BloomfieldCOACH: Duane Wilken (36th year)VITALS: Class D, Lewis and Clark ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Bees finished fifth in their District

meet last year.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Austin Hamm (So.),

Silas Oltjenbruns (So.)ASSESSMENT: Because the Bees will probably not

be able to field enough numbers for a full team, theDuane Wilken’s two sophomore runners will have to per-form at their maximum potential.

Austin Hamm comes into his sophomore seasonhaving placed 13th at the state meet last year. SilasOltjenbruns also had a solid first season.

Both of these runners put in their time in the off-season as Hamm ran a combined 340 miles andOljenbruns recorded 264 miles.

CreightonCOACH: Christine Baldwin (2nd year)ASSISTANT: Ward BaldwinVITALS: Class D, Northeast Neb. Activities Conf.LAST YEAR: Austin Baldwin qualified for state. Gone

from last year are Kyle Pospisil and Kyle Brozek.RETURNING LETTERWINNER: Austin Baldwin (Jr.)NEWCOMER: Josh Javorsky (Jr.)ASSESSMENT: Austin Baldwin is the lone returner

from last year’s team. He finished 15th at Districts lastyear with a time of 18:30.

CroftonCOACH: Jayne Arens (7th year)ASSISTANT: Jason ArensVITALS: Class D, Northeast Neb. Activities Conf.LAST YEAR: The Warriors finished sixth at the state

meet as a team and Taylor Kube finished 11th.TOP PROSPECTS: Randy Ausdemore (Sr.), Lance

Koch (Sr.), Taylor Kube (Sr.), Tyler Steffen (Sr.)ALSO RETURNING: Pete Hernandez (Jr.)NEWCOMERS: Matt Guenther (Fr.), Buck Noyer (Fr.),

Robert Tejral (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: The Warriors have set high goals

since the team returns all of its runners from a teamwhich made it to state last year.

“The seniors have really come on strong and theyare determined to attain the goals they have set,” headcoach Jayne Arens said.

Arens said Crofton will have another strong tem this

year and the new runners will bring added depth to theteam.

HartingtonCO-COACHES: Laura Noecker, Russell FlamigVITALS: Class C, Lewis and Clark ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Jordan Rehnstrom

(Sr.), Alex Bottolfsen (Sr.)NEWCOMERS: Colby Wieselet (So.), Justin Knuse

(Fr.), Steven Carlson (Fr.), Zech Thoene (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: Hartington only lost one runner from

last year and co-coaches Laura Noecker and Russell Flamigis excited about the depth the team will have this year.

“We have numbers and good experience this year,”the coaches said.

Laurel-Concord/ColeridgeCOACH: Megan Meyer (2nd year)VITALS: Class C, Northeast Neb. Activities Conf.

RETURNING LETTERWINNER: Isaac Haahr (Jr.)NEWCOMER: Gabe Abts (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: With just one runner with varsity

experience, Laurel-Concord/Coleridge will look to buildmomentum in the coming years.

This season, Issac Haahr will look to again qualifyfor the Nebraska state meet — he qualified last year. Hewill be joined by freshman Gabe Abts.

“We’re a small team, but we have lots of passionfor the sport,” Meyer said. “We’ll just have to stayfocused and practice hard.”

NiobraraCOACH: Mary Snowdon (3rd year)VITALS: Class D, Niobrara Valley ConferenceTOP PROSPECTS: Curtis Dather (Jr.)ASSESSMENT: The Lions graduated a pair of letter-

winners from last season and return junior Curtis Dather.“The key is for us to push ourselves beyond the

limit,” Snowdon said.

VerdigreCOACH: Stacy Ludwig (13th year)VITALS: Class D, Niobrara Valley ConferenceTOP PROSPECTS: Jacob Pavlik (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: The Hawks will have only freshman

Jacob Pavlik running this season, so the key will bebuilding the numbers for future seasons, as well asdeveloping Pavlik.

Alcester-HudsonCOACH: Dan Bergland (4th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Cubs qualified over half of its team to the

state meet in Huron.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Keith Berg (Jr.), Ty

Schollerman (So.)ASSESSMENT: The Cubs return a pair of qualifiers from

last fall’s Class B state cross country meet. Ty Schollerman fin-ished 55th, while teammate Keith Berg earned 67th place.

With the experience those two earned last season, it canbe expected that both can be counted for increased success in2009.

