While fall turns to winter, sports seasons are ending and careers are coming to a close. To wrap up the cross country season, two of Oxford’s cross country runners qualified and competed in the MHSAA D1 state finals on Nov. 3., one of who ran as a Wildcat for the last time.

Senior John “JJ” Bagans and junior Scott Masterson qualified for the competition to represent the boy’s team and raced against 242 other runners. The boys also had the experience of racing on the Michigan International Speedway. None of Oxford’s cross country girls qualified for state finals.

As they have all season, the boys competed in a 5,000 meter race. Finishing in the middle of the pack, Masterson took 116th place and ran a time of 16:59.2. Masterson has steadily risen in placement over the season and will have even more chances to prove himself next year during his senior season.

Bagans, an overall standout on the team, crossed the finish line at 155th place and clocked a time of 17:11.7. The race was overall close, with both Wildcats coming within minutes of the first place finisher, who was from Ann Arbor.

The Wildcat runners enjoyed a solid season. The team landed in the top five in nearly every race they competed in, with Bagans, Masterson and senior Hunter Green leading them along the way.