See all posts in the Kirk’s Captain Corner series
(Kirk’s Captain Corner is a regular feature that will allow Carver County residents to get to know the student-leaders of the various teams in our high schools. Today, we feature senior captain Noella Ross of the Chaska girls’ cross country team. )
You are one of the most decorated distance runners in Chaska High School history. At what age did running “click” with you? When did you know this was going to be a sport that you would excel at?
The unique thing about running is that almost everyone does not start until middle school or later, so I think that makes it a lot easier to start with no expectations and build a lot throughout high school. Ever since I started running, I feel it has brought out my competitive side and I have had a lot of fun with it, but track in 8th grade was the first time I won a big race and realized my spot in the sport and ever since I have loved it more and more!
What makes running such an enjoyable activity for you?
For me it is how individual of a sport it can be; for example, chasing personal best and titles, but there is still the team aspect where you have a community to celebrate your wins with and people that help build you back up when something doesn’t go as planned. Additionally, I have learned to really enjoy the process of getting better and how much fun it is to watch yourself get stronger in workouts and then put everything together on race day.
What has been your favorite memory with the Hawks cross country program so far?
It is not a specific moment, but I always really enjoy the bus rides home from meets. Everyone’s pre-race nerves are gone and we are celebrating each other’s wins. We are also a co-ed team and bus rides are when a lot of team bonding happens which I think helps make us all a lot better as there are even more people cheering you on and training with you!
Tell us about the state meet, what is the course like, does it cater to your strengths? What are your goals for the meet?
The state meet takes place at Les Bolstad golf on the University of Minnesota’s Saint Paul campus; to put it simply, it is roughly a two-loop course with some branch outs. Last year I had a really good experience on this course, as I think it is a place for good head-to-head competition to happen, so I am really excited. Since it will be my last cross-country race as a Chaska Hawk, aside from time and place goals, one of my main goals is to remember how far I have come and really enjoy the race and use that to be competitive!
You recently made a big announcement on your college commitment! Please tell us more about that and what the Division I recruiting process was like.
Three weeks ago, I committed to the University of Iowa! It was a very exciting process, and I met so many amazing people, but ultimately, I chose Iowa because of how well I can see myself fitting in on the team and the coach reminds me a lot of my coaches right now and is ultimately the place I can see myself being the most successful academically and athletically.
What’s the most audacious running goal you have set for yourself?
I have goals for moving up in the all-time state rankings in multiple events this track season!
What does it mean to you to be a team captain?
Being a captain to me means setting an example for what the program should represent, in order for the program to continue getting better. For me, that meant displaying my mindset; by the end of the season so many people were saying “we get to do” things instead of “we have to” which makes me so proud!
Noella joins her sister, sophomore Rebecca Ross, and junior Ivan Peterson in the Minnesota Class AAA cross country running state tournament, on Saturday, Nov. 1, at Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul. Peterson runs in the boys’ meet at 2:30 p.m. while Noella and Rebecca run in the girls meet at 3:15 p.m.
