This summer, senior cross country runners Arianna Gonzales and Mason Garner will retire their navy blue Ranger pride and prepare to become members of the University of North Texas Mean Green Eagles.

Surrounded by family, friends and balloons, both signed their letters of commitment during a ceremony Nov. 14 in the main gym. They plan to major in kinesiology.

“I don’t think it’ll be that different,” Garner said.

However, Gonzales said she expected some differences.

“The training and the atmosphere will probably be different because it’s a whole new team,” she said. “You’re running for a different purpose.”

They agreed their families had a large part in getting them to where they are now.

“They tell me that I can do anything I want and I should always look at things with a positive attitude,” Garner said.

He described his mom as his No. 1 fan.

“She goes to all my races, and she’s always cheering the loudest,” he said.

Gonzales gave credit for her success to her mom and coach Brittany Lanehart.

“Coach was really supportive and wanted me to pick the college that was best for me, and so did my mom,” Gonzales said.

But even with all the support, their choices were not without stress.

“There was a lot of pressure put on me about which college I should choose and where I should run,” Gonzales said.

Garner found the experience overwhelming.

“I got offers from a lot of coaches,” he said, “and I was trying to figure out which one was the best fit for me.”