Top-Ranked Michigan Teams Win with 'Pack Hunting' Strategy

When you run as a pack, everyone wins together—and Holland Christian's cross country teams just proved it works at the highest level.

Both the boys and girls teams claimed OK Black Conference championships on October 21 at Diamond Springs in Hamilton, Michigan. The boys won with 30 points, placing eight runners in the top 16 finishers, while the girls dominated with 31 points and seven runners in the top 13.

Grant Lampen led the boys to victory with an individual title, finishing the course in 15:52.6. After placing second the previous year, the win felt especially sweet for the senior runner.

"Last year I was second and got kicked pretty bad down the stretch, and it feels great to get first," Lampen said after the race. His teammates followed close behind, with Cole Coffman, Zander Stewart, and Drew Franken all finishing within 30 seconds of each other.

The girls team showed the same pack mentality, finishing just seconds apart. Avery Engbers placed second overall in 17:37.9, with six teammates crossing the finish line within two minutes of her time.

Both teams are ranked No. 1 in the state for Division 2, and their success comes from training together at faster paces. The runners push each other daily, creating a group rhythm that's hard for competitors to break.

Why This Inspires

High school sports often celebrate individual stars, but Holland Christian is proving that teamwork creates championships. These young athletes train together, race together, and win together—showing that lifting each other up produces better results than going it alone.

Their approach mirrors nature's best hunters, who succeed not through individual strength but through coordinated effort. When one runner struggles, the pack adjusts. When someone surges ahead, teammates follow.

Lampen summed up the team's outlook perfectly: "The best is yet to come for state for the boys and the girls." With state championships approaching, these pack hunters are ready to prove that running together takes you farther than running alone.