It has been closer during this incredible stretch.

Just how close?

In 2002, the margin of victory was two and the following year it was five.

On Saturday when the calculating was done, Ravenswood’s Red Devils were once again state champions of West Virginia Class AA-A boys cross country. In a sport where the small number of points wins, the Red Devils edged Berkeley Springs 77-81.

Two points, five points, four points…it doesn’t really matter. Ravenswood’s win on Saturday kept its state championship streak going at nine in a row.

Let’s repeat. That’s nine straight years the program guided by Bryan Canterbury and Tim Rector has hoisted the state championship trophy.

“I’m a little overwhelmed by what we have accomplished,” said Canterbury of his 2008 team. “Our kids believed in each other all year.”

The ’08 squad had its share of doubters. The team wasn’t ranked No. 1 heading to the Chris Parsons Course at Cabell Midland High School on Saturday. That distinction belonged to Berkeley Springs.

“They wanted to prove (the streak would be kept alive), and we told them they had to perform and they did. They performed to prove that they are champions,” said Canterbury.

As he’s done all season, senior Nathan Rees led the way for Ravenswood by finishing second in a time of 16:48. It earned him Class AA-A All-State honors for a second “He just finished one great year,” said Canterbury. “He’s been non-stop training since the start of cross country season last year. He’s been a great leader this year along with Alex Cole and our other two seniors – Derek Murray and Jordan Seabolt.”

Cole placed 15th (17:35), Murray was 16th (17:26), Matt Knowlton finished 30th (18:06), Ben Schindler was 35th (18:17), Seabolt came in 49th (18:47) and Matt DeBerry finished 58th (18:58).
“It was a total, total team effort,” said Canterbury. “Starting with Coach Rector and the way he trained them to each team member, they battled all the way.

“It took all seven. I mean even our 6th and 7th places beat Berkeley’s number 5 runner, and that’s a big key.”

Canterbury praised his young men for not only running great, but doing so under extreme pressure that comes with owning a lengthy string of championship successes.

“Berkeley Springs is a great team, and we knew we’d get their very, very best effort today,” said Canterbury. “But our kids came through like the champions they are, and they ran with a lot of pressure. It’s a lot of pressure on them to keep the streak alive, and we try to do whatever we can to take some of that off. But, you know, kids are kids and they want to keep that streak going.”
He added, “The race was won over the last 600 meters, and that’s a great way to finish. I didn’t see it, but people have told me that we passed all kinds of runners on the track. And people don’t see that each little spot makes a difference, and people don’t understand that. You pass two guys here and three guys there and it’s adding up – it’s impressive.”

This was the first season in the streak that Canterbury coached without his father, Lindy, who died last May. “It’s been tough,” he said. “I’ve tried to keep his spirit alive in so many different ways. It would have meant a lot to him today. He loved coming and watching those teams before.”
One can bet he was watching from the beautiful blue sky on Saturday.

Following the AA-A boys’ race it was time for the girls to hit the course. Joy Parks placed 38th (22:29) overall with Meri Titus 40th (22:33). Ryan Dormagen was 51st (23:07) and Brooke Sheets finished 55th (23:25).

The girls’ team had its share of injuries and illness this past season, and Canterbury thinks the future is bright.

Ripley’s Preston Whitney competed in the Class AAA boys’ race for a second straight year and placed a solid 20th (17:27). Just a junior, Whitney will set his sights on reaching the top 10 in 2009.

Following the AAA meet on Saturday, one of Whitney’s coaches, Jimmy Groves, was injured in a mowing accident at his home on New Stone Ridge Road.

Groves, a talented runner in his days for the Vikings, had to undergo surgery Saturday night. Our hearts and prayers go out to Groves and his wife Hillary, Viking program’s head coach.