What happened Saturday did happen, and coach Xavier Rodriguez saw the proof Sunday when he woke up.

On his dresser was the Division IV cross country trophy that was awarded to him and his Northland Prep boys for winning the Division IV team title.

“Oh yeah, we actually did this and won,” said the coach about waking up Sunday and seeing his team's prize.  

But about 24 hours before the big race at Phoenix’s Cave Creek Golf Course, Rodriguez and his team were anything but elated.

That’s when they learned that freshman phenom, Yohanes Van Merteen, was sick and may not compete. In a hotel the day before the race, Rodriguez gathered his squad, laid out two game plans and inspired his team.

“What I told them is that we are going to turn this from a 'what if' to a 'remember when' moment,” he said. “I said, ‘We can easily lose this race and say what if we had Yohanes, we would have won. But instead we are going to win anyway and say remember when we didn’t have Yohanes and we still won?’”

Van Merteen was still feeling ill Saturday morning, so Northland Prep went ahead and executed Plan B to perfection, scoring 91 points.

Four of its five runners PR’d, and its No. 2 improved on his state event time from last year. It was the first team title for Northland Prep since 2018.

Rodriguez took over as the school’s cross country and track and field coach last year. The former semi-pro runner is a senior consultant with Best Buy.

About two seasons ago, while visiting the home of a client, the mother-in-law of Northland Prep’s former track coach, Rodriguez learned that the school was searching for a long distance coach. It appears that Northland Prep contracted the right man for the job.

“As heartbroken as I was for (Van Meerten), I was happy for those boys,” Rodriguez said. “We are a whole team and not just one runner. And they pulled it together for him. It was surreal.”

The D-IV champs: Sr. Jack Flugstad (16:39.00) 6th, Jr. Delani Hanson (16:55.40) 12th, Jr. Aaron Nicol (17:07.60) 19th, So. Emilio Haubert (17:25.70) 24th, Jr. Miles Underwood (17:48.50) 32nd, Jr. Harrison Kessenich (18:13.80) 48th, Jr. David Hayes (18:59.60) 79th.

Top-10 D-IV Boys

1 Myles Floyd, Pusch Ridge (16:06.30)

2 Duwron Tawvaya, Hopi (16:15.40)

3 Glenn Thomas, Northwest Christian (16:18.60)

4 Jonah Pearson, North Phoenix Prep (16:23.30)

5 Jamison Ping, Valley Christian (16:25.60)

6 Flugstad, Northland Prep

7 Micah Newkirk, Valley Christian (16:40.00

8 Josef Iker, Chandler Prep (16:42.00)

9 Benjamin Benally, Valley Lutheran (16:46.70)

10 Camden Odell, Pusch Ridge Christina (16:50.30)

Top 10 D-IV Boys Teams, points

1 Northland Prep, 91 points

2 Valley Christian, 120

3 North Phoenix Prep, 141

4 Northwest Christian, 187

5 Glendale Prep, 197

6 Arete Prep, 208

7 Baboquivari, 230

8 Pinon, 238

9 Basis Flagstaff 243

10 Pusch Ridge 249

Top 10 D-IV Girls

1 Kimi Cahoon, Phoenix Country Day (19:13.90)

2 Ashley Tarasenko, Northwest Christian (19:30.30)

3 Ellie Phillips, Valley Christian (19:42.90)

4 Hayley Floyd, Pusch Ridge Christian (19:53.80)

5 Ava Wadhwa, Arizona Lutheran (20.02.70)

6 Sarah Johnson, Northwest Christian (20:15.80)

7 Emily Mullaney, Basis Flagstaff (20:21.70)

8 Anushka Kulkarni, Glendale Prep (20:26.00)

9 Meredith Bauman, Basis Flagstaff (20:30.40)

10 Rachel Coviello, Phoenix Country Day (20:35.10)

Top 10 D-IV Girls Teams, points

Northwest Christian (Photo courtesy of Tonya Tarasenko)

1 Northwest Christian, 60

2 Valley Christian, 81

3 Northland Prep, 104

4 Pusch Ridge Christian, 105

5 Hopi, 112

6 Phoenix Country Day, 134

7 Glendale Prep, 152

8 Benson, 245

9 Chandler Prep, 247

10 Veritas Prep, 251