Written by Varun Kolluri

The largest sports team at RCDS returns from an optimistic 2022 season, but this year marks a new direction for the Wildcats’ distance squad. Head Coach Ryan Song embarks on his first season leading the Wildcats. The principles of poise, experience, and hard work are a staple of Coach Song’s philosophy during the nine NYSAIS championships he garnered while coaching Collegiate’s cross country team years ago. 

The team boasts some of the best depth the RCDS distance squad has seen in years. From much-improved sophomores including Miles Dinger and Joseph Rafferty, who each garnered many poll position finishes as ninth graders for the Wildcats, to experienced speed demons like captains Jack de Haan and Esias Gonzalez, who are looking in complete form to break the sub-17 minutes 5k barrier. The RCDS community should be more than excited to see perhaps the best cross country team in at least four years. 

On the girls’ side, led by Captains Cleo Saltz ‘24, Brynn Coady ‘24, and Taiko Fueno ‘25, the only direction the Wildcats seem to be going is upwards. Cleo has run numerous stellar FAA races and the top-10 finishes seem to be just another day at the office. Additionally, Coady and Fueno bring speed, depth, and leadership to the girls’ cross-country team. Coach Song and the RCDS community will be heavily dependent on their leadership abilities and poised experience on race day.

The Wildcats return to the FAA cross-country course on September 20th at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, CT. This year’s cross-country team truly represents the unity and determination enshrined in the fundamental principle of RCDS: Not for self, but for service. If the speed demons of RCDS can stick to their work ethic and unity, the sky is the limit. Wildcat fans should be excited to see the accomplishments this fleet-footed flock of harriers rack up throughout the fall season!