Saturday, November 14, 2026
Bailey Greaves, left, Jack Remaks, Dalton Herrity, Gage Wheeler and Rosie Poling were among cross country athletes recognized at the Lely awards dinner. Wheeler was 3A District 12 champion and Poling came in second. Both were named to the Collier County All Conference cross country team and most valuable for their teams.
Waldine Thermy and Athletic Director Josh Corr
Rosie Poling with Josh Corr
By Roger LaLonde
The Lely cross country team celebrated an outstanding season at the awards program at Lely High School on December 3.
The girls won the 3A District 12 team title, while the boys finished second.
Senior Gage Wheeler won the district championship and sophomore Rosie Poling ran to second place in leading the girls.
The week before both teams finished fifth at the Collier Cross County Conference Championships, but refocused for the district races.
Head coach Mark McGarity said that he and new assistant Leslie Bentley talked with the runners prior to the district meet.
“We projected what they could do
if they focused and ran as hard as they could,” McGarity said. “They set their minds and did the best they could. It was not expected but we were so pleased with their winning efforts.
Wheeler was selected for the boys All-County Conference team, with Bobby Garcia receiving honorable mention. Poling was named to the All-County Conference girls team, with Waldine Thermy honorable mention.
Wheeler and Poling received the team’s most valuable runner awards at the dinner.
Coaches Awards went to Jordan Giles and Gage Wheeler. Most improved went to Lilianna Serrato-Solorio and Cody Demalavez.
Ella Krechner and Garcia won the
Determination Award, while the Guts (perseverance) Award went to Polling and Rudge Hyppolite. Waldine Thermy and Garrett Sutherland earned the Will-to-Win honors. Bailey Greaves and Kevin Lopez won the Focus Award.
Top scholar athletes were Giles and Wheeler.
The top athletes by grade included freshmen Pilar Forrest and Andrew McCallister; sophomores Emma Hernandez and Aiden Krechner; juniors Mallory Bell and Uriel Castillo and seniors Johann Charelus and Andy Francois.
Co-Captians for the team were Giles, Charelus, Wheeler and Dalton Herrity. Seniors recognized for their leadership included Anna Bissell, Giles, Charelus, Wheeler, Herrity, Lopez, Francois, Noah Joseph, Alex Alas, Dalton Zimmerman and Mike Myrtil.
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