STATE COMPETITION–Ava Wagner and Addy Piel, center, are pictured at the IHSA State Cross Country meet held at Detweiller Park in Peoria on Nov. 8. The two finished around the top half mark of their competitors and also made the history books for their 2025 Red Bud High School Cross Country season.
by Coach Julie Fehr
On Saturday, the Red Bud girls cross country team accompanied teammates Ava Wagner and Addy Piel on their trip to the IHSA Class 1A, 2A and 3A Cross Country State Finals in Peoria.
The team departed from school on Friday morning and after a stop for lunch, headed straight to the famous Detweiller Park, the IHSA State meet location for the last 55 years. At 1 p.m., the course officially opened up to athletes. The site was already buzzing with athletes, coaches and officials. Bus after bus pulled in to drop off teams. Even at 1 p.m., there was already 20-30 team tents set up, staking their claim to the prime viewing areas closest to the course. Team after team ran by on the course in their matching “State Qualifier” t-shirts. The energy and excitement could already be felt.
For more from the cross country team, please see this week’s print edition.