C-G’s Holter credits athletes

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Cary-Grove boys cross country coach Layne Holter attributes the Trojans’ four-year run as Fox Valley Conference champions to his runners’ dedication.

The Trojans appreciate the compliment but know Holter had a lot more to do with their success than he lets on.

“[Holter] puts a lot of effort into the training program,” senior Eddy Gibbons said. “He gets us to buy into it, and when everyone does that, it gets great results.”

Besides winning its fourth consecutive FVC title, C-G also made its third consecutive trip to the IHSA Cross Country State Meet in Class 3A, and Holter is the Northwest Herald Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year for the second time.

Holter, who also won in 2006, was chosen by the Northwest Herald sports staff with input from area coaches. Dundee-Crown coach Tom Smith and Prairie Ridge coach Judd Shutt also received support from their peers, but C-G’s dominance pushed Holter to the top.

“We’ve had a real good run, and it came through leadership and the dedication of the guys we have,” Holter said. “We had a hard time getting over the hump to get that initial championship. That made the guys even more hungry to get it.”

This senior class, led by Duke-bound Phil Fairleigh, never lost in an FVC Meet. Holter said Fairleigh ran more than 7,000 miles through his high school career, and every other runner logged at least 3,300 miles.

“These guys work so hard, and the alumni keep contact with them,” Holter said. “All those things give the team confidence and a boost.”

C-G’s runners use an online running log to keep track of their miles each year.

“We’re the ones running the races, but he’s the one who keeps us mentally focused,” Gibbons said. “We took some meets easier early in the season and we were on fresh legs at the end. While we’re doing the running, he’s working on the behind-the-scenes stuff.”

Holter’s coaching ability will be tested next year after six of the top seven runners graduate.

“[The success] is very gratifying,” Holter said. “I put in some time, but I don’t do near the work the guys do. It’s to their credit the way they jell and feed off each other.”