I have been a part of the coaching staff for the North Shore Storm Cross Country team for over a decade, from a volunteer back in 2011 when I taught at Cook County Schools, to this season when two runners from Silver Bay participated at the State meet. Back when I was at CCHS the Storm was not the three team co-op it is now, just CCHS and THHS running as the Vikings in royal blue and white. At that time Head Coach April Wahlstrom only had the job for a handful of years, taking over from Chris Hegg. The team was routinely sending individuals to the State meet, but never a full team. My own son, Jake, was able to run as a Viking for three years before we moved down to Silver Bay in 2016. Coming to WKHS meant he would not be able to continue in the sport as Silver Bay was not part of the co-op. Our first year in Bay the cross country team qualified both the girls and boys team for the state meet. I was excited for them, but sad that my boys were not able to participate. So, I fought hard for three years to join the co-op, knowing it would benefit so many student-athletes at WKHS. “Drive all the way through the finish!”
During the summer of 2019 I found out WKHS was finally able to join the now North Shore Storm Cross Country team. Even though we only contributed two athletes that year, my sons Ryan and Nate, I was excited to finally bring cross country back to the Bay. I still recall at the first Polar League Conference meet that we were able to participate in, two amazing things happened. The first was Nate came in as the 5th runner for the Storm, a very important spot on the team. He finished in 11th place, missing out on All-Conference honors, but his 11th place secured the boys team the conference title that year. Second was talking to Evan and Nick Swartz. They came to watch the meet with Eric Smith, who worked with Evan and whose children ran for the Storm. Nick was in 6th grade that year. And thanks to the co-op has had a successful career in cross country. “Form is your friend. Relax your shoulders.”
The second year of the co-op was tough as it was the weird Covid year. Races only allowed for 25 runners in a race, and there was no State meet. The three boys ran well, despite the uniqueness of the season. Despite losing Ryan to college, our third season was quite successful. We gained our first girl, Sierra Geatz, and she, Nate, and Nick all earned All-Conference honors. Silver Bay also had their first cross country runners at the State meet in decades as Nate qualified as an individual, and Sierra was part of the girls team that came in 11th in the state. “It’s a good day for a great race.”
After a successful third season the Silver Bay contribution to the Storm exploded, as seasons four through six our numbers grew from three to 17 runners. For me, as a coach, one of my favorite seasons has been the 2024 season. Out of the 14 total varsity runners on the Storm, seven came from Silver Bay. Back in 2019, when a young Nick was watching Nate and the Storm race, I could never have imagined all four Swartz siblings, Nick, Grace, Liz, and Sam, competing at the varsity level six years later. Or Sophia Schut, who was only able to race twice during her first season in 6th grade, competing at State two years later. Then there is Atley Beckstrand, who in the middle of last season agreed to come watch the Hibbing meet. I spent the entire meet convincing him to run, to just see if he could. And run he can. He ended this season as the 5th runner on the varsity team. Of our seven varsity runners, six have made the Storm’s All-Time Fastest list: under 19 min for boys and under 23 min for girls for the 5k races. “Who do we fear? No one! What do we want? Total domination!”
Not everyone who runs cross country makes the all time list, or even varsity. Two of my boys never made the varsity roster or all time list. But, that is the magic of this sport. They still had goals, and crushed them every season. This year’s roster had runners who may never make the all time list, but still keep crushing their goals. Runners like Jack, Britta, Soren, Hannah, Wade, Briar, Arden, Danielle, KJ, and Eloise. These kids don’t get the recognition that the varsity does, but they are just as important to the team. And I am thankful for them. “Consistency. Focus on keeping a consistent pace.”
I only competed in cross country twice; one meet in 8th grade, and then my Senior year of high school, after I realized I was too short for volleyball (I played so long ago the Libero position wasn’t a thing). I was our team’s top runner and the only All-Conference girl from our team that season. I was lucky enough to have two older brothers who were very successful runners who inspired me. I may not be a good runner now, but I do all that I can to push and inspire my runners to be their very best, from practice, to meets, to life. “Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.”
Becoming part of the North Shore Storm co-op has been a massive blessing for many athletes. Nate now runs Cross Country and Track for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Nick, Sierra, and Sophia have all competed at the state level as varsity athletes, a feat their non-running friends have not accomplished. We used to joke that we are the DASH on the uniform top, the afterthought. But now, not only are we half of the varsity, but the brand new uniforms clearly say Cook County-Silver Bay-Two Harbors. I am going to miss these amazing young adults next season, but I am immensely proud of how far they have come in our six short years as part of the Storm. “Arms go, legs go.
