using a disciplined approach, but in a different way. Attitude.  

“The overall attitude of our team has been really enjoyable,” Moenck said when talking about how the team has improved. 

Attitude and discipline will be how both the men’s and women’s teams reach their goal as the season continues.  

Both teams travel to the Drews/Neubauer Invitational in Ettrick, WI on Oct. 19 for their next meet.