- November 23, 2024
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Overall Top Male & Female: Pierce Hoobler(14) & Mackenzie Roy(15). Courtesy photo
Megan Tramaglini has been coaching the OBMS cross country teams since the program was launched in 2018. Courtesy photo
OBMS Coach Megan Tramaglini with the her girls and boys state championship cross country teams. Courtesy photo
Top 3 17-19 Top boy and girl: Jay Teters, Kyla Anderson. Courtesy photo
Top 3 10 & Under Boys: 1. Liam Harmon 2. Jack Shorter 3. Luke Harmon. Courtesy photo
Top girl under 10: Michaela Smurden (6 years old) . Courtesy photo
Top 3 13&14 Girls: 1. Adelynn Smurden 2. Caroline Curtis(not pictured)3. Brooke Hoobler. Courtesy photo
Top 3 11&12 Boys: 1. Matthew Hucka 2. Barrett Jones 3. Cole Mc Kinnon. Courtesy photo
Top 3 15-16 Girls: 1. Arianna Roy 2. Kacey Cannon 3. Adriana Schargen. Courtesy photo
Ormond Beach Middle School Panthers don't crawl; they prowl.
On Saturday, Jan. 29, the school held its third-annual 5K Panther Prowl on its campus, an event that serves as its primary fundraiser. Among the runners were members of the boys and girls cross country teams, both of which made it to the middle school state championships this past season. The girls team placed second and the boys placed first.
For coach Megan Tramaglini, who has been coaching both teams since the creation of the program four years ago, the teams competing at the state level is certainly something to celebrate.
“That in itself is amazing," she said. "I make sure that they know it’s not about winning, but that’s just added bonus. To have both teams do so well at the Volusia County championship, and then be able to take both boys and girls to state was really something special."
In an email to the Observer, OBMS 5K Chair Jennifer Hoobler said that Tramaglini was one of the inspirations for the school's Parent Teacher Student Association beginning the event three years ago.
"She inspires students with her passion and dedication," Hoobler wrote.
Tramaglini, who is a health science teacher at OBMS, has about 12 years of coaching experience. As someone who used to run competitively, she's also no stranger to the sport in that aspect. When she started teaching at OBMS five years ago, she decided to start a running club. At the time, the only competitive sport available to middle school students was basketball.
That changed in 2018 when Volusia County Schools instituted middle school cross country programs.
Tramaglini was asked to be her school's coach, and in the first year of the program, about 40 children participated. The number nearly doubled the next year when 75 students signed up, and Tramaglini found herself coaching the largest middle school team in the county that year.
“It’s cool to have been the coach who started the program at our school," she said. "It’s really positive. I always tell the kids the best part about cross country and running is that anyone can do it. You can have someone who runs 6-minute miles and you can have someone that runs 10-minute miles, and you’re all on the same team.”
The Panther Prowl event helps ensure the school's cross country program can afford things like uniforms and buses for meets, and Tramaglini said it's great to have locals come out and support them.
It's hard to put into words what she feels like coaching the students and seeing them not only enjoy the sport, but succeed at it as well, she added.
“To be honest, I’m always shocked when these kids push themselves so hard and do such a great job at practice and at meets, because I’m not sure exactly what I do for them to do that," Tramaglini said. "I treat them the way I would want to be treated. I make sure that they feel safe and they feel good about what they’re doing, but also know that I’m so proud of them no matter what they do. If they have a bad race, that doesn’t matter — they still went out there and gave it their all, and they did their best."
