Week #4: Super Season Openers for Varsity XC and MS Soccer!

Dave Levy, Athletic Director
Varsity Boys Cross Country - "And your 2026 Ragged Mountain Cup Champion, the most underrated high school boy in the state, from Tandem... Hayes Buppert!" Back on Tandem Lane, we're fully aware that we have a special student-athlete in our midst - but not everybody in Virginia is up to date. While he's already won five individual state championships between Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field, the Ragged Mountain Cup is a very unique Charlottesville-area tradition. It's been a close race for each of the last three years, but this season, at an astounding pace of 4:58, Hayes' time of 9:55 earned him 1st Place - and the Cup title - by three seconds. Coach Ned told him to "be a little reckless," and as Hayes came barreling down the hill, it was clear that he responded in kind. Running as the anchor of our Tandem Boys Varsity relay, Hayes was a freight train that could not be stopped, flying by runners left and right.  
 
The extraordinary Boys Varsity Tandem 4 x 2 Mile Relay team of Hayes, Miles, Peter D and and Peter W finished fifth overall at today's Ragged Mountain Cup - but also finished as only the THIRD SCHOOL to complete the eight mile course. The only schools to defeat Tandem today were Albemarle and Western Albemarle, with enrollments of 2,100 and 1,400 students respectively.
 
It should be noted that Badgers defeated big public schools like Monticello, William Monroe, Charlottesville High School, Louisa, Orange and Fluvanna, while also dominating larger private schools including STAB, Fork Union, Covenant and Miller. Miles got the ball rolling, as he flew off the starting line and went immediately after the top pack. Our first leg of the relay, Miles was determined to put the team into a strong position, and his time of 10:20 - which is 13 seconds faster than he ran at the time trial - did just that! Miles finished 15th overall, earning him a coveted "The Cup," tee shirt. 
Making his Cup debut, Peter D took the baton next, running a blazing 5:41 pace and finishing with a time of 11:22.  Peter W, known for his own anchoring skills in the 4x800 on the track, left it all out there as usual. His time of 10:55 was 25 seconds faster than he ran last season - and that race was in late October! These four elite athletes combined for an 4 x 2 Mile time of 42:32 - absolutely flying!
 
Earning a cup PR, Jack Johnson led off for the B relay, and his time of 11:54 is a 9-second improvement from his October time last season! Jude, who is off to an incredible start this season, looked smooth as could be. Running with confidence and rhythm, just like in the house band, Jude finished in a time of 13:17 - 12 seconds faster than his time at the time trial! Nico, who has leveled up his training dramatically, ran an impressive 13:39, while Zeke matched his time trial time: 13:43! Tandem's B relay beat STAB's and Fork Union's B relay teams - showing off our incredible depth! 
 
The magic did not step there! In the open race, it was Ryan leading the way - his time of 13:24 is a PR by ONE MINUTE AND FOUR SECONDS! Hot on his tail was Alexander, flying through in 13:48, while Daniel (15:37), Andrew (15:47) and Hawkins (15:51) finished together. For Hawkins, this was a PR of FOUR MINUTES! That is the result of a lot of hard work! Congratulations, Hawkins - what a way to start the season!
 
Congratulations to our Boys Varsity Cross Country Badgers - the team has worked extraordinarily hard since the very beginning of the summer. Hungry, tough and competitive, this team cannot be stopped. They ran in the morning last week when it was too hot to do so in the afternoon, put in tons of extra work on the weekends, and quite simply, train like the champions they are.
 
What a way to start the season with two Badgers on the Cup podium, and a special shout-out to Hayes, who joins a very small esteemed group of Ragged Mountain Cup champions!
 
Girls Varsity Cross Country - Prior to announcing the awards, Alec Lorenzoni of Ragged Mountain reminded athletes not to compare their times to the way they ran last year. "Why do we not compare our times?" he asked. "Because last season it was late October, so the weather was better, and you were six weeks more fit!"  While I completely agree with Alec's logic and advice, I whispered to Lucy that it IS okay to compare your times if you were faster today than you were last October. She is.

Lucy's time of 14:09 is nine seconds faster than she ran last season at the Cup, placing her 33rd in a highly competitive field. The only member of the team with Cup experience, Lucy warmed up with Dhruvi, and shared a ton of veteran wisdom. As a result, Dhruvi took the baton and moved right into position - passing runners as she went and attacking the hills!  Her time of 16:36 kept the team right in the thick of the race, and also shows how much she has grown since the beginning of last season! Eve - who is ready to take her running to the next level - broke 16:00, flying through in an impressive time of 15:57. Her finish was epic - with an opposing runner on her back, Eve found another gear and sprinted through the chute with authority!  She transferred that energy to Sawyer, who made her competitive debut this evening and she is going to be special in this sport. Sawyer was decisive - passing runners and not looking back. She also broke 16:00, running 15:55, and negative splitting (running a faster second mile than the first mile), something which is very difficult to do!
 
The Varsity Girls 4 x 2 Mile Relay team earned an impressive time of 1:02:37, holding off Madison County by just four seconds! Three of the four Tandem athletes were making their Cup debuts - and they showed incredible potential for the future (and present) of Tandem Girls Cross Country!
 
Victoria set a PR today - in the mile - running 7:20 for her first split! Every race is a learning experience, and what I learned today is that Victoria is crazy fast! Her time of 17:05 is a new Cup PR! She worked closely with Alice (17:03), who nearly matched her time from the Time Trial.  An explosive performance is coming for Alice - and it's going to be Saturday at Pole Green. You heard it here first! Samari, making her competitive Tandem debut, finished in 17:46, passing athletes as she went!
 
Congratulations also to Caffall - her time of 19:17 is a three-second PR - and she did not stop - not for one moment - despite the challenging hilly course! Laurel broke 20:00 - 19:55 - and crossed the finish line with a strong kick and a big smile! The Tandem girls cross country team had 9 different athletes run the Ragged Mountain Cup for the first time today - and they delivered! Congratulations to all of our Badgers on a magical day at a special event!
 
Boys Middle School Soccer - The Middle School Boys Soccer team has been super excited for game day - twice - only to be let down by mother nature. With the heat finally calmed down, it was time for the Badgers to take the field, and the team played an excellent first game vs Grymes! Eric and Calvin worked together to keep the ball out of the box, sending it wide to Trenton, who pushed the ball up the field. Floyd made save after save - diving all over the field!
 
Grymes had a consistent attack early, but Elias and Gabriel were tough - forcing the Grymes offense wide.  After a perfect tackle from Calvin, the Badgers were able to flip the field, with Cal, Finn and Will pushing the ball into the Grymes end. Silas showed off some fancy footwork, moving the Badgers into their offensive zone! 
 
The result was a big second half rally - Casey showing off smooth passing, Will scoring the first goal of the season, and Calvin following it up with one of his own. The Badgers had a big turn-around in the second thirty minutes, and Jonathan took over as goalie, holding it down between the pipes.
 
Congratulations to the Middle School Boys and Coach Isaiah - it's been a tough start to the season with the heat, but the team is off to an excellent start. The Badgers return to action next Wednesday, September 16 at 4:30 when the team takes on James River at home. Hope to see you there!
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Tandem Friends School is a co-ed Quaker day school for grades 5-12 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
 
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