Coach's Weekly Newsletter Week #8
9/28/2026

COACH'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

“Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up.” 
― Dean Karnazes

The Timberwolves had a fantastic showing at the Laguna Hills Invitational, tackling a challenging course with great results across the board. Our athletes rose to the occasion and made big strides—literally and figuratively!

🔥 Highlights from the Meet

  • Harris Dai ran an incredible 16:17, moving into the #2 spot in NHS history he was also the 7th fastest 12th grader on Saturday.

  • Xander Mak ran 16:22, moving into the #4 spot in NHS history he was also the 3rd fastest 10th grader on Saturday.

  • Ray Hsiao placed 5th overall for 10th graders, he is now #7 on the NHS all time list.

  • Parker Nies was the 23rd senior at the Laguna Hills Invite!

  • Colin Huynh smoked a 17:39, to become Northwood's 2nd fastest freshman on the course
     

On the girls' side, several athletes also showed major progress on the hilly course:

  • Maia Murthy placed 5th overall with a time of 19:07 which remains 5th on the NHS all time list.

  • Olivia Wang earned 2nd place 9th grader over all in 2026, finishing in 20:03.

  • Alice LI ran 20:42, finishing 6th fastest 10th grader on Saturday.

  • Zara Commissariat took 12th in the sophomore girls race with a strong 21:10

  • Audrey Ma ran an incredible 21:24, she was also the 14th fastest 10th grader on Saturday.
     

🏅 Athletes of the Week

This week we recognize two fast-improving runners:

  • Aman Patil – He’s showing consistent improvement each week and ran with great effort on a tough course and made #14 freshman Saturday at 17:44.

  • Audrey Ma – A newcomer to NHS XC Audrey ran an aggressive race for a first time runner with 21:24. She continues to gain confidence with each meet.

Keep an eye on these two rising stars as we move into October!
 

Northwood — Laguna Hills XC Invite

2025 → 2026 Improvement Ranking

 

🗓 Season Update

We’ve officially wrapped up preseason competition. With hundreds of miles logged, our athletes are in solid racing shape and ready for the start of the League XC season.

October will bring cooler weather and exciting racing, including:

  • PCL Cluster Meet – All healthy athletes will compete

  • OC Championships – Top 7 athletes in each division

  • Mt. SAC Invitational – Top 7 athletes in each division

We’ll also be finalizing our Varsity, JV, and Frosh/Soph teams in the coming weeks.
 

🛑 No Meet This Weekend!

After six straight weekends of racing, we have a well-earned break this weekend. A few selected athletes will compete at the Central Park Invite, but most of the team will rest and refocus.
 

📅 Practice Schedule Reminder

Please note the updated practice schedule this week.

❗ Athletes must NOT schedule parent-teacher conferences between 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, as this conflicts with mandatory practice.
 

Thanks for your continued support—looking forward to a strong October!

COACH MUNIZ