The boys cross country team capped off a strong season with a fourth-place finish at the MHSAA Division 1 state championship on Nov. 1, 2025. They had a very successful early season, achieving second place in both 5,000-meter races (11/12 and 9/10) at the Northville Mustang Invitational. This momentum carried on throughout the season, propelling them to victory in the 5,000-meter gold division at the Averill Invitational and the 5,000-meter against Plymouth.
But these successes weren’t without some challenges, too. In the middle of the season, some members of the team suffered injuries or had other medical issues that interfered with their ability to run. They didn’t let these setbacks derail the team’s momentum, and after recovering, they came back and “ran well for us,” Coach Chris Elsey said.
Even with that little bit of trouble in the midseason, the team managed to pull through and come out on top in regionals with 54 points, with senior Zachary Wyderko getting the fourth-fastest time and junior Blake Kulesza right behind him in sixth. Following this, Brighton managed to secure a similarly impressive place of fourth in the state championships with 202 points, with Wyderko having the eighteenth-fastest time for boys in the state.
But a team isn’t just defined by how well they do; their attitude and the bonds they form are just as important. Through numerous bonding activities and events like Senior Camp and Kensington Camp, the team was able to get to know each other and help build the core values of the cross country program: character, camaraderie, competition and commitment.
The leadership of upperclassmen is especially important in developing camaraderie because “the upperclassmen take it upon themselves to develop strong bonds with our younger athletes,” Elsey said.
“These connections will last well beyond the end of the season,” he added.
Overall, the boys cross country team had a very successful season when it came to both running and forming a strong team community. After all, the community is most important, since as long as one’s community is supportive of them, they will always be able to remember that—win or lose—”the sun will rise tomorrow,” Elsey said.
