Coming off a strong 2024 campaign, senior cross country Captain Ava Bonsignore looks to lead the varsity girls program to another great season this fall.
Bonsignore has made an impact since she joined the team as a freshman. Additionally, she is a member of the varsity track and field program during the spring season.
“I was so honored to have been chosen as captain this year because this team has done a lot to help me grow as a person,” Bonsignore said, “and it’s been great to be able to help other girls get something out of it too.”
The young team will look to the lone senior, Bonsignore, for guidance throughout the season, which exposes the runners to many different kinds of adversity. “We have a very young team this year, so we’re definitely still learning to communicate and work with each other, but we also have a lot of talent, so I have no doubt in our ability to have a great season,” she said.
Her best race to date was during a home meet last season against Wilbraham and Monson. Racing around the home course and finishing with an exceptional time of 23 minutes, 50 seconds helped the girls secure the win. “Since this meet was on campus, we had a lot of KO faculty and students cheering for us, which made our race very enjoyable,” she said.
Being a captain does not just mean setting an example in competition, but helping to instill team values that will last a lifetime.
“As captain, a lot of my job has been finding the balance between being supportive while also holding my teammates accountable,” she explained. “I take a lot of inspiration from our captains last year, Claire Palmer and Sasha Dausey, who both led with such positive energy and humility. They taught me to trust myself and to work hard for every goal I set.”
In preparation for meets, the coaches certainly do not make it easy on the girls in practice with long runs that build the team.
Looking ahead, the girls have a home meet on Saturday, Oct. 4, against Westminster and Williston Northampton School. After that, they take on Pomfret on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 11.
Last year, Bonsignore’s best time in an invitational took place at the annual Williston Northampton Shaler Invitational. Running the 5,000-meter course in 24:58, she secured a 29th-place finish out of 79. Additionally, her finish helped the Wyverns place third overall. In events such as this, and many more, Bonsignore is determined to lead the team triumphantly.
