Senior Sam Cooper raced through his final cross-country season at Oklahoma Bible Academy with a purpose that went beyond personal bests. “I wanted to set a PR,” he said of his goals.

The team’s bond made every practice and race memorable. “The moral was really nice, and I loved hanging out with the team,” Cooper said. That unity paid off in a big way at the biggest stage. “We got third at state this year, so we did much better than last year,” he said.

Off-season reflection shows how much the group grew together. “We really wanted to grow closer together as a team,” Cooper said. Mutual support became a defining trait. “I think pushing each other to be better was one of our team’s strengths,” he said.

Cross country lacks traditional positions, but Cooper saw the bigger picture on race days. “There isn’t really positions for cross country,” he said. Course strategy came down to smart planning. “We look for big hills, so we can map out where we need to push harder,” Cooper said.

Hard preparation fueled their breakthroughs. “We make sure to train hard during practice, so we could give everything at the meets,” he said. Faith shaped his mindset through every mile. “I wanted to run to the glory of God, and leave everything out there on the course,” Cooper said.

Leadership defined his final year. “I wanted to be remembered as a leader, and someone who encouraged the team to push harder,” he said. Away from competition, real friendships hold the group together. “We frequently hang out outside of the team aspect and are not friends because we are on the same team, we are on the same team because we are friends,” he said.

Music amped up their energy. “Our team often listened to the K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack, and it really got us going,” Cooper said. Road trips created some of the best moments. “I loved the bus rides to and from meets, hanging out with the guys, and just having a great time,” he said.

Beyond running, Cooper stays active across campus in “cross country, basketball, and track,” he said. “I am also in disc golf and the book club, after high school, I plan to attend OC, studying computer science, and pursuing a career in computer science.”