AvonCOACH: Beth Dykstra (3rd year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: Trace Tjeerdsma qualified for the state meet

and finished 20th.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Trace Tjeerdsma (Jr.),

Nathan Bierman (Jr.), Brennan Hilzendeger (Jr.)NEWCOMERS: Liam Swanson (7th)ASSESSMENT: The Pirates return its most valuable runner

Trace Tjeerdsma, who finished 20th in the state meet, and jun-ior Nathan Bierman, who was voted the team’s mot improvedrunner last year.

Dykstra said last year’s experience will give the team anopportunity to build on the success the team had.

“We will have to come mentally prepared to be competi-tive and see success,” Dykstra said. “We have put the time inover the summer and it’s now time to push ourselves to becompetitive.”

BeresfordCOACH: Matt Coy (1st year)ASSISTANT: Ashley Halvorson VITALS: Class A, Big Sioux ConferenceTOP PROSPECTS: Tony Greene (Sr.), Evan Hansen (Sr.),

Jesse Horstman (Sr.), Jon Mochel (Jr.), Hayden Palmer (So.),Jared Truman (So.), Craig Fatherlos (Fr.), Riley Schaap (8th),Christian Wilson (7th), Brent Beckstrom (7th), Kevin Huot (7th),Alex Horstman (7th)

ASSESSMENT: A collection of Watchdog runners willcolaborate in attempting to take their team to the state tourna-ment again this year.

Hayden Palmer will be the Watchdogs primary runner, buthe is just one of five returners with strong ability and experience.

The Watchdogs boast a trio of seniors including TonyGreene, Evan Hansen and Jesse Horstman.

Jon Mochel is the lone junior. The Watchdogs also have a number of younger runners

that should challenge the older players for their spots.

Bon HommeCOACH: Janet Wagner (8th year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast S. Dakota Conf.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Dylan Stoebner (Sr.),

Bradley Cihak (Sr.), Jay Kriz (Jr.), Nick Pechous (Jr.), ChristianHaro (Jr.), Justin Hisek (Jr.), Nate Sutera (So.)

NEWCOMERS: Cody Cuka (So.), Dustin Cuka (Fr.), LincolnStoebner (Fr.), Tanner Hujek (Fr.), Lance Ranck (Jr.), NathanHisek (8th), Marcus Tjeerdsma (Sr.)

ASSESSMENT: Head coach Janet Wagner likes the num-bers she will have to work with this year with the boys’ team.The Cavaliers will have 14 total runners.

CentervilleCOACH: Eric Hansen (1st year)VITALS: Class B, Tri-Valley Conference

LAST YEAR: Adam Myott finished 6th in the state meetand will be running for the University of Sioux Falls. Also, LeeHansen finished 16th at the state meet.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Richard Buechler (Jr.),Seamus O’Malley (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Travis Olsen (Fr.), Nick Wixon (7th)ASSESSMENT: Eric Hansen enters his first year as the

head coach and will be looking to junior Richard Buechler forleadership on a young team.

Dakota ValleyCOACH: Tiffany Wendling (9th year)ASSISTANT: Erin SchleefVITALS: Class A, Region 3A, Big Sioux ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Evan Hendriks (Jr.), Nick

Spilger (Sr.)ALSO RETURNING: J.R. Peacock (Jr.), Adam Brand (Jr.),

Carlos Ochoa (Jr.), Daniel Keppen (So.), Jacob Vogts (So.), BenCork (Fr.), Connor Berger (So.), Wade Treloar (Fr.), DeVonLewis (Fr.), Alex Fernando (8th), Ben Vick (8th), Blake Perryman(8th), Cole Peterson (8th), Graham Bacon (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Christian Pollema (7th), Jace Graves (7th)ASSESSMENT: The Panthers will have a young team after

losing Tyler Kruse and Casey Johnson to graduation and NickBuckley decided to play football.

Elk Point-JeffersonCOACH: Billy McDonald (2nd year)VITALS: Class A, Class 3A, Big Sioux ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNER: Derrick DeBuhr (Sr.)NEWCOMERS: Alex Dawdy (8th)ASSESSMENT: Head coach Billy McDonald said the team

will have to improve with every meet.

Ethan-ParkstonCOACH: Carrie Oakley (2nd year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast South Dakota

ConferenceLAST YEAR: Alex Muntefering finished 2nd place at the

state meet and will run cross country at the University ofOklahoma. Dave Schoenfish also qualified for the state meet.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Dave Schoenfish (So.)ALSO RETURNING: Kyle Hohn (Fr.), Tyler Hohn (Fr.)NEWCOMERS: Ethan Murtha (7th)ASSESSMENT: Even though Dave Schoenfish is just a

sophomore, he is the runner with the most experience and isthe only state qualifier back this year.

