MT. PLEASANT – One of the most successful Division 4 girls cross country programs in recent years will have a new head coach this fall.
Nikki Taylor is taking over the coaching reins at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart after three years of leading Sacred Heart’s middle school program.
The Irish won four consecutive MHSAA Division 4 Lower Peninsula state championships between 2015-18 and finished runner-up to Bridgman in 2019.
Taylor will also head up Sacred Heart’s boys program which has also enjoyed recent success. The Irish won a Division 4 state championship in 2017 and finished runner-up in 2018, 2013 and 2011.
Taylor said there will be challenges competing in cross country during the coronavirus pandemic, but now is the time to prepare to face those challenges.
“The things that are hardest, if we really tackle those and we get good at those, then that’s going to give us strength and confidence,” Taylor said. “From the emotional, the mental perspective of running in isolation, it’s so hard. That is a conversation we’re starting to have right now, so we’re ready to take that on.”
In addition to coaching Sacred Heart’s middle school program, Taylor previously spent time coaching at Farwell.
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