The Brownstown Central boys and girls cross-country teams gathered in the school’s cafeteria last week to celebrate both teams’ respective 2022 seasons.

Girls head coach Maria Conklin went first, handing out varsity letter winners to Maddy Schepman, Madison Stuckwisch, Camryn Thompson, Tori Lokey, Kelsey Schneider, Maddie Singleton, Lexi Wheeles, Roz Abell, Brynn Burton, Chelsie Combs, Avery Harrison, Claire Schepman, Trinity Cody and Cambell Shasteen. It was the first letter for Singleton, Cody and Shasteen.

Riley Pumphrey was injured throughout the season, but she got a varsity participant honor. Wheeles, Abell and Claire Schepman each got their varsity jackets.

The Lady Braves went 64-56 this fall, placing fifth in the Mid-Southern Conference, fourth at sectional and eighth at regional. Regional qualifiers were Maddy Schepman, Stuckwisch, Lokey, Schneider, Claire Schepman, Cody and Shasteen.

Conklin then handed out the three individual awards.

The most valuable runner award went to Cody, who was the Braves’ leading runner all season except for one race. Cody was MSC all-conference honorable mention and was part of the 21-minute club with a time of 21:50.39.

It was just Cody’s first season, so the freshman has a lot to built off in the coming years.

The most improved runner award went to Schneider, who went from not finishing the first race of the season and ending up in the 21-minute club with a time of 21:59.4.

The mental attitude award went to Claire Schepman, who Conklin said never complained and always went the extra mile.

Boys head coach Derrick Koch then took his turn recapping the season and handing out awards.

The varsity letter winners were Bradley Edwards, Evan Sibrel, Dylan Wischmeier, Garrett Driver, Traven Wellman, Chance Ratliff, Shane Ratliff, Braedyn Stidams and Damien Owens. Brady Blann got a varsity participant, and this was the first letter for Stidams and Owens.

The Ratliff twins both earned their varsity jackets.

The Braves went 84-36 this past season with a fourth-place finish in the MSC, fourth in sectional and sixth in regional. Both Ratliffs earned all-conference, and Wellman and Edwards were MSC honorable mention.

Koch gave the most valuable runner award to Shane Ratliff, who just edged out his brother for most first-place finishes on the team this season. Shane placed 12th at sectional and 18th at regional.

He also was part of the 17-minute club with a time of 17:12.1. Chance also was in that club, just ahead of Shane at 17:11.4.

The most improved runner award went to Wellman, who ran his personal-best time of 17:58.4 at one of the tougher regional courses in Shelbyville.

Edwards was awarded with the mental attitude award, and Koch said although he liked to joke around with his teammates, he led by his actions all season long.

Seniors on both the girls and boys teams were Maddy Schepman, Stuckwisch, Thompson, Edwards, Sibrel and Wischmeier.

Conklin and Koch both thanked them for the years they spent running and working hard and said the team won’t be the same next fall without them.

The Braves are currently doing a polar bear club, running after school to keep in shape for track season this spring.