Scotts Valley cross country coach Todd Hoffman had a large void to fill during the offseason following the departure of 13 total runners within the program.
It’s a pretty big deal considering the campus has less than 700 students who might be committed to other extracurricular activities.
Luckily this year’s Falcons boys’ roster includes a dozen freshmen who are more than ready to join a solid group of returning runners.
“We have a young team. I counted 12 freshmen that still come in every day. But the kids that are back from last year, they progressed really well and they’re doing really well,” Hoffman said. “There’s a good energy to the team.”
The essential returners are senior Josiah Staley; juniors Aaron Weiss, Will von Haunalter and Jake Ezgar; and sophomores Jackson Stull and Nate McKeon.
Weiss, who is also a mountain biker, made a name for himself by steadily moving up the ranks this past season. He placed in the top 5 in three Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League meets and sixth in the Central Coast Section Division IV championship race.
“[Weiss is] really strong because of the biking. He’s pretty durable and he’s gonna have a really good season,” Hoffman said. “Our boys might surprise not only others but themselves.”
The Falcons boys’ team is on a mission to capture their seventh consecutive SCCAL crown. They’re also hoping to bring back home a section team championship after winning back-to-back D-IV titles in 2022 and ’23, and one in 2013.
Hoffman has never considered himself coaching for a championship.
He’s all for winning trophies and banners, yet the main goal is for runners to have a space for fun and work hard. Just be together to have a family-type atmosphere.
“Each individual kid matters, and they are a part of this. It doesn’t matter where they are on the range of the team. They’re just as important as the No. 1 runner, everybody,” he said.
Hoffman did mention that being part of a high school varsity sport is much more rigorous than the middle school level. He said those committed to the program will train five to six days per week, and they have to communicate.
There are several Falcons runners who also play club soccer, meaning they might have to miss one or two practices. Hoffman said communication is the key. All the runners have journals to keep track of how much mileage they’re putting on the legs.
That goes both ways, as well.
“I’m going to work with them if it’s too hot outside…If they’re hurting, I’m going to really listen to them, any type of injuries,” Hoffman said. “I always say it’s hard work. You’re gonna get better if you work hard but you gotta have fun with it.”
Scotts Valley’s girls’ team will look a lot different after losing leaders Ashlyn Boothby, who will compete at Stanford University, and Diana Alivov due to graduation.
Team captains Jennifer Brownfield and Violet McCutchen will take over the reins of a crew with just eight runners on the roster.
“It’s small, but they’re gonna be good. Just can’t have any injuries,” Hoffman said.
Knock on wood.
Scotts Valley went through a series of injuries this past season, including one to Boothby who suffered a right stress fracture in November. Despite the pain, she pushed through to help lead the Falcons to a third straight SCCAL crown and CCS D-IV championship.
They’re hoping to keep the title streak alive with other key returners in juniors Ava Decleve, Dylan Turzak and sophomore Hanna Shehorn, who is still nursing an ankle injury she suffered playing basketball in the summer.
Molly Clark, a sophomore, is also a returner, but she joined the Falcons a little more than halfway through the 2023 season. Natalie Goble, a sophomore, and freshman Natalia Warner are two underclassmen expected to have an impact, as well.
The low turnout of girls was expected by Hoffman, who also saw a drop for eighth-grade runners. He heard that girls from Scotts Valley Middle School and Baymonte Christian School were opting for volleyball, instead.
“I was kind of expecting [a low turnout], but I was hoping for a little higher numbers. But hey, that’s out of my control,” Hoffman said.
Decleve is the most successful runner in terms of top finishes. She is coming off a strong 2024 spring track season that was followed up by a strong performance at the Nike Nationals in Oregon.
The 2023 cross country season was no different. She placed second in both the Asics Clovis Invitational and the CCS D-IV championships.
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams recently saw some action at the Fifth Annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational at North Monterey County High School on Sept. 7.
Decleve placed 17th in 18 minutes, 35 seconds in a field of 154 runners. Fellow teammate Brownfield took 41st in 20:21, followed by McCutchen (43rd; 20:27) and Turzak (46th; 20:33).
Weiss was the top finisher on the boys side, taking 49th in 16:26. Stull placed 71st in 16:55, followed by Staley (110th; 17:52), junior Berkeley Aldridge (142nd; 18:26), von Haunalter (150th; 18:31) and Ezgar (153rd; 18:36).
Hoffman is slowly bringing both teams back up to speed. He also has the additional task of telling his top runners to ease up on the stress which includes college recruitment.
“I’m just trying to keep the pressure off and help them have fun,” Hoffman said.
Take it from Decleve, who always seems to have a cheerful attitude that can be infectious to her fellow teammates.
“All the girls are just positive and laughing, so supportive of each other, which carries over to the guys,” Hoffman said. “You can see them getting more active and supportive, it’s fun to see they’re really coming together. It’s becoming a close family.”
