Cross Country

Welcome to SVHE cross country, we’re glad you found us! SVHE’s XC program began in the fall of 2021, and  we offer boys’ and girls’ junior high teams for 6-8th graders as well as high school varsity and junior varsity teams. We are based out of Salina, Kansas, and our hope is to provide homeschooled kids an opportunity to glorify God while running on a Christian team. 

We participate in several KSHSAA and non- KSHSAA meets each season ranging from small, medium, and large races. This matrix provides our runners a variety of competition and terrain. Our meets begin the last week of August and end with State and Nationals in late October. 

The Lord has richly blessed us with families dedicated to the program since it’s inception. Our runners and team have been recognized with many team and individual awards in competitions at every level. 

We’ve been excited to see our athletes develop a love for the lifelong sport of running, and continue to pursue and accomplish goals of off-season races, half-marathons, marathons, ultra-marathons, and even collegiate running. (Some of our alumni runners have received scholarship offers from NJCAA, NAIA, and NCAA schools). 

Post season accomplishments:

• 2021 –
  • KASC Girls’ state champions
  • KASC Boys’ state runners-up
• 2022 –
  • KASC Girls’ State Champions
  • KASC Boys’ State Runners-up
• 2023 –
  • KASC Girls’ State Runners-up
  • KASC Boys’ State Runners-up
  • National Homeschool XC Championship Girls’ Runners-up
  • National Homeschool XC Championship Boys’ Champions

We accept runners of all abilities, meaning you don’t have to be fast or experienced to join us. We have team camps (one in May and one in August) where we focus on team bonding, running education, discipleship, gear, nutrition, etc. 

Our ultimate focus is to encourage and disciple our runners in their spiritual growth.  The sport of running with its ups and downs, training, and team support all serve as vivid metaphors in our spiritual walk. We strive to have both coach-led and student-led devotions at each practice as well. 

If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us! (If you’re interested in joining us, contact us sooner rather than later as we have fun team challenges beginning in May!)

Nicole Bachman
Bachmanbunch@gmail.com
785-227-5382

Peter Browning
785-493-8119
peter.browning99@gmail.com 

Meet our coaches:

Nicole and her husband (Byron) live on a ranch in Ellsworth county. They have 8 children and have been homeschooling since 2009. One of her favorite things about running is that she can do it with her children: this started with pushing a stroller, progressed to having biking buddies, and currently means she has a fleet of running buddies. Nicole is a 5 time Boston Marathon qualifier and has taken home various age group, masters’, and even overall women’s awards in distances from the 5k to the marathon: road and trail. She loves cultivating a passion for running and for the Lord in young people. 

Peter Browning and his wife Gretchen have lived in the city of Salina since 2007. He works in Salina as the General Manager for Central Compounds.  While In High School Peter competed on the cross-country, basketball, and track teams.

In addition to coaching cross country, Peter is also a basketball and trap shooting coach. Recently he has taken an interest in Ultra Marathons with his personal best being 33 miles. Peter enjoys hunting and fishing, but his passion is developing relationships with others and doing all he can to make disciples for God’s glory.