Zachary High Cross-Country Teams Shine at Broncos Stampede

The Zachary High School boys cross-country team secured first place while the girls team claimed second during the Zachary Broncos Cross-Country Stampede held at Port Hudson on October 18, 2023. The event attracted over 780 athletes, supported by 222 adult coaches and volunteers, and witnessed a large turnout of spectators.

Top performers for the boys included Tyson Franklin, who finished fifth with a time of 17:47.75 and Vincent Bodine, who took eighth place with a time of 17:54.75. Carson Southall rounded out the boys’ top ten, finishing in tenth place at 18:11.99. For the girls, Blair Smith stood out as the top finisher, placing fourth with a time of 21:14.96.

A total of 21 boys’ teams and 18 girls’ teams competed on the challenging three-mile course. Cross-country coach Julie Fink expressed her pride in the team’s accomplishments, stating, “Running off with a first-place varsity boys team champion trophy, a girls varsity team runner-up plaque, and for top ten finishes is what I call a great cross-country day.”

The upcoming schedule for the Broncos includes participation in the EBR Metro Championship on October 29, followed by the regional competition on November 6 and the state championship at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches on November 17.

In addition to the cross-country events, Fink expressed gratitude to volunteers, sponsors, the Zachary Community School District, and DEMCO for their support. She particularly praised Daniel Goyer, the Port Hudson Site Manager, and the park staff for their ongoing assistance with the Zachary cross-country program.

Later that day, the Northwestern Braves hosted the “Battlefield Run” at Port Hudson, where the Northwestern Middle School girls team finished fifth, while the Copper Mill Elementary girls took seventh in the two-mile run. On the boys’ side, Copper Mill finished fifth and Northwestern placed ninth among a competitive field of over twenty teams.

Top finishers included Gerrett Anthony from Northwestern, who came in 11th at 13:10.39, and Hudson Broussard from Copper Mill, who finished 19th at 13:27.88. For the girls, Maci Septs led Northwestern with a time of 16:03.89, finishing 13th, while Zoe Raper from Copper Mill placed 20th at 16:56.72.

As the end of October approaches, many middle and high school sports teams are entering a critical period of competition. The Northwestern Braves are set to conclude their season on October 28, facing Central in a decisive district championship match. Coach Aaron Odom led the Braves to a recent victory against Brusly, winning 42-6 and improving their record to 6-3.

Simultaneously, the ZHS volleyball team wrapped up their regular season at home against Woodlawn. At the time of reporting, the Broncos have achieved a record of 17-10 and are ranked 19th in power rankings, which would place them on the road for the playoffs. Coach Cheri Perry will learn about playoff pairings and brackets on November 3.

On October 29, the Zachary High School cross-country team will host the East Baton Rouge Metro championship at Highland Road. The following day, the ZHS swim team will compete in the CCSL City meet at Crawfish Aquatics, aiming to achieve qualifying times for the state championship on November 1.

In a nod to future competition, coaches Tami McClure and Jon McClinton are preparing to defend their respective titles in girls’ and boys’ 5A basketball next month. McClinton has previously guided his teams to three state championships in 2020, 2021, and 2025, while McClure celebrated her first championship victory in 2025.