Through the laughter raises a voice that has become synonymous with authority over the past three decades at Wright City.Once Coach Sue Wright has delivered her message, chances are the comical chatter will continue.That’s alright with her, as long it means participation and enthusiasm are growing within her coveted cross country program.“This is the most kids I’ve ever had. It’s incredible,” said Wright, who has the luxury of 19 competitors on the boys team this season.At the forefront are six returning seniors who qualified for the MSHSAA Championships a year ago.And while their running ability is substantial, their personalities are even more expansive. Always joking around, the colorful cast has created a challenging but fun task for Wright.“If I can survive their antics, I can make it through the season,” Wright quipped.Admittedly, she enjoys the positive energy Ben Randolph and Austin Marsh bring to the team.She admires the triumphant spirit and work ethic of Cody Klemp and Brenden Geier.And she tolerates whatever banter Zac Murri and Jackson Bruning bring to the table any given practice.“I think we have the perfect personality for a cross country team, because we can all relate to each other and have fun while we’re working hard,” explained Marsh.“This group of kids may have their little quirks, but they have been a tremendous asset for this program,” said Wright.The pranksters know their limits with Wright.“She sets the boundaries the first day, and by the third day we start pushing them,” asserted Bruning.They also know when to turn off the humor and focus on the course that awaits them.“It’s fun up until we get up on the line, but we know once the race starts, we’re there for a reason,” said Randolph.“We do try in practice, and we know when it’s time to focus,” Murri added.After peaking as a group at the Eastern Missouri Conference meet last fall, the Wildcats went on to finish second at districts and advance to state.“We’re definitely trying to go back to state,” said Randolph, who holds the  No. 1 spot. “I think our team goal is to win districts this year, and go on to state as the top team from our district.”Wright believes they may be naive to how stellar of an accomplishment it truly was.“They don’t realize what kind of impact they’ve had on these younger kids,” said Wright. “They look up to them when success has occurred like this.”A whimsical group of seniors has made perhaps the least desirable of sports exciting again. For them, gritting out a grueling 3.1 miles is not a drag.“They make it fun for themselves,” said Wright. “Nobody takes it personally when somebody calls another out.”Then again, the cross country experience isn’t all about the race for them. It’s about the camaraderie.“The nucleus of this group of boys is really strong, and I think that’ s going to be a positive in a lot of respects,” said Wright.There are no superstars or glory-seekers. For three of them, running isn’t even their primary sport, rather a way to bond with classmates and forge lasting memories.

The Wright City cross country team is known for its comical character, but the Wildcats are all business when it's comes to winning a district title.

Bill Barrett Photo.