Anderson County cross country chases big goals
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Anderson County’s Ava Moody returns as the defending state champion in class A/AA.
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AVIAN LASTER
As Mollie Fox enters her second season leading Anderson County High School’s cross country program, she makes it clear that expectations are sky-high for both the Mavericks and Lady Mavericks.
“For the boys, we got everybody back in our top five but one, and that’s Vance Laster,” Fox said. “It’s pretty much the same thing for our girls, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this year.”
While both teams return familiar faces, they will face new challenges thanks to TSSAA re-alignment. Anderson County now competes in Region 3-A/AA, shifting them into a Chattanooga-based group.
“Clinton and Oak Ridge are still in the same region,” Fox said. “But we got moved to Region 3 and that means our region championship won’t be at Victor Ashe Park anymore. It’ll be in Chattanooga, and we won’t get to see the course until the day before. There just won’t be any good meets on it until we run at region. There’s no rhyme or reason to where they put us.”
The Lady Mavericks will be anchored by the defending Class A/AA state champion, senior Ava Moody, who returns as a favorite to repeat when the state meet moves to Memphis.
“The guys and the girls have been training hard to get ready for the season,” Fox said. “Ava has been putting in the miles so she can reach all of her goals.”
Other key returners for the Lady Mavericks include seniors Sydney Day and Morgan Haire; juniors Cate Clotfelter and Rebekah Berg; and sophomores Emma Owens and Cassie Newman.
Top newcomers are Jordan Walker, a sophomore track and field athlete who joins cross country after playing soccer last fall, along with freshmen Rachel Garbes, Lilly Franklin and Seana Cross.
The Mavericks also return a veteran squad led by juniors John Cutler, Cam Hardy and Tanner Warman; seniors Franklin Downs, Toby Day and Michael Mattson; and sophomore Avian Laster.
Two freshmen, Weston Mattson (Michael’s brother) and Benson Skidmore, will bolster the boys’ roster this fall.
Anderson County opens its 2025 season Saturday, Aug. 30, at Victor Ashe Park in Northwest Knoxville.
