CHARMCO – For the first time since the 2014 season, cross-country returns to the landscape of Greenbrier West’s fall sports lineup. Although the Cavaliers have had cross-country before, the program is very much in its infancy.
The new head coach of the program is Joshua Pachis. Pachis is a sergeant in the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department and serves as Greenbrier West’s PRO for the sixth consecutive year. Sgt. Pachis has served the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department for nine years.
Pachis was a member of the Spotswood (VA) High School cross-country team for two seasons. After two years in Virginia, Pachis ran for Southern Wayne (NC) High School. Pachis went on to run for Eastern Mennonite University in both indoor and outdoor track. Pachis was West’s assistant boys track coach in 2023. This will be his first job as a head coach.
Coach Pachis explained how Larissa Wickline, a junior track member for the Cavaliers, sought fellow students to help her form a cross-country team. Once she had a few commitments, it was time to find a head coach. Pachis was the man for the job.
The team currently has only three members, but there is real hope of adding some winter and spring athletes that are not participating in a fall sport. Jesse Walkup is a freshman on the football team but has also been mentioned as a potential runner. The other two members, like Wickline, also ran track for the Cavaliers last spring. All three members were track athletes at Western Greenbrier Middle before high school. Wickline’s teammates are Elijah Russell and Trysta McKenzie. Russell is a sophomore while McKenzie is a senior.
“Finding places to run has been a challenge,” said Pachis.
Greenbrier West’s course was generally considered to be pretty exceptional. Eight years of neglect, though, have led to it becoming overgrown. Coach Pachis is preparing to revamp the course before track season next year.
The teams first meet is Saturday, September 9 at Clay County. Runners hit the course at 4 P.M.
Pachis stated “I’m looking forward to the season and seeing this program grow.”
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