WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY CELEBRATES NATIONAL TITLE WITH RING CEREMONY

The championship run came full circle on Monday as the 2025 women's cross country team at Mesa Community College was honored with its national championship rings, celebrating a historic season that cemented the program among the nation's elite.

Surrounded by teammates, coaches, family and supporters, the ceremony served as a moment to reflect on a year defined by resilience and championship execution. The Thunderbirds captured their second consecutive NJCAA Division II National Championship in Fort Dodge, Iowa, overcoming brutal conditions that included snow, ice and freezing temperatures. What could have derailed most teams instead became a defining chapter in Mesa's championship identity.

Head coach Daniel Pescador, alongside assistants Quin Fredette, and Paul Spencer Peterson, spoke on the team's toughness and unity throughout the season. The staff emphasized how preparation & trust in one another carried the group through one of the toughest national championship environments in recent memory.

Athletes echoed that message, pointing to the bond within the group as the difference-maker. Olivia Baker, Kinley Jackson, Katie Munoz, Lucy Melzer, Marissa Hernandez, Evalyn Perez and Olivia Scroggins each played key roles in the title run, delivering consistent performances when it mattered most on the national stage.

Monday's ceremony wasn't just about receiving rings, it was about recognizing a standard. A program that embraced adversity, thrived in the harshest conditions, and delivered back-to-back national championships now has a lasting symbol of that achievement.

For Mesa, the rings represent more than a title. They represent a team that didn't just endure the elements, they conquered them together.

 Photo Credit: Branden Davis