Letter: All should bow at Burroughs runners’ feet

My brother Rene and I ran cross country for Burroughs High in the early ’80s, under Coach Greg Switzer. We had some excellent teams. The boys’ varsity had a multiyear winning streak against the other five teams in our league.

We produced individual league champions. Some of them went on to state finals. We trained very hard, seven days a week, typically twice per day. We would spend a week training in high altitude, and bonding, before the start of the season.

Some of the closest friendships I’ve ever had were with these guys. Something about doing grueling things together brings people closer. Sports is no different. Many of us were top of our class academically, model students.

We were good a good team, maybe the best at Burroughs up until that time. And then, along came another group of kids, the 2014 boys’ varsity team, a team like no other.

These boys recently ended a season never before seen. They were the CIF Southern Section champions after starting the season unranked. Fourth place in CIF State Finals. Get this: only 2 points away from second place, 8 points away from the first-place team.

To the city of Burbank; to the students, teachers, and administrators at Burroughs, you cannot do enough to honor the 2014 team. You need to support them and the smaller sports in the same way you go bananas over the football teams.

To Coach Peebles, Coach Gordado, Coach Levon, to the boys’ varsity team and the entire cross country team, congratulations! You still have us buzzing. You are unbelievable.

Cesar Villalpando

Burbank