Chewelah’s Foes Don’t Have A Prayer Cougars, With Pastor Coach, Expected To Dominate District 7 Cross Country

The placement of the two articles struck Dan Stone as slightly eerie.

A little more than one month ago, these pages listed the accomplishments of Chewelah’s boys cross country team in a preview of the Northeast A League season.

Underneath the article was an item about a successful Central Washington coach/pastor who had been replaced because the school district believed certificated teachers made for better coaching candidates.

Stone, a pastor who doesn’t teach at Chewelah, enjoyed the irony.

“There’s never been a hassle over the security of my situation because (the district) felt like quality things were happening with the kids,” Stone said.

Stone doesn’t measure quality in wins alone, although the Cougars have certainly won their share the last five years.

Chewelah, the defending State A/B champion, is overwhelmingly favored at today’s District 7 championships at Hangman Valley Golf Course.

The Cougars also won the state title in ‘92, placed third the following year and fourth in ‘94.

Yet Stone and his senior-dominant varsity compete for more than trophies.

Stone, in his 16th season, likes to promote the program’s family atmosphere.

“I believe there are runners who join our program - or whose parents are happy to have them in the program - who see something more than a competitive sport to join,” Stone said.

“It’s incredible the sense of family there is with everybody,” said Kent Potter, who moved from Olympia four years ago and now shares time with David Yarnell as the No. 1 runner. “We do a lot of stuff together.”

Whether it’s camping, going to movies, attending games or playing in the pep band, Chewelah’s runners stick together.

A recent call to the home of Asher Ernst, who transferred from Newport two years ago, illustrated the point. When the subject of teammate Ian Townley arose, Ernst said, “Ask him yourself. He’s here.”

Townley, a big contributor at last year’s state meet, earlier this year broke his left leg while skiing at 49 Degrees North Ski Resort.

Returning to running form proved difficult, but Townley had more than self-motivation pushing him along.

“I got a lot of support from (teammates),” Townley said. “It was real encouraging. They helped me get motivated after I got the cast off, because my leg was so weak.”

“I think cross country tends toward those kinds of relationships,” Stone said. “We have emphasized over and over that if they don’t come out of this program loving each other, treating each other with respect, and believing the experience made them a better person - then you can win all the state championships you want and it wouldn’t make you a better person.”

Ernst and Neil Small, the lone junior on the team, typically run No. 3 or 4. Marcus Wright is No. 5, Wil Edwards No. 6 and Townley No. 7.

Chewelah is unbeaten this year, including wins against bigger schools at the (Gonzaga Prep) Bullpup Invitational and Farragut (Idaho) Invitational.

The Cougars have drawn notice in cross country circles, more so than at their school, where the high-powered football team gets the most attention.

“Honestly, we get just about none,” Ernst said on the question of publicity. “We just don’t get many signs (from cheerleaders) on our lockers, but we’re getting used to it.” , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DISTRICT 7-AA MEETS Information on today’s District 7-AA cross country meets at Hangman Valley Golf Course: Times: Class A/B girls, 11 a.m.; AA girls, 11:30; A/B boys, noon; AA boys, 12:30 p.m. Defending team champions: AA - East Valley girls, West Valley boys; A/B - Chewelah’s girls and boys. Defending individual champions: Angie Simmers, EV girls; Hayden Kristianson, Chewelah girls. Team favorites: AA girls and boys EV, West Valley, Riverside; A/B girls and boys - Chewelah, Lakeside, Newport, St. George’s; Colfax’s boys are also strong. Individual favorites: AA girls Jeannette Zimmer, Cheney; Jessica Riehle, WV; Simmers, Ann Marie Adams and Cara Smith, EV; AA boys Jon Ashcraft, Riverside; Clayton Holmes and Sean McLachlan, WV. A/B boys - David Yarnell, Asher Ernst, Kent Potter, Neil Small and Marcus Wright, Chewelah; Mike Witt, Lakeside; Brian Kehne, Colfax; Zach Blume, St. George’s. A/B girls - Kristianson; Jaime Stone, Deer Park; Lindsey McElroy, Lakeside; Sarah Bell, Newport; Kyla McKelvey, St. George’s. Changes: Two AA teams and 10 individuals will qualify for state, rather than one team and five individuals. … The A/B boys will still qualify three teams and 15 individuals to state, but the girls have lost one team and five individual berths. … AAA teams won’t compete at Hangman. Their regional, with Big Nine Conference teams, is Saturday at Richland.