Mitch Kessler is ready to help Catalina Foothills defend its Class 4A-I boys cross country state championship.
But unlike last year, no one will mistake Kessler and the Falcons for underdogs.
Kessler, 17, with his lucky earth-print blue-green socks, was eighth overall and led the Falcons to the program's fourth state title. Brown rounded out the scoring for Foothills, finishing 30th overall.
The senior has placed fourth, third and second in succession at regionals each of his three years. While he would like to win the Sonoran Region meet, his goals for the season are not distinctly individual.
"I'd like my team to repeat winning state, to win regionals, and for everyone on the team to get better so we can continue this tradition and make our program better," he said.
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Q: How did you feel after you found out you had won the championship last year?
A: "The feeling was amazing because we were going into the race as an underdog. For us to pull off that championship was unbelievable. … It was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced."
Q: What do you like best about Foothills?
A: "I think it's a great school. I love the competitiveness we have on the higher end of the scale. I love going to the sporting events. I have a bunch of nice, great friends."
Q: Do you have any quirky running traditions?
A: "The day before the race, when we go on an easy run, I'll take it extremely slowly and my team will be a mile ahead of me." Kessler also has a lucky pair of socks with a blue-and-green image of earth with a yellow-and-black sun as the background. "I'm a little superstitious with them. I have to wear them."
Q: What do you think about during a race?
A: "I think about how I'm feeling, whether I'm tired or not, if I can push it or not, when is a good time to make a move, how far and how many more miles I have to go. Where the rest of the team is located is a big part of it."
Q: So far, what's the best thing about being a senior?
A: "I've got less classes than all the other grades, and I've got the least amount of school than all the other grades. Today, I got out at 11 a.m. I love all the free time I have."
Preseason watch list
Jeff Brown, Sr., Catalina Foothills
Bobby Evans, Sr., Rio Rico
Chris Frazier, Sr., Rio Rico
Paul Gordon, Sr., Sabino
Steven Gregg, So., Sabino
Mitch Kessler, Sr., Catalina Foothills
Matt Lundstrom, Sr., Mountain View
Steve Magnuson, So., Salpointe Catholic
Jackson Messer, Sr., Salpointe Catholic
Nate Mesta, Sr., Tucson
Andrew Palmer, Sr., Canyon del Oro
Mario Portillo, Sr., Catalina
Aaron Puerta, Sr., Nogales
Edgar Sotomayor, Sr., Nogales
Marcus Whitt, Sr., Mountain View
Region champion picks
5A Southern Region I and II: Salpointe Catholic
4A Kino Region: Sabino
4A Sonoran Region: Catalina Foothills
4A Gila Region: Catalina
