By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Buchanan's boys and girls cross country coach Bruce Hipshear was named the 2005 Lakeland Conference Coach of the Year recently for his teams success this season.
Coaches throughout the conference vote on who they feel should receive the award and ballots are turned in, tallied and the winner is announced.
Hipshear has been coaching the cross country teams since 1994. He has had some successul seasons, but admitted this season was great for both of his teams, especially the boys team, which went 7-0 in the conference.
Hipshear stated that he only lost two seniors from this year's team and have a lot of younger athletes returning next season. “We should have another great season next year and for a few years to come,” Hipshear added.