By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

If you can’t beat them, join them.

Or, when it comes to the latest hiring in Westlake’s athletic department, convince them to join you.

Former Bastrop cross country coach Chris Carter has been hired as the girls cross country and track coach at Westlake. He replaces Debbie Wingfield, who resigned earlier this month after five years at Westlake.

“It came down to tradition,” Carter said, citing the Chaps’ 1983 Class 4A state championship in the first year of UIL cross country competition. “I see Westlake as part of the birthplace of high school cross country. They have a proud tradition, and I’m excited to become a part of it.”

Carter, who coached at Bastrop for nine years, switches District 25-5A schools after developing the Bears into Westlake’s most challenging local rival. The Bears’ girls cross country team has won three consecutive district championships and placed fourth at regionals in each of those seasons.

That rivalry should only amp up with Carter’s hire, he said.

“When I told my Bastrop girls that I was leaving for Westlake, they got pretty fired up,” he said. “They all told me that this would just intensify things.”

According to Carter, Westlake’s depth should help the Chaps contend for the district title next season. Westlake finished third at the district meet last season to qualify for the regional race.

“I looked at [the Westlake] roster and just said ‘Wow,’ ” Carter said. “They have a stable of horses on the team. Coach Wingfield has done a tremendous job building depth. From top to bottom, they’re real good.”

 

Carter also guided Bastrop’s boys cross country program to seven consecutive berths in the regional meet. He will not coach boys cross country at Westlake.