![\"XC](\"http:\/\/idyllwildtowncrier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/XC-3.jpg\")
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Idyllwild School\u2019s Cross-country team and coaches pose before Wednesday\u2019s practice. Kneeling (front row, from left) are <\/i>Emilio Wettlaufer, Litzy Pimental, Ty Bride, Allyah Bride, Vinney Parillo<\/b> and <\/i>Aaron Potter.<\/b> Standing (second row, from left) are <\/i>Henry Mendoza, McKenzie Nunez, Leslie Pimental, Tobey Posey, Brooke Arnson<\/b> and <\/i>Emmi Norris.<\/b> (Back row, from left) are Coach <\/i>Lee Arnson, Kevin Posey, Noah Rutherford, Cody Espinoza, Evan Biley, Carmen Pratt, Raul Pimental, Yan Ivanov, Rose Griesgraber <\/b>and coach <\/i>Misty Hitchcock.<\/b> Not available that day was<\/i> Jacob Lande<\/b>.<\/i><\/p>\n
Photo by J.P. Crumrine<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cross-country running has returned to Idyllwild Middle School a second year under the guidance of volunteer coaches Lee Arnson and Misty Hitchcock. The team competed against other local middle schools last year, the first time in nearly 15 years.<\/p>\n \u201cThe beauty is that everyone gets to run,\u201d Arnson said. He credits Hitchcock with initial efforts to revive the sport. The coaches have the students running three times a week. Each practice begins with extensive stretching and warm-ups.<\/p>\n This year, the team has doubled, from 10 to 21 runners. Two of last year\u2019s participants \u2014 Riley Arnson and Micah Hitchcock \u2014 are freshmen at Hemet High School and running for the school\u2019s varsity team this year.<\/p>\n Last Monday was the team\u2019s first 2013 meet. Everyone got to run and five of the students brought home medals, Arnson said. Three more middle school meets will be run this fall.<\/p>\n The team is planning a jog-a-thon after school for Wednesday, Oct. 30, to raise money for entry fees, transportation and team shirts. \u201cWe\u2019d like to avoid draining the school\u2019s funding for other extra-curriculum activities,\u201d Arnson said, explaining the fundraiser\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n Besides Riley and Micah, juniors Jayden Emerson, Chad Schelly and Tanner Torrez, all from Idyllwild, are members of the Hemet High School varsity cross-country team.<\/p>\n J.P. Crumrine can be reached at jp@towncrier.com.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Idyllwild School\u2019s Cross-country team and coaches pose before Wednesday\u2019s practice. Kneeling (front row, from left) are Emilio Wettlaufer, Litzy Pimental, Ty Bride, Allyah Bride, Vinney Parillo and Aaron Potter. Standing (second row, from left) are Henry Mendoza, McKenzie Nunez, Leslie Pimental, Tobey Posey, Brooke Arnson and Emmi Norris. (Back row, from left) are Coach […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"amp_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n