Colville’s boys moved up to speed in short notice

A new team guided by a new coach produced nearly unprecedented success for Colville’s boys cross country team.

The Indians last week completed an unbeaten Great Northern League season to win their second league championship in the sport. The last was in 1988, when they finished second in the old State AA classification.

“Other than that, you go back through the records and we were always second or third (in league),” said assistant coach Dale Wilson. “We’ve only been to state five times as a team.”

The young team is hoping to make it six today in Chewelah when the GNL becomes the first to run this weekend’s state-qualifying races. Three teams in both boys and girls will advance to the State 2A meet, Nov. 6 in Pasco.

Dean Fischer, who ran in Chicago back in the late 1960s and moved to the area in 1976, took over Colville’s program this year after assisting last season.

“I knew if we were going to get anywhere, the kids needed to run over the summer,” said Fischer. “Most did, as a group or individually.”

As it turned out only two varsity runners, Jake Wilson and lone senior Erik Olson, returned. Two others he had expected to turn out didn’t.

“I was down in the dumps at the beginning of the season,” Fischer said.

Then some runners showed up out of the blue and the team took off.

Colville has been led all season by freshman Justin Rose. A couple of others, Cody Heathman and Ryan Cloke, transferred in from outside the district.

“I never saw Cody and Ryan until the beginning,” said Fischer. “I never knew anything about them.”

When Rose finished second and Colville won the B Division of the Super One Invitational at Farragut State Park in Idaho, Fischer knew he had something.