The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, left, hands senior Preston Nixon, right, a medallion bearing the Elkins city seal, one of several handed out to the six present members of the Elkins High School boys cross-country team and their coaches.

ELKINS — Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco and Elkins City Council honored the Elkins High School boys cross-country team this week for capturing the state title for the second year in a row.

Marco said it was his “distinct honor” to recognize the team during Thursday night’s City Council meeting for winning the 2025 West Virginia Cross-Country State Championship Class AAA title on Nov. 1.

This was the Tiger’s fourth-ever state title, with the EHS boys team having won the Class AA title last year.

“I just want to say I am very proud that coach (Scott) Biola has invited me a couple times to give pep talks to this group,” Marco said during Thursday evening’s City Council meeting.

“They work hard, they never get a season off, they run year-round and they have raised the bar in a huge way, and they represent us well when they’re wearing Elkins across that chest.”

Present to receive the honor, as well as medallions bearing the Elkins city seal, were Dylan Fortney, Reed Burdette, Preston Nixon, Josh Bodkins, Trevor George and Treven Schaefer, as well as Biola and assistant coach Todd Price.

The group received a loud round of applause and cheers from the nine present Elkins City Council members and the city’s administrative officers.

“This is a team that won the Big 10 three years in a row and they’ve won the region, I think the whole time this guy (Bodkins) has been in high school. Josh has been with me all four years,” Biola said.

“Very special group. They put in a lot of hard work over the summer, like (Marco) mentioned, and really year-round,” he added.

Biola added that the team picked up two newcomers this year.

Marco asked the team to do him a favor and “keep the bar high,” and asked them to challenge the Elkins High School girls cross-country team to “be here next year as well.”

The Lady Tigers placed third as a team at the West Virginia Cross-Country State Championship this year.

Marco gave Biola and Price medallions as well, stating that the team “can’t be successful without good leadership.” He added that he and council hope to see the team back to receive more honors next year.