Photos by Julie Guffey 

TUSCOLA — A year ago, a young Jim Ned boys cross country team was thrilled to simply qualify for the state meet with a second-place regional finish. The Indians’ subsequent sixth-place finish at state was viewed as icing on top of the greatest season the program had ever known. 

A year later, however, things have changed. 

The 2021 Indians are not only aiming for a second straight trip to Round Rock, but this time around, the goal is to return home with some hardware around their necks.