Senior Spotlight

In his senior year, Cooper Erickson has already made a name for himself in cross country. He’s helped the SPASH Panthers win three straight WIAA Division 1 titles and has finished in the top 10 at state every year so far. In 2025, Cooper hopes to help his team win a fourth championship and end his high school career with an individual state title.

Erickson’s first love wasn’t always cross country: “I used to play on a travel baseball team for nine years and a local basketball team for four years.”
Inspired by his older brother Bode, a teammate during Cooper’s first two seasons at SPASH, Cooper decided to try cross country: “He made racing seem so fun, so I wanted to give it a try.”

The bond Cooper has with others is a driving factor for continuation in the sport. “I love the relationships I get to build with my teammates and coaches. Yes, running fast is fun, but I find way more joy in the sport from the people I get to share it with every day. My family has been my driving factor behind running. They have believed in me even when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

Cooper says balancing academics and running is tougher as an upperclassman. “I have come to appreciate work time in class because trying to focus on hard subjects like calculus and economics after a long day at practice does not go very well.”

Erickson isn’t just a student in the classroom as he studies great runners, including a 2024 Olympian, “I look up to Graham Blanks. He runs so composed, even on some of the biggest stages the running world has to offer.”

Pushing his teammates to be better is Cooper’s greatest strength as he competes: “I want my teammates to succeed just as much as I want to see success myself.”

Along with success at the state level, Cooper has also had memorable experiences with his team at the national level: “Qualifying and racing at nationals with my team back in 2022 and 2023.”

Leadership has been Cooper’s greatest area of growth. “It is surreal to think of how far I have come as a runner and as a person. I used to depend on the upperclassmen to teach me the ropes and to set the standard. Now I find myself rewriting the standards and sharing new ideas with younger athletes.”

Cooper gives a shout-out to everyone who has helped along the way, “I’d love to give a shout-out to my brother Bode, who is currently running for Liberty University, and my dear friend Aloysius Franzen, who is currently running for the University of Minnesota. You guys inspire me every day to maximize my potential by being smart and methodical with training and recovery.”

Every chance Cooper gets to compete is not lost on him, as he is able to continue his career. “I pray before every race, saying thank you to God for the moment and the people I get to share it with.”