The weight of what The Master's University men's cross country team achieved on Friday, winning a 10th straight Golden State Athletic Conference title, was not lost on senior
Stephen Pacheco.
"We haven't been here for all 10," Pacheco said. "We're trying to carry on a legacy."
There is, of course, someone who has been around throughout the decade of dominance, and that someone – head coach
Zach Schroeder – was honored with his 10th consecutive GSAC Coach of the Year award shortly after the race.
Since 1998, no other GSAC men's cross country coach has earned the award more than four times.
"High school, college, for any coach, I don't care if it's a middle school championship, it's so hard to win 10 in a row because there are so many variables," said Master's Associate Athletic Director
Steve Waldeck, adding, "That record can't be broken until what, 2029?"
As for how Schroeder has constructed a dynasty, Waldeck pointed to the coach's ability to lay out an intricate training road map for the season with the help of Schroeder's wife, Amie, an assistant coach.
"I've listened to them and watched them," Waldeck said. "They go through a well-thought-out, scientific training regimen that is proven and tested."
This season, Schroeder showed a willingness to tweak that regimen in order to better the Mustangs' chances at NAIA nationals. In past seasons, he felt GSAC finals served as the apex of TMU's season, leading to a less-than-optimal performance at nationals. So, this time he had his team apply a more-controlled approach at its conference championship, hoping to keep the team hungry when it arrived in Vancouver, Washington, at the end of the month.
In the end, the Mustangs still overwhelmed their conference opponents – winning by more than 50 points – and Schroeder's ultimate goal was left unchanged.
"(The streak) really speaks to coach's ability to focus the current team on maximizing the gifts we're given for the purpose of glorifying God above all else and regardless of the result," said senior
Justin Harris. "The fact that he's enabled 10 unique teams of seven guys to win GSAC is incredible, but you'd never hear him say that, and that speaks to his humility and Christ-centered focus with his coaching."
Pacheco, who won the GSAC's individual title Friday, said he's been most impacted by Schroeder's godly example.
"He wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to read his Bible before anything else," Pacheco said. "And he mentions Christ in most of our talks, with me personally and with the team."
