So I went to the Manhattan XC invitational this past weekend - after the race I observed the FM boys - I've never been part of a first class team so I wanted to see what it looks like.
Notes:
1) They seem to have had a terrible day - 5th in the Eastern Championship race
2) At the finish line, they knew they had a bad day. They looked serious but not all crybaby like some teams. Not exactly spartan/stotan, but much better than any other team.
3) The team refused to leave the finish line area until they had collected all 7 FM runners. This was excellent - other teams just mill about without any organization. but when the 5th, 6th, 7th FM guys came in they were summoned to the group and welcomed. Coach 1 was there - I don't know who he was.
4) Once all 7 were there, they walked together 20 meters away and Coach 2 arrived - I suspect that was Aris. He was not happy - quite stern - I couldn't hear what he was saying, but it was not words of encouragement. Wasn't yelling either. Serious talk. The kids didn't say anything. "Aris" then left.
5) Kids took their spikes off and did a few sets of barefoot strides together.
So the main things I learned were:
a) the team did indeed seem less emotional than other teams - ie stotan. But not robotic. Just more serious.
b) they clearly had a post race routine that they had to follow. No wandering around after the race - the race was just one thing they had to accomplish that day.
c) "Aris" did not yell - but he made it clear that he was disappointed - I don't think there was any sugar coating. but I couldn't hear the words so I'm not sure on that.
d) They looked more a team than other schools - they stayed together and were no more than a few feet away from each other for the whole postrace routine.