When Andy Youngworth took the helm of McAuley Catholic before the 2021 cross country, the school didn't have much history in terms of state success.
That's not just considering cross country, but any boys sport. There was one banner -- a 1981 fourth-place finish for boys basketball.
Now, the longtime coach had his first banner moment for the Joplin school - the MSHSAA Class 1 cross country title after scoring 50 points and beating crosstown rival Thomas Jefferson Independent Day for the crown Friday morning.
"I'm just happy for the kids and I'm happy for our school community," said Youngworth, a longtime coach who guided Carthage to a boys Class 4 track and field title in 2018. "They've been very, very supportive, and we're trying to build a winning culture. I've always thought that if you get one sport kind of on a roll, that's going to affect others in a positive way. I'd say of my top 10, nine of the 10, play basketball. So, I mean, I think they're going to go into basketball season with some confidence and they'll be fit. I mean, they've been running for five months."
This is the first-ever title for any McAuley sport, boys or girls.
"I believe this is his first cross country state title, so it's probably pretty special to him," said Michael Parrigon, who was third for the Warriors. "Somebody told me he was tearing up."
He was quickly corrected by a teammate it was probably just seasonal allergies on what was a bright and sunny day at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia.
Photo: Chris Auckley
"We would not have done this without him," Parrigon continued. "He definitely coached us better than anybody ever could. He knows how to coach each individual here and without him, we were just a bunch of kids from a tiny school who were somewhat athletic running, and he taught us how to run cross country and how to actually race and not just go run."
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The two Joplin private schools dominated the Class 1 standings with 9 in the top 25.
McAuley had five, led by Parrigon's third-place finish. He was in first at the 3K mark but dropped behind Mansfield's Nolyn Corder and Paris' Landen Chapman.
Parrigon was followed by teammate Trae Veer, who took fourth.
For the second year in a row, Parrigon had a path to state unlike many. He plays for New Heights Christian Academy soccer team as well. McAuley Catholic partners with New Heights Christian for a co-op team that competes as New Heights Christian Academy.
So, the night before running in the state championship, he was on the field to help the Cougars beat Laquey, 6-0, in a district playoff.
