The outlook was rather bleak, but talent was abundant. These were the feelings of the 1989 Cross Country team as the season began. They were out to prove that life A.G. (after Gerstner) wasn't too bad after all. However, with only a few seniors and three juniors returning from last year's eighteenth place team at State, each with only one year of varsity running experience under his soles, there were great doubts about making it to the state finals three years in a row.

            The '89 team's great accomplishments should definitely be attributed to the tremendous improvements of the juniors and sophomores from last year to this year. Many unexpectedly shaved a minute from their times. Their improvements also prompted a healthy competition for the top seven varsity spots each week, which caused everyone to always perform their best.

            This very young team consistently improved from the season opening win at Colerain to an amazing finale at the State Championships. Although three of the final top seven runners had never been to State before, the team put together their best meet of the year. They accumulated the fewest number of points in St. Xavier history.

            Graduating only one top seven runner, the 1990 team is definitely in a very good position. The 1989 season was surely the final building block in forming a powerhouse Cross Country program known throughout the state.