The Sailor Cross Country teams displayed perseverance and grit on Saturday, October 25, at the 2025 Regional Cross Country Championships. The teams were thrilled to run on their home course one last time, as South Christian had the opportunity to host this event for the fourth consecutive year. Temperatures were crisp and the air was still, making conditions nearly perfect for some amazing racing! The women’s varsity team finished with a score of 40 points, earning them a first-place finish and the title of Regional Champions! Their incredible performance upset the Eagles of Grand Rapids Christian, who were ranked second in the state and came into the contest as the regional favorite. This was just the second time in school history that a women’s cross country team from South Christian has earned the regional champion title, and it marks the seventh consecutive trip to the state finals for the women’s team. Leading the way was sophomore Tiffany DeMaagd, who took the win with a time of 18:33. Senior Chloe Rinzema finished second with a time of 18:38. Freshman Isabelle Oostema battled to a pivotal ninth-place finish with a personal-record time of 19:43. Freshman Noelle Hulst was next to cross the finish line in 13th place with a personal-record time of 19:52. The fifth runner across the line for the Lady Sailors was freshman Annalise Wiltjer in 15th place, running a personal-record time of 19:54, which completed the varsity score for the women. The men's team ran one of their best races of the season, collectively! The team's effort earned them a fourth-place finish in the region with a score of 107 points. Senior Thad VanderLaan had a big day on the course, finishing in 10th place with a time of 16:33. Next to finish for the Sailors was junior Ben Verlin in the 12th position, running a time of 16:34. Junior Josiah Rozema was the third finisher for South Christian, running a 17:02 to finish in the 22nd position. Freshman Hudson Kemper (17:18; 29th place) and senior Rex Jackson (17:41; 34th place) completed the varsity score for the men. Regional meet results can be found at https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/256180/info. The SCHS varsity women and individual qualifiers Thad VanderLaan and Ben Verlin will compete at the 2025 Division 2 State Cross Country Championships at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, November 1. Go Sailors!