Fall sports are in full swing throughout Grays Harbor schools. This includes cross-country, a sport in which teams and individuals run distance races on outdoor courses over natural terrain rather than on a track. Thanks to a recent donation from an Aberdeen High School grad and former cross-country runner Seth Berntsen, the school’s cross-country team is sporting a new look as it cranks out the miles and the meets.
A member of the Aberdeen High School Class of 1993, Berntsen worked together with coaches and another former cross-country runner to make the new Bobcat racing uniforms a reality and boost team spirit in the process.
“Growing up in Grays Harbor, running was a big part of my life,” explains Berntsen, who ran cross-country for Aberdeen High School in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. “I really enjoyed my time running cross-country in Aberdeen. I wanted to give back. Cross-country doesn’t always get the glory and attention that other sports do. It seems like cross-country is always last in line in terms of resources and support. So I had a real desire to support the program.”
New Uniforms for Aberdeen High School Cross-Country
Hoping to help, the Aberdeen High School alum tracked down cross-country head coach Steve Reed and explained his interest in supporting the program. When Berntsen asked Reed what he could to help, Reed indicated that the team needed new uniforms. And Berntsen was off and running.
Berntsen teamed up with Miguel Galeana, a former state champion cross-country runner and 1993 Hoquiam High School grad. Galeana now owns a running store in Gig Harbor called Route 16.
Berntsen also bought warm-up suits for the team in 2012 through Galeana. “I felt like it was time to do it again,” says Berntsen about buying the racing uniforms. “I wanted to make this a two-fer where I could support him [Galeana] and get the kids new uniforms, too. I told Miguel to get the best stuff we could. Let’s not cut any corners. Let’s get them something new and nice”
Nice and new is exactly what Bobcat cross-country runners received when the new uniforms were handed out last month. “The kids were really psyched,” says Berntsen.
For the former cross-country runner, the donation was about more than uniforms. “It’s really about making the kids feel good and boosting their spirits,” he adds. “It’s about being proud to wear something nice that has their school name on it. They probably have some of the best-looking uniforms out there.”
Styled in Bobcat blue and gold with a CClogo on the tank top front, the racing uniforms sport “AHS Bobcats” on the tank top back. The uniform is completed with matching blue racing shorts.
Berntsen took a day off work and drove down to Aberdeen from Seattle to help pass out the uniforms personally. “The kids were so appreciative,” he says. “They were all respectful and really excited.”
“It was very gracious of Seth to donate the uniforms,” says Aberdeen High School assistant cross-country coach Dennis Nelson. “The team got brand new uniforms for the first time in a long time. The kids are super-excited to have something that’s new, up-to-date and comfortable.”
The uniform design process is also new and up to date. Instead of silk-screening or stitching a design onto fabric, a process called sublimation was used. Sublimation uses high heat and pressure to transfer a design from sublimation paper directly onto a product. The result is a long-lasting and vibrant design. “It’s actually built into the fabric so it’s more durable and breathable,” explains Nelson.
Benefitting from both seasoned coaching experience and community support, the Aberdeen High School cross-country team is a formidable contender in the region. With the generosity of friends and donors like Berntsen and Galeana, Bobcat runners are off and running in style, too.
The Bobcats compete in the Evergreen 2A League. When available, calendars for the boys and girls cross country teams can be found here and here, respectively.
