Cross country provides a 'breath of fresh air' to two Menomonee Falls girls living with cystic fibrosis

MENOMONEE FALLS - At a glance, Menomonee Falls' girls cross country team is hardly distinguishable in its prerace routines from any other high school program.

Team huddles and other bonding rituals are not uncommon, though undertaken in the Phoenix's case with a mild layer of tact. Senior Kelci Wunschel and sophomore Ryen Probasco must be aware of the other's proximity at all times, as each lives with cystic fibrosis.

The rare genetic disease affects approximately 40,000 children and adults in the United States according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. CF can affect a person's breathing by causing thick mucus to build in the lungs, as well as lung infections. Other organs such as the pancreas can also be affected, making digestion and maintaining a healthy weight challenging as well. The median life expectancy for those living with CF has risen from elementary age in the 1950s to well into middle age with innovations in treatment in recent decades, but those diagnosed still must follow diligent treatment and preventative measures.

Wunschel's day-to-day can often include missing portions of the school day for treatment, while Probasco's can start earlier than some of her classmates' as she conducts some morning therapy practices to aid regular breathing.

For those with CF, not only is staying clear of individuals who may be sick with a cold, flu or other infection a necessary preventative measure, but others with the disease as well. Cross-infection through shared germs or bacteria can further decrease lung function in those living with CF.

As a result, school districts with multiple students with CF will often create schedules that ensure they do not share school transportation or even pass each other in the hallway. When Ryen initially joined the cross country team in the fall of 2022 as a freshman, Kelci's mother Karen Wunschel recalls her daughter initially struggling to come to terms with what that might mean for her own peace of mind while competing.

"That kind of shut Kelci down a little bit, she was like ‘Why does she have to do it? I just want to do it and not have to worry about this and that,' " Karen said.

However a meeting with both Ryen and Kelci's parents, district athletic director Brian Heimark and cross country coach Brian Frain helped get concerns on the table and addressed, allowing both athletes to compete safely.

With no shared equipment in the sport, two of the bigger concerns were transportation to meets and team meals. All involved said the district has risen to meet both challenges, putting especially the competitors' minds at ease.

Two busses are available to and from each meet to allow Kelci and Ryen to travel separately with half of the team, and team dinners are held in the school cafeteria to allow for adequate distancing.

"It’s been a breath of fresh air to work with people in the district from both the academics side, the nursing side and the athletics side," Karen said. "There's not one bad thing we can say about it. Thankfully it has gone the way it has."

The rest of the time, Frain said the girls are great about policing themselves.

"They do it kind of naturally, and I would assume at this point it’s without even really thinking because they’ve been doing it for so long," Frain said. "If you didn't know it was happening, you wouldn't know, because they work that well together."

As the two athletes have grown more familiar with one another, a kinship beyond the one thing keeping them physically apart is bringing them closer as teammates. The two will talk about their other shared sport of soccer, as well as their families and weekend plans. Less frequent these days are discussions of treatments and challenges living with CF, allowing the sport to be an escape for both.

"The big thing that I’ve always told Ryen is to not let cystic fibrosis get in the way of things that she wants to do," Kelci said. "It should always be the second thing in the back of your mind, not the first thing that makes her fear for the things she’s going to do in the future."

Ryen added that Kelci's example has inspired her as well.

"I am a competitive person. CF has no affliction when it comes to how competitive I am," Probasco said. "I don't slow myself down, I don't purposely not do stuff, I still try to do my best, I still try to win."

Competing in cross country has also provided notable improvements to both athletes' lung functions and overall health.

"The biggest thing with people who have CF is activity can only improve their performance and how their lungs are utilized," Ryen's mother Shannon Probasco said.

Karen said she has seen breathing scores improve in Kelci, as well as weight maintenance, energy and social benefits as well. Kelci's older sister Kylee ran cross country as well, and while Kelci may not hold similar times on the course, competing in the sport at all has put more time on the only clock that really matters.

"She knew she wasn’t going to compare to her older sister, but her goal was 'I want to finish every 5K race I do. I don’t want to give up, and I want to do it for my health. I just want to stay healthy,' " Karen said.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Two Menomonee Falls girls cross country runners have cystic fibrosis