“We are looking for leadership from him and it will hope-fully pave the way to a great season,” head coach Carrie Oakleysaid.

FreemanCOACH: Rory Hermsen (8th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 6A, Cornbelt ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Flyers finished third at the Region meet.

Slade Mutchelknaus finished 26th at the state meet. The teamlost Patrick Hofer, Brett Eisenbeis and Kyle Schweitzer.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Slade Mutchelknaus (Jr.)ALSO RETURNING: Josh Waltner (So.), Sydney Baker (Fr.),

Grant Preheim (8th)NEWCOMERS: Avery SageASSESSMENT: Flyers head coach Rory Hermsen said he

needs to bring the younger runners along and the team needsto gain experience.

Gayville-VolinCOACH: Larry Buffington (2nd year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: Tyler Kasuske finished 35th at the state meet.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tyler Kasuske (Jr.), Austin

Doty (Sr.)ALSO RETURNING: Parker Erickson (Sr.), Cole Rupp (Fr.)NEWCOMERS: Luke Buffington (So.), Alec Barta (7th)ASSESSMENT: Tyler Kasuske has qualified for the state

meet the last two years and Austin Doty qualified for the statemeet in 2006 and 2007.

Head coach Luke Buffington said the team is full of toughstudent-athletes with strong athletic success.

Irene-WakondaCOACH: Bridget Sees (4th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3BLAST YEAR: The Eagles qualified one runner to the Class

B state meet, and Stephen Rogers finished 58th.KEY PROSPECTS: Jacob Kribell (So.)NEWCOMERS: Jake Vollmer (Fr.), Dillon Buchanan (Fr.),

Jack Johnson (7th)ASSESSMENT: The Eagles will be led this season by soph-

omore Jacob Kribell, who was injured most of 2008. He’ll bejoined by a pair of freshmen and a seventh-grader.

“The boys’ team may be young and inexperienced, buttheir positive attitudes and willingness to put in the hard workwill surely pay off,” Sees said. “They’ll continue to becomestronger only as future seasons develop. They’ll be a team tocontend with this year.”

MarionCOACH: Jerry Kippes (25th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 5B, Cornbelt ConferenceLAST YEAR: Shayne Becker finished 46th at the Class B

state meet.RETURNING LETTERWINNER: Shayne Becker (Jr.)KEY PROSPECTS: Brady Viet (So.), Shaun Becker (Fr.),

Devin Nelson (7th)ASSESSMENT: The Bears will look to replace the contribu-

tions of departed letterwinners Allan Hogg, Broderick Schmidt,Adam Hogg and Thad Cotton.

Junior Shayne Becker is the team’s lone returning letter-winner, while three other runners will look to lead the Bears inthe Cornbelt Conference.

ParkerCOACH: Phil Bjorneberg (13th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Big East ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Pheasants qualified three runners for the

state meet. Ian Collins finished 39th, Derek Christensen 69thand Duane Jongeling 92nd. Kyle Mielke is gone from last year’steam.

RETURNING LETTERS: Derek Christensen (Sr.), Ian Collins(Jr.), Mark Olson (Jr.), Josh Pauley (Jr.), Seth Olson (So.),Trevor Miller (So.), Duane Jongeling (Fr.), Jordan Wetering (Fr.),Ryan Olson (8th), Michael Olson (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Matt Mielke (So.)ASSESSMENT: Head coach Phil Bjorneberg said the team

has some good numbers this year.“The boys’ team has great depth and put in good milage

this summer,” Bjorneberg said.Parker returns all three runners who qualified for the state

meet last year, including junior Ian Collins who was the Big EastConference Champion.

Platte-GeddesCOACH: Shawn Wynia (1st year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast South Dakota

ConferenceLAST YEAR: Rocky VanZee finished 18th in the Region 4A

meet. He graduated along with Jeff Hubers.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Carter Kemnitz (Sr.), Jim

Wynia (Sr.), Trey Alberda (So.), Keagan Ringling (So.),Cheyenne VandenBos (So.)

ALSO RETURNING: Cooper Kemnitz (Fr.), Derek Wynia(8th), Aidan VandenBos (8th), Scott Millar (Sr.)

NEWCOMERS: Josiah Brink (7th), Brandon Meyerink (So.)ASSESSMENT: New head coach Shawn Wynia is looking

to improve the team’s endurance this year.“I will be focusing on building endurance and improving

the hill running techiques,” Wynia said. “I think we can improvewith hard work and dedication.”

ScotlandCOACH: Gary Pepper (26th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Southeast South Dakota

ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Jesse Pechous (Jr.), Tony

Squires (Jr.)ASSESSMENT: The Highlanders have only two boys run-

ners out for cross country this year, but both athletes are three-year letterwinners.

The key for Scotland is to increase its numbers.“We need to get more younger runners out,” Pepper said.

ViborgCOACH: Wendy Christiansen (9th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Tri-Valley ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tyler Johnson (So.), Seth

Engen (Fr.)ALSO RETURNING: Kip Kinnunen (Fr.), Layne Meyers

(7th), Aaron Engen (Jr.)NEWCOMERS: Stephen Rogers (Jr.)ASSESSMENT: The Vikings add Stephen Rogers to its

squad this year. Rogers ran for Irene-Wakonda the previousyear. He will join a team with two returning letterwinners, soph-omore Tyler Johnson and freshman Seth Engen.

The Vikings will compete in 11 meets to get ready for theregion meet in Freeman, set for Oct. 14.

WagnerCOACH: Carrie Tucek (3rd year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast South Dakota

ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Red Raiders defending its Southeast

South Dakota Conference title lasty year and qualified for thestate meet as a team.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Brandon McAdaragh (Sr.),Casey Barnett (Jr.), Matthew Fleming (Sr.), Steven Fleming (Sr.)

ASSESSMENT: After winning the Southeast South DakotaConference the last two years, head coach Carrie Tucek expectsthe team to be competitive and try and win the conference titlefor the third straight year.

Brandon McAdaragh was the team’s most valuable runnerand will be the team captain this year.

Alcester-HudsonCOACH: Dan Bergland (4th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Tri-Valley

ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Cubs finished 16th at the

Class B state cross country meet last fall inHuron. Gone are three runners.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: MaggieBrown (Fr.), Katie Homandberg (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Tashenia Osterkomp (7th),Rebekah Turnbull (7th), Ashton Liston-Boy (7th)

ASSESSMENT: Coming off a 16th place atstate a year ago, Alcester-Hudson brings backtwo qualifiers who will look to guide the Cubsback to state.

Eighth-grader Katie Homandberg, 38th atstate, and freshman Maggie Brown, 92nd,gained valuable experience a year ago. They willbe joined on the roster this season by threeseventh-graders.

“It’ll take hard work and staying injury-freeto be successful,” Bergland said.

AvonCOACH: Beth Dykstra (3rd year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3BLAST YEAR: Both Shelby Williams and

Amber Wiebenga qualified for the state meetlast season. Williams is gone from last year’steam.

TOP PROSPECTS: Amber Wiebenga (Sr.),Nicole Jurrens (Sr.), Emily Mudder (Fr.), LexiHalvorson (So.)

ASSESSMENT: Senior Amber Wiebenga isthe top runner returning for the Pirates afterqualifing for the state meet. Freshman EmilyMudder was the team’s most improved runnerlast year and could open some eyes this year.

“The experience we have will give us anopportunity to build on the success we havehad,” Dykstra said. “We are hoping to step upand become a strong team by regions.”

Beresford COACH: Matt Coy (1st year)ASSISTANT: Ashley HalvorsonVITALS: Class A, Big Sioux Conference

TOP PROSPECTS: Crystal Carnes (Sr.),Meghan Gylfe (Jr.), April Tjaden (Jr.), MirandaKobes (Jr.), Sami Zoss (So.), Jessica Bogue(So.), Alyson Johnsen (Fr.), Taryn Twite (Fr.),Shelby Bickett (8th), Arianna Lyle (8th), HaileySveeggen (8th), Tiffany Hoffman (7th), LexyJohnsen (7th), Bailey Nelson (7th), AshleighZoss (7th)

ASSESSMENT: The Beresford girls will lookfor contributions from a number of sources asthe year progresses.

They turn to junior April Tjaden and fresh-man Alyson Johnson to lead the pack. 8th grad-er Shelby Bickett will also be expected to com-pete for a varsity spot.

The Beresford girls must compete withCanton before they can steal the top spot in theconference. The Canton team has a numbersolid returners who will compete for their con-ference crown.

Bon HommeCOACH: Janet Wagner (8th year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast

South Dakota ