First day of school provides excitement as students wake early, greet friends they’ve not seen for months, meet new teachers in new classes, absorb new rules and routines and look forward (or not) to the first homework assignments. Then on this September Tuesday afternoon, as the last bells ring in New Glarus and Monticello, we jump on a bus and roar down to Monroe’s Twining Park for the Bruess Invitational, the first cross country meet of the season.

Eleven schools registered for this traditional race. By the time the 88 varsity boys click-clack across the wooden bridge, spectators s...