Top moments of 2024-25: No. 2 - Cross country wins first Region 10 title

In Gaston College's first three season of cross country, the school frequently finished in the back of the pack in team scoring because it was often running against four-year schools including some NCAA Division I and NCAA Division II schools.

But after back-to-back second-place finishes in the Rhinos first two seasons of NJCAA Region 10 competition, coach Kody Kubbs challenged his 2024 team to pursue a region title.

A second-place finish in the second meet of the season showed marked improvement from previous years and on Oct. 28, 2024 at the Cleveland Community College course in Shelby, the Rhinos fulfilled Kubbs' aspirations of a title.

Sophomore Keirieonna Wilson (1st place), freshmen Lexi Birtwistle (4th place) and Maddie Frank (5th) and sophomore Abbygale King (6th) earned All-Region 10 honors for their top finishes and sophomores Alayna Cook and Abigail Harris and freshman Sara Scoggins rounded out the roster for an impressive - and historic - victory that qualified Gaston College for its first NJCAA championship meets as a team.

"We've been focused on this, really since we started our summer training," Kubbs said after the historic Region 10 title. "Every conversation that we have has been to peak at the region championships. I feels good that all of our hard work, the early morning practices and work we've put in is a testament to these young ladies."