NATCHEZ — After finishing fourth in the state both in girls and boys cross country last season, the Cathedral Green Wave entered the 2015 campaign with high hopes.

So far, they have met them.

“We are confident,” boys team captain Austin Gibson said. “Everybody is pushing to reach a certain goal, and they want to get faster and better. Everybody comes to work every day and does what they need to do.”

As the captain, Gibson said he realizes the pressure and responsibilities that come along with it, but embraces the role.

“It is a great feeling knowing that I have a lot of great people behind me,” he said. “There is no slack to be picked up. We all hold our own. They respect each other, I respect them, and we give it our all.”

Cathedral is off to a hot start, with both teams ranking in the top five in the state this season, and head coach Tommy Smith credits it to a solid foundation.

“We are still a young team, but have a core,” he said. “We have started building a tradition. It is their team, not mine. I’ll help guide them and give them every bit of knowledge I have, but the rest comes from heart and soul.”

Smith also said the family like atmosphere the team has aided their success.

“We are a family and the kids know that,” he said. “I’m not saying it is all harmony, it is just like a family, but for the most part, we stick together and back one another. The kids have learned how important it is for them to support one another.”

Despite not being the biggest school at meets, the Green Wave haven’t backed down from challenges, even from 5A and 6A schools.

“Some schools have a lot of people, but it doesn’t matter,” runner Nic Waycaster said. “I’ll take our top seven against anybody right now.”

Although the first half of the season has gone well, the Green Wave are hoping to take things to the next level the rest of the year.

“I feel like we can be the best,” Gibson said. “We can come out on top.”

Waycaster agreed.

“I’m hoping to get that state ring and I think we have a good chance at it,” he said. “We can be the No. 1 team in MAIS.”