by Greg Wyant
Long time Cross Country coach Phil Young has decided to retire after 15 seasons at the helm of the Siegel Cross Country teams. Coach Young was always working to “make an irrelevant sport, relevant”. He did what he set out to do in his time spent at Siegel. He has been a great mentor to the Siegel athletes and to the athletic staff.
Phil Young just finished his 15th season as Head Cross Country Coach at Siegel High School, where he has taught for 20 years. Young helped lead the boys’ cross-country team to the 2017, 2018, and 2019 Division 1 Large School State Championship. In 2021, the boys team finished as State Runner-up. In 2021, Kyra Hayes won the individual State Championship. In 2012, the girls team finished as State Runner-up and were led by 2012 individual State Champion, Nicole Gardner. In 2019, Canaan Anderson ran in the Foot Locker National Championship in San Diego.
In 2018 Young was named NFHS Tennessee Male Cross Country Coach of the year. He was also honored as 2018 A.F. Bridges District 4 Male Coach of the Year and had the honor of being selected Tennessean Male Cross Country Coach in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2017 Phil was named USTFCCA High School Boys Tennessee Cross Country Coach of the Year.
During his 15 years, his teams have been incredibly consistent. The girls’ and boys’ teams have advanced to the State meet every year under Young’s guidance, which includes 18 Top 10 state overall finishes (9 girls, 7 boys.) The Stars have won 15 Region 4 Cross Country Team Championships (9 girls, 6 boys) and 13 Region 4 Cross Country Individual Championships. He coached, 23 Cross Country All-State Runners and since 2012, 27 Stars have run in college with 11 of those at the Division 1 level.
Coach Young’s list of accolades in his time at Siegel:
DNJ Coach of the Year 7x’s in 15 years
2019 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year
2018 – 2019 A.F. Bridges District 4 Male Coach of the Year
2018 – TSSAA Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year
2018 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year
2017 – USTFCCA Tennessee Boys Cross Country Coach of the Year
2017 – Tennessean Male Cross-Country Coach of the Year
Team State Large School Champions
Boys 2019, 2018, 2017
Team State AAA Runner-up
Boys – 2021
Girls – 2012
Team State Championship Appearances:
Girls: 2022 (16th) 2021 (12th) 2020 (4th) 2019 (9th) (2018 (10th) 2017 (4th) 2016 (8th) 2015 (11th) 2014 (8th), 2013 (11th), 2012 (2nd), 2011 (6th), 2010 (7th), 2009 (5th), 2008 (11th)
Boys: 2022 (17th) 2021 (2nd) 2020 (5th) 2019 (1st) 2018 (1st) 2017 (1st) 2016 (11th) 2015 (19th) 2014 (9th), 2013 (10th), 2012 (10th), 2011 (12th), 2010 (19th), 2009 (9th), 2008 (14th)
Individual State AAA Championship:
Girls: Kyra Hayes (2021)
Girls: Nicole Gardner (2012)
Team Region Championships:
Girls: 2021,2020, 2018, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009
Boys: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2013, 2008
Team Region Runner-up
Girls 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015
Boys 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009,
Individual Region 4 AAA Championships:
Girls:
Kyra Hayes (2021)
Marilyn McCarthy (2019)
Rachel Strayer (2017)
Victoria Simmons (2016, 2015)
Nicole Gardner (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011)
Laura Bean (2010)
Boys:
Brennan Thomas (2021)
Ben Tickle (2020)
Tyler Smith (2015)
Team County Championships:
Girls: 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008
Boys: 2014, 2013
Individual County Championships:
Girls: Nicole Gardner (2014, 2013, 2011), Laura Bean (2010), Amy St. John (2008)
All State:
2021: Kyra Hayes, Brennan Thomas, Caleb Jarrett
2020: Kyra Hayes, Ben Tickle
2019: Marilyn McCarthy, Canaan Anderson, Seth Robinson
2018: Canaan Anderson
2017: Marilyn McCarthy, Tucker Moss, Dawson Reed, Rachel Strayer
2016: Victoria Simmons
2015: Victoria Simmons
2014: Nicole Gardner & Victoria Simmons
2013: Nicole Gardner
2012: Nicole Gardner & Trisha Frazier, Tyler Boone
2011: Nicole Gardner
2009: Jamie Bosse
Cross Country Athletes that have run in college:
Katie Ann Bass- Birmingham Southern
Tyler Boone – Bryan College
Trisha Frazer – Nyack College
Drake Uselton – Lee University
Kiera Weems – Belmont University
Nicole Gardner – University of Alabama
Kayleigh Barnes – Missouri Valley College
Caitlin Cunningham – Morehead St. University/MTSU
Jake d’Oliveira – Tennessee Wesleyan College
Blake Revlett – Bryan College
Tyler Smith – Austin Peay University
Victoria Simmons – University of Mississippi
Titus Williams – Cumberland University
Nakita Fopiano – Cumberland University
Dawson Reed – Lee University
Rachel Strayer – Carson Newman University
Canaan Anderson – University of Tennessee Knoxville
Jacob Boykin – University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Seth Robinson – University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Marilyn McCarthy – University of Tennessee Knoxville
Olivia Barksdale – University of Tennessee Southern
Max Berkey – Cumberland University
Caleb Jarrett – University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Kyra Hayes – University of Alabama Birmingham
Brennan Thomas – University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Sarah Wilkerson – Cumberland University
