To say the Richmond Hill High School cross country program is on the right course would be an understatement. The girl’s cross-country team gives new meaning to the phrase “ladies first”. The Lady Wildcats cross country team owns 9 straight region championships and has held the top spot in the region since 2012. The Lady ‘Cats have had 5 top 10 state finishes in the last 7 years.
The fellas have raced their way to the top as well. 8 straight years, the boy’s cross-country team has been tops in the region. They have finished in the top 10 the last five years in a row. This year, a 4th place finish in the state capped off another successful season.
What’s the secret to their success? The three C’s: consistency, commitment, and coaching.
Consistency
Head Coach Levi Sybert is currently the number one tenured coach at Richmond Hill High School. The consistency and loyalty have no doubt been a huge factor in the Wildcats success. But success did not happen overnight, it’s been a marathon not a sprint since Sybert took the helm in 2007.
“It’s taken 2-3 years to get up to the caliber we are at right now.” Sybert continued, “It takes a really good trust by the athletes and a big buy in to get to the point where the boys got to this year.”
They continue to pass the baton year in and year out and this year was no different. This year proved to be another successful race to the finish line and in fact, the ‘Cats have enjoyed consistent success on the track over the last decade. Since 2016, the Wildcats have had 4 teams in the top 4 since 2016, 8 state champions since 2010, and 17 Region titles since 2012.
Commitment
The team has jumped a few hurdles to get to where the program is at. What started out as a team of 5 back in 2007, has grown into a dynasty on the Hill. The athletes are there at Richmond Hill, but getting them to commit to track, is a different story. He’s had soccer players, football players, and other athletes give track a go but it’s the commitment of those that stick it out that has been the difference. “Our best cross-country runners, our top 7, found out that they are very good at something and they hone in on their talents.'' Five of those runners showed off their talents at the Meet of Champions, an elite state meet held in November. Sybert’s top 5 finished at a sub 17-minute pace. Corey Adamski ran 16:33.52, Noah Sybert clocked in at 16:50.39, Josh Mitchell a few seconds later crossed the finish line at 16:52.87. Dylan Overbey, ran 16:57.50 and Memphis Rich just beat the 17-minute mark with 16:59.62.
Rounding out the top 7 at the meet of Champions for the ‘Cats saw Ravi Reed and Sterling Bastian keeping pace as they both ran a sub 17:20.
“This is the first year in a while that we haven’t had just one dominant guy that’s way ahead of everyone else. They pushed each other, gained confidence, and created healthy competition among one another.” Sybert added, “Every week it was up in the air who was going to be our number 1. They fed off of one another.”
Coaching
And they fed off of their coach. Whatever he was cooking, they ate it up! Afterall, the third “C” of success for the ‘Cats is coaching which has clearly been a major factor in the team’s success. It helps that Sybert has first-hand experience as a track star.
His resume speaks volumes. Sybert was a track standout during his high school days in Ohio and he took his talents to Middle Tennessee State where he continued to find success on the track. During his collegiate days, Coach Sybert recorded a mile time of 4:24.29. He started out coaching in Tennessee at various high schools. He then went on to become a Grad assistant at Western Kentucky and gained valuable experience in recruiting prior to coming to the Hill. He has the resume to not only build strong runners but to produce athletes who understand what it takes to win. “It’s more than just going out and running. It’s so much more than that; as intense as you are as a coach you have to be as intense at practice.”
Sybert’s coaching style is perhaps his special sauce because his athletes have that special “it” factor that extends beyond the starting blocks. Sybert’s coaching doesn’t stop when his athletes cross the finish line either. He knows what it takes to get his runners to the next level not just athletically but academically.
“Richmond Hill is an amazing academic school.” he stated, “When kids fall in love with running and the competitive side, they can take that mindset to college to further their education.”
Coach Sybert and his team are not just runners, they are a family. In fact, his wife Heather coaches with him and his son Noah is a freshman on the team
who was part of the fab 5 that ran a sub 17-minute race at the Meet of Champions. Their daughter, a 5th grader, also caught the running bug and has shown that the apple doesn’t fall far from the Sybert family tree.
The future continues to look bright for the Syberts and the ‘Cats, and although finishing 4th in state this year was quite an accomplishment; the team plans on going the distance in 2021. “They have a burning drive to take care of business next year.”
That’s not just a runner’s high talking, that’s the type of commitment this team has to stay consistent and a coach who can take them to the top, of not just the Hill but the state.
Photos from Richmond Hill XC/Track&Field page & Eric Adamski
Optim Orthopedics supports Richmond High School Athletic teams. The team doctor is Dr. David Palmer. Remember Optim Orthopedics gets you back in the game!
