By Jared Pendak Valley News Staff Writer

Norwich — When Jim Eakin arrived as Hanover High School’s cross country coach in 1981, a couple of confident Marauder runners insisted the program already held great pride and tradition.

Ever the skeptic, Eakin took one glance at the walls of the school gymnasium and asked, “Really? So where’s the banner?”

There would be plenty of them before Eakin was done.