The cross country team continued its recent success at sections this year, but they did so without the guidance of longtime coach Gordon Hubble, who left his position at the school during last track season.

Hubble coached for over 30 years, and led the team to eighth place at the state meet in 2016. The team has been without him since the middle of track season last year.

“There seemed to be a disagreement between some students and some parents based on the way the team was being ran.” said Hubbell, explaining how his time ended at the school.

The former Raider is now at Rosemont High School where he is coaching track and cross country.

“(My favorite memory was) probably in 2016 when our girls team and boys team both finished second at the sections meet.” Hubbell said. “Afterward, at the award ceremony they gave me a picture and jumped up in the air and it was very cool,” Hubble said.

His legacy at Rio stretches beyond awards and championships. Hubble had an effect on countless runners through the years, including senior Willie Samuelson.

“I’ve never had a coach who has cared as much as he did,” Samuelson said.

Some of Hubble’s proudest moments are from the team’s yearly trips to LA. There, the team always ran at the Mount Sac Cross Country Invitational which is the most challenging run of their season. The day after that, the runners went to Disneyland for the day.

“(A student) had gone to Saint Francis her freshman year and they went to Mount Sac, and she talked to me and begged me to go and when she was a senior we finally went,” Hubble said.

Hubble had 14 teams that went to the state championship meet and hundreds of runners who competed there. His long-term effect on the cross country and track teams will not disappear for years to come.

The new coach, Anton Escay has been an assistant for the past two years. Immediately after the release of Hubble, the school turned to PE teacher Trevor Boler.

He finished the track season as head coach before he handed the reigns to Escay.

The cross country team has continued the success from the past by consistently placing top five at meets. The team will not be the same without Hubbell, but are off to a good start in the new generation of coaching.