Zachary High Cross-Country Teams Shine at Broncos Stampede

The Zachary High boys cross-country team achieved a remarkable victory, finishing first in the boys’ category at the Zachary Broncos Cross-Country Stampede held at Port Hudson on October 18, 2023. The girls’ team also performed well, securing a second-place finish among strong competitors. The event saw participation from over 780 athletes and was supported by 222 adult coaches and volunteers along with numerous spectators.

Top individual performances from the boys included Tyson Franklin, who placed fifth with a time of 17:47.75, Vincent Bodine, who finished eighth at 17:54.75, and Carson Southall, who took tenth place with a time of 18:11.99. For the girls, Blair Smith was the standout, finishing fourth overall with a time of 21:14.96.

Julie Fink, the cross-country coach, expressed her pride in the teams’ accomplishments, stating, “Running off with a first-place varsity boys team champion trophy, a girls varsity team runner-up plaque, and top 10 finishes is what I call a great cross-country day.” The upcoming schedule for the Broncos includes participation in the EBR Metro Championship on October 29, followed by regional competitions on November 6 and the state championship at Northwestern State in Natchitoches on November 17.

Coach Fink also acknowledged the invaluable contributions from volunteers and sponsors, as well as the support from the Zachary Community School District and DEMCO. She highlighted the assistance from Daniel Goyer, the Port Hudson Site Manager, praising his commitment to the Zachary cross-country program, which serves students from grades five through twelve.

The day also featured the “Battlefield Run,” hosted by the Northwestern Braves at Port Hudson. In the two-mile race, the Northwestern Middle School girls team finished fifth, while the Copper Mill Elementary girls placed seventh. For the boys, Copper Mill finished fifth and Northwestern took ninth in a competitive field of over twenty teams. Top performers included Gerrett Anthony from Northwestern, who finished 11th with a time of 13:10.39, and Hudson Broussard from Copper Mill, who placed 19th at 13:27.88. For the girls, Maci Septs achieved 13th place with a time of 16:03.89, while Zoe Raper finished 20th at 16:56.72.

As October progresses, many middle and high school sports teams are approaching critical moments in their seasons. For the Northwestern Braves, the final game of the season on October 28 will determine their district championship against Central. Coach Aaron Odom‘s team recently defeated Brusly 42-6, improving their record to 6-3.

On the same day, the Zachary High School volleyball team concluded their regular season with a home match against Woodlawn. At the time of reporting, the Broncos had a record of 17-10 and held a 19th power ranking, which would necessitate an away playoff game. Coach Cheri Perry and her team await playoff pairings and brackets, scheduled for announcement on November 3.

The Zachary High cross-country team will host the East Baton Rouge Metro Championship at Highland Road on October 29. Following that, the swim team will compete in the CCSL City Meet at Crawfish Aquatics on November 1, aiming for qualifying times to secure spots in the state championship.

Looking ahead, Tami McClure and Jon McClinton will begin their campaigns to defend the girls’ and boys’ 5A basketball titles, respectively. Coach McClinton has led his teams to three state championships in 2020, 2021, and 2025, while Coach McClure celebrated her first championship victory in 2025.