University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

TORERO ATHLETICS

“What it is to be human is to be grounded. With running, you ground with every step. There’s a vibration, an energy between you and the Earth.”

That philosophy — grounding oneself to reach one’s true potential — defines the approach USD Cross Country Head Coach Will Guarino has cultivated over his 21 seasons leading the program. Guarino, a 1988 USD alumnus who competed for the Toreros himself, brings a unique perspective shaped by his studies in anthropology. During his two decades of coaching, he’s witnessed dramatic shifts in how student-athletes navigate mental and emotional wellness. “I came here in 2003, and the cell phone was available,” Guarino said. “That’s when I first started seeing the shift with texting and how people communicated. Then came smartphone technology, and that’s when I really started seeing the impact.” Guarino points to one of the biggest impacts being on athletes’ sleep cycles, affecting their mental health and performance. “They’re connecting to the phone instead of putting it down and getting good sleep,” he explained. “At this robust age, they’re closer to being 15 than they are 33. They’re still growing physically and emotionally. A third of your life should be spent sleeping, and it’s essential for young humans to sleep eight hours for proper hormone production and regrowth.” The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity, affecting athletes’ developmental cycles and human connections during crucial formative years. To combat these societal effects, the team practices wellness as a whole unit. Every Wednesday, they go to Mission Beach for a run. When finished,

sense of grounding and connection to the natural environment that surrounds the USD campus. “We always jump into the ocean on the first day of school,” Lange explained. “It’s very bonding to see the new freshmen jump in with everyone else. It’s a grounding experience that brings us together as a team.” They also find ways to connect during van drives to training locations and competitions. Informal discussions during these drives help athletes process everything from homesickness to classwork. Central to Guarino’s coaching philosophy is “being true to the moment,” encouraging athletes to bring honesty to every situation rather than pretending to be better or worse than they truly are. For Lange, this meant learning to see setbacks as foundation-building rather than failures. “In high school, I’d show up to practice, run a PR that weekend. It was formulaic,” Lange said. “When I had a bad race freshman year, coach reminded me that trees need roots before they can grow up

GROWING DOWN TO GROW UP

and look full. It taught me that the hard work might not look flashy, but I know I’m building something.” Guarino’s approach draws from his own mentors and his belief that understanding athletes’ lives outside of running makes them better competitors. His program has produced record-setters and academic achievers, but perhaps more importantly, it’s created an environment where athletes feel genuinely cared for as individuals and can show up as their authentic selves. For Lange, the impact extends far beyond her athletic performance already. “It’s bigger than just running,” she said. “He wants us to be better people, and the wellness techniques he uses help prepare us for life. When other coaches ask about your times, he asks what you like to do for fun. That approach transforms not just how you compete, but how you live.”

During a spring break flight from San Diego to Denver, USD cross country runner Jillian Lange was journaling when a Southwest Airlines flight attendant approached her seat. “He asked if I was journaling, and I thought I was in trouble,” recalled Lange, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering. “Turns out, he has passengers write in his journal on every flight.” As Lange read through the journal — filled with stories of people summiting mountains, meeting grandchildren for the first time and facing life’s pivotal moments — she was struck by “the brilliance of what it means to be human” and how interconnected everyone is. When it came time to write her own entry, she chose a quote that her coach shared with her: “You have to grow down to grow up … just like a tree.”

the team heads full-steam ahead into the ocean — a

practice that serves multiple purposes. The cold water provides natural muscle recovery,

similar to ice baths used by elite athletes, while the act itself creates a profound

A team outing experiencing the ups and downs of the Belmont Park roller coaster at Mission Beach.

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