MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. | As men's cross country seniors Noah Boyd and Evan Rehrauer enter their final home meet of their careers Saturday (Oct. 25) when Georgia College & State University hosts the Peach Belt Conference Championship at 10:15 a.m. at the Bobcat Cross Country Course, they reflect on their time with the Bobcats.

The friendships and memories made have been the most important part of their journey.  

Boyd, an exercise science major from Winder, Georgia, has been running cross country for seven years and joined GCSU last season. He said one of his favorite memories was an unexpected adventure after a meet in South Carolina, when he and teammates got lost in the mountains. 

He describes his experience with the team as rough but rewarding. His high school coach shaped his approach to the sport, instilling values of hard work, respect and sportsmanship.  

Boyd said he will miss the friends he's made and running on a competitive team. 

"There's a unique feeling of competing, and traveling with a unified goal and purpose to be better," said Boyd. 

Rehrauer, also an exercise science major from Hamilton, Georgiua, has been running competitively since eighth grade and is finishing his ninth and final season. He said the Albany State track meet is his favorite memory. 

"Everyone had great races that day, and my race was the last to hit the track," said Rehrauer. "I ran what I consider my best race ever with a 15:26 5K." 

He said the support of his teammates helped him push through the race and made the day unforgettable. The experience with GCSU cross country has been a true journey for him. 

Rehrauer credited assistant coach Aspen Tolman for helping him develop mental strength during races and he feels he has had the best races of his life because of that.  

As graduation approaches, both seniors said they'll miss the team's sense of community most.  

"While I'll still be around Milledgeville, I won't be running with the team every day," said Rehrauer. "They've been my community for four years, and I'll struggle to lose that." 

Boyd and Rehrauer leave behind dedication, teamwork and the memories that come from running side by side with a group of friends who became family. 

"Take it one day at a time. Every day is a new day and has new potential to be a good one," said Rehrauer. " And with that, enjoy every second of it, before you know it you'll be a senior and you won't know what happened to the time." 

About GCSU Athletics
Owning the top Academic Success Rate among all public colleges and universities in Division II for four consecutive academic years, the Georgia College Department of Athletics sponsors 11 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. GCSU Athletics has won five consecutive Presidents' Awards for Academic Excellence, and are two-time winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup and four-time winners of the PBC Institution of the Year Sportsmanship Award. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' continued appearances in postseason competition as well as high-level academic success and community-service involvement. Bobcat Athletics embodies the mantra of "Graduating Champions for Life." Sign up at @GCSUBobcats on all social media outlets for up-to-the-minute reports or subscribe to the GSCU Athletics e-newsletter to receive the latest news, schedule updates and to interact with GCSU Athletics.