By Kayla Berns, Staff Writer

The Armstrong State University men’s Cross Country team finished their 2014 season on Jan. 20 placing fifth overall in the PBC championship.  

Before the season began, the players declared high goals and worked persistently to make these desires a reality. Any outsider looking in would see that this season would be challenging considering the young team consisted of only two freshmen and three sophomores. Despite their inexperience, the Pirates once again had a strong season and overachieved the league’s initial predictions yet again.

On Sept. 20, the team won their first meet since 2009 at CIU, Columbia South Carolina. This win was not only indicative of the hard work put in by this group of student-athletes, but also of athletic department to re-commit to excellence after reinstating the program in 2009.

Freshman Henning Schein, from Vellmar, Germany,  led the way for the Pirates this year and was recently named the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year.

Schein said, “It is a great honor to be given this award.”

In addition to the recognition that the runners recieved, after only his second season coaching the Pirates, Michael Sergi was named PBC Coach of the Year.

Sergi’s extremely disciplined regimen, which includes intense Bikram yoga once a week, has created a new and improved culture for Armstrong’s cross country program.

With Sergi placed firmly at the helm and a wealth of young, now experienced, talent returning, the future is bright for Armstrong cross country.