DA CHAMPS—The Westlake High boys’ cross country team celebrates its CIF Division 2 state title with family, friends and coaches. Photo courtesy of Dan Peterson

The Westlake High boys’ cross country team wanted to win the Marmonte League, capture a CIF-Southern Section title and advance to the state meet.

Winning a state title wasn’t on the checklist, but the Warriors crossed that one off, too.

Westlake secured its first state team championship in school history last weekend at Woodward Park in Fresno.

The Warriors, who recorded a team score of 84, held off Saugus (97) in the boys’ Division 2 race.

“It feels great to set goals and actually accomplish them,” senior Rocky Peterson said. “It’s the greatest way I could end my high school cross country career.

“We were thinking the whole year about getting to state, but we didn’t get carried away and thought we could win it.”

Peterson was the first Warrior to cross the finish line, clocking in at 15 minutes, 47 seconds, and placing 17th overall.

Mikey Giguere, a two-time Marmonte individual champion, finished 20th in 15:48.

Sean O’Bryan, who battled injuries throughout the season, clocked in at 15:58 for 26th.

Chris Costa, who finished in 16:01, provided the necessary cushion for Westlake’s victory. Costa finished ahead of Saugus’ third runner, which provided the difference.

Sophomore Graham Rigby finished the race in 16:16.

Westlake had only a 29-second gap among its top-five runners.

A month ago, the Warriors had doubts about winning a league title.

Westlake finished third as a team at the Ventura County Championships, behind champion Oak Park and runner-up Simi Valley on Oct. 26.

A day after the county meet, the Warriors had a meeting to prepare for the Nov. 1 Marmonte League finals.

“Losing to Simi Valley at the county meet was a wake-up call,” Giguere said. “We definitely needed to make some changes. At the meeting we talked about strategy.

“We knew what we had to do at league finals.”

The Warriors, who switched from training running shoes to flats, crushed the field at the league meet.

The momentum catapulted the Warriors to their first CIFSouthern Section Division 2 title.

“I’m still trying to process everything,” Westlake head coach Joe Snyder said.

“It’s been a wild month. We peaked at the right time.”

Snyder, who has coached Westlake since 1996, has had teams advance to the state meet before. In 2004, Westlake finished fifth at state. The Warriors placed sixth in Fresno in 2008.

“I’ve had many talented runners that have done a lot for the program,” Snyder said.

“There’s a big legacy at Westlake. No team has ever won a state title, so that makes this year’s group special.”

Simi Valley junior Sarah Baxter won her third straight state individual title, helping the Pioneers snag third place in the girls’ Division 1 race.

Baxter broke the Woodward Park course record with a time of 16:40.

La Reina finished fourth in the Division 4 girls’ race.

Junior Alyssa Frank led the Regents, crossing the line in 18:54 for 12th place.

Teammate Ariana Brojkovich (19:13) followed in 17th place. Holly Petrusson, Kelly Chow and Jordan Jeworski aided La Reina.

Oak Park was fourth in the Division 3 boys’ race. Junior Sahm Bazargan (15:38) led the Eagles.