It was just a simple conversation between Opp assistant principal Jimmy Reeves and Opp City Schools superintendent Michael Smithart that led to the formation of a high school cross country team at OHS.

Reeves, who also coaches softball for the Bobcats, said the subject of having a cross country team at OHS came up on a whim.

“I’d said I’d coach it and (Smithart) said he’d back it,” Reeves said. “We went from there.”

From there, 16 athletes signed up to participate on the team. There are 11 boys and five girls on the team.

Grade ranges from 9th-12th grade, Reeves said.

The fresh team can compete in a minimum of three meets before Class 3A, Section 2 meet starts on Nov. 2 in Mobile.

Opp will participate in meets at Enterprise on Sept. 21; at Brewton on Sept. 28; and at Troy on Oct. 26.

Reeves said it’s amazing how much backing he got from others at the school on starting a new sport.

“The fact that all I had to do was really mention it to our athletic director (Jack Whigham), superintendent and principal (Ron Snell) — everybody was good with it,” the cross country coach, who also is an avid runner said. “That’s what is nice about this place over here. Anything that’s going to be good for our kids, everybody’s ready to go for it.”