Holly Vis didn’t know if she was going to have a senior cross country season. She had a lot of pain in her leg and in May was diagnosed with compartment syndrome, which is where pressure builds in a muscle and cuts off blood going to the area. Vis had surgery in June and was optimistic about the season. The Perry senior returned to the course at the U Wanna Come Back Invitational and looked as if she hadn’t missed a beat. She has posted three times in the 19s and finished 14th at the Boardman Regional with a 19:37.29 to advance to her third state meet in her career. “I was able to finish the track season but not how I had hoped,” Vis said. “I was on crutches for about a month. I did a lot of work on the elliptical in July and August since I couldn’t run for three months. At the beginning of September, I came back to practice and my first race was at Madison for the race there. It was hard coming back since I was seeing my teammates run and I couldn’t race. But it was a real motivator to get back to running.” Vis qualified with the Perry team in 2022 and as an individual last season. Even when she wasn’t sure about the outlook for her season or running in general, she was determined to find a way back. That’s what helped separate her from the other runners Coach Kirsten Thomas has seen. With her focused work, Thomas knew she would be on the course at some point for her senior season. “As soon as she was able to do anything, she got on the elliptical,” Thomas said. “There was a little setback because she couldn’t get in the pool for cross training but she did everything on either a bike or elliptical and worked her butt off. It’s a testament to her work ethic and her drive.” In the time off of the course, Vis also worked as a senior voice in workouts and at meets. She brought a lot of experience to a young team. One of the key developments for the Pirates this season was the emergence of freshman Hazel Kananen with Vis helping her through the early stages of her career. Thomas said that will be a boost moving forward. “She’s a nice, calm leader,” Thomas said. “Even before she got on the course, she’s had the mindset of hey, if we fail, just get up and try again. It’s that leadership that has helped them adjust to the sport. She’s helped Hazel be able to compartmentalize races. She initially wanted to go out and try to do everything in a race but Holly was the one to show her that you don’t need to go out there and get everything right away and the proper way to attack a course.” Vis learned under the senior leaders before her. As a freshman, she was behind Cori Lynch and as a sophomore, she was second fiddle behind Grace McKoon. Having the early guidance in her career helped, and she knows passing that along to the next wave of Pirates runners will help continue the team’s established culture. “Earlier in the season, as a senior, me, Audry (Morgan-Ard) and Sadie (Charielle) had to show them the ropes,” Vis said. “We had to give them tips on how to run a shorter course. Once I got back, it was easier to explain a race and how to manage them. Corrie had some injuries in her time but she worked really hard and helped me get where I am today. I liked running with Grace a lot and she helped make everyone closer as teammates.” Vis wants to end her career for the Pirates on a high note. Last year, she finished 66th a season ago. She knows that going against the best in Ohio is a challenge every time. This year, she has a new game plan. If she finishes in the top 30 at Obetz, Vis would be the eighth All-Ohio runner in Perry’s history and first since Cori Lynch in 2021. “It would mean a lot because I worked so hard this season,” Vis said. “Going from not running to finally getting back, this is my third shot to have that opportunity. It would be happy since it’s my last race in high school. My races at state haven’t been the best the past two seasons. I need to get out stronger and that’s not what I’m used to. In the season it’s more spread out and everyone gets out fast.” Vis’ final cross country race for the Pirates is Nov. 2 at Fortress Obetz. She takes the line at 12:45 p.m.