Teays Valley High School Athletics

“Your mind can make you train, your body can create power, but only your heart can make you a champion.”- Joe Newton When the new divisional alignments came out in the Spring of 2025, the Teays Valley Girls found out they would be in Division One. However, not only would be in Division One as they had been for a good amount of years, but now they would be the smallest school in Division One, as the cut off literally was Teays Valley. Yet, this would be the least of the girls worries throughout season. Adversity continued to strike and would continue to provide hurdles for the girls throughout the season and up to the morning of the State Cross Country Meet. Stories that are untold but perhaps will be told at another time. As with all moments this year, the TVXC Girls bonded together, encouraged each other, and put their best foot forward. The toed the line with drive, not fear. They raced like they belonged and they proved to the state and to themselves that they truly belonged among the best. When the race was finished, in a historic first appearance by a TVXC team at the state meet, the girls would finish 8th in State, finishing a mere 18 points out of 5th place and defeating many great and historically strong teams. Few, if any, would have predicted what these girls were able to accomplish and they displayed great character, passion, and drive on their way to the remarkable accomplishment. The team accomplishment was put together by performance from a group of young ladies that would not take "no" for an answer. Reese Galinger would continue to see her stock rise as she would have one the great last miles in TVXC history, as she would move up a remarkable 10 spots to finish 15th (18:30). To pass 10 of the best in the last mile of the State Championship is unheard of but Reese pulled it off. Katy Zang would cross the line next for Vikings placing 30th (18:58). Despite going down late in the race, Katy showed the resilience and heart of a champion, a characteristic of hers that cannot be questioned and despite the pain she showed the ability to get back up and get to the finish line and should be celebrated for her perseverance. Addison Keplar, would be next, showing great resilience and a refusal to back down from the best in the state, finishing 40th (19:15). Addison knew her role for the team in the 3 spot would be a deciding factor and she proved herself to be one of the best in the state setting herself and her team up for the finish it was to have. Her ability to learn how to finish not just the last 100 meters of a race but the last 1/2 mile of a race was a big part in her success at the end of the season. Grace Thanasack would be next for the Vikings placing 111th (20:13). Grace continued to battle the whole race showing the toughness that has defined her career and especially her breakout junior season. She showed she is willing to challenge the best and will continue to do so in the future. Julie Charter finished 144th (20:43) and continued an epic post season from the sophomore. She has proved her strength as a runner and put her talent on display as she set PR's at the OCC Meet and Regional Championship, and broke 21:00 for the second time in her career on the biggest stage at the State Meet. Kate Charter would be next placing 174th (21:48). Kate provided relentless effort throughout the whole race, going for broke and giving it her all from start to finish. Not just a great runner, but a remarkable leader for the Vikings, the senior, competing in her 1st ever State XC meet showed why her legacy will live on in the program and go far beyond the number on the course, but the impact she made on the girls she ran with. Finishing 179th, with a time of 23:43, was Lila Merritt. Lila officially found out she would be racing at the State Meet at 1:00 PM on Saturday. A mere 2 hours and 30 minutes before the race. A series of circumstances led to Lila racing at the State Meet, yet when Lila's number was called she did remarkable, running her season best when it mattered most and with tears in her eyes after the finish, the emotion of cross country came to fruition. A young lady, who will go on to accomplish great things, gave her all, not for herself or for a spot on the podium, but because her team needed her. And is a display of what ultimately life is about, Lila did something for those she loved, for her team, and it meant the world to her and her team. Several TVXC girls were able to earn All-State Honors. These are the first girls to earn All-Ohio honors in Cross Country since Claire Leatherwood in 2004. Earning 1st Team All-Ohio Honors: Reese Galinger Earning 2nd Team All-Ohio Honors: Katy Zang and Addison Keplar It what has been a remarkable and unforgettable season for the TVXC girls, it has been what came from the heart that has made them who they are. It is what beats within that makes them different from any other team in the state. And 8th may have been their final place, an amazing accomplishment in itself, but they will forever be established as champions not only in their sport, but in life, because they had the mental strength to train, the body strength to have power, and the heart to make it all happen. Thanks to everyone who has supported the TVXC girls. The State Meet may have been the last time they competed as TV this fall, but pay close attention and in two weeks they will race again.