Asked to describe the Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School boys cross country team, student-athlete Jacob Reash said it “is a family … truly.
“Each week, we would put our everything into races for each other, which sums up John 15:13 perfectly, ‘There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends,’” Reash said.
That sentiment captures the unique bond shared by the 2024 cross country team, which credits their success in qualifying for the state meet not just to their training and physical talents but an unwavering commitment to each other and their steadfast faith in God that made the difference.
Several senior leaders reflected on the special memories from their remarkable season.
Reash, one of the team’s captains, highlighted the role faith played in their journey, saying, “The bond that we shared brought about this success. The bond was formed first and foremost by our faith, trust in each other, and trust most especially in our Lord.”
“There is so much support on the team because we all know we are on a faith journey,” he continued. “For me personally, this year myself and one of my fellow teammates (and co-captain), Ashton Boyd, have entered a journey of faith together.
“At the start of the school year, Ashton entered OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), and he chose me as his sponsor. Cross country was the impetus for this relationship as we met as freshmen during the first practice.”
Boyd reflected on the influence of his teammates, sharing, “As a four-year member of the cross country team, I am most proud about the people I surrounded myself with. I’ve never had any other people more influential on my life than my teammates. These guys led me to Christ, and finally this year to convert to Catholicism.”
Senior Austin Zacherl recalled a defining moment when he delivered the team speech before the 2024 Central Catholic League Bob Lennon Memorial Championship.
“It was so special because I got to speak on how hard we worked for this moment and how we are prepared to go out together and win,” he said. “The best part of that moment was seeing the happiness in each of my teammates’ eyes and the determination to go out and win not only for themselves but for the team, and most importantly Christ.”
This spirit of love and support and reliance on God has long been the foundation of the DeSales cross country program, aligning perfectly with the school’s core pillars of faith, family and tradition. These values also echo the words of the school’s patron saint, St. Francis de Sales, who said, “Be who you are and to be that well.”
Co-captain Peter Haggard felt an instant connection to the quote, expressing how the team’s authenticity impacted him from the beginning.
“The thing that really sold me on XC my freshman year was that everyone, no matter who you talked to, was 110 percent themselves,” he said. “They had no fear to be who God has created them to be and let everyone know that. It is one good group of kids, with even better values.”