GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – For the Ottawa Hills Bengals, the cross country program enters the 2025 season focused on one goal: making it back to the state finals.
“For boys, we have two who should have a chance to make all-conference and possibly qualify for the state meet,” said Head Coach Dan Ebright. “For girls, we would like to try to qualify for state again as a team.”
That goal feels within reach, thanks to a group of veteran runners who put in serious work over the summer.
“Kelton Hoover, Liam Bingman, Cece Wojciakowski, Gwen Aupperlee and others have put in some solid training this summer,” Ebright said. “I’m excited to see how that translates into racing in mid-October and November.”
Senior Liam Bingman is one of those athletes focused on improvement. “My goals are to get my PR down into the low 16s, qualify for the state meet, and be all-conference or honorable mention,” he said.
Bingman plans to accomplish this goal through steady effort all season long: “The big lesson I learned is that if I run consistently, I can actually get better and hit the times I'm looking for.”
Fellow senior Kelton Hoover echoed that mindset, but with an emphasis on holistic preparation. “I’ve put more effort into sleeping better, eating better, working out better, running with the end goal of the state meet in mind, and being in a good mood while doing so.”
That balanced approach shows up in Ottawa’s training routine, too. The team incorporates weight training and pool recovery alongside strategic mileage every week. According to Bingman, “for a typical practice, we show up and work out in the weight room, then we warm up and go for our run. Then we come back and aqua jog in the pool.”
Senior Jana Kalumbula also emphasized the importance of balance and recovery. She shared, “I have improved my training in the off-season by including balance, finding good workout splits, prioritizing recovery and health, and cross training.”
While the focus is on physical readiness, mental strength remains just as important.
“Last year being injured and not being able to run taught me to enjoy running and appreciate feeling strong in my body,” said senior Corena Willink. “I also learned to be a good teammate when I couldn't run myself.”
That gratitude carries over into their mental race strategies. “Mentally, racing is very hard,” Willink admitted, “but I pick a mantra to repeat throughout the race to keep going.”
Senior Enna Wainer agrees: “I repeat encouragements in my head over and over to keep myself going.”
The Bengals’ season will build toward three major meets: the OK White Championships, the Regional tournament, and, if all goes as planned, the State Finals at Michigan International Speedway.
“I’m hoping to make it to state again,” Wainer said.
With a clearly defined vision and balanced training program for every runner, both Bengals teams have a real shot at achieving that goal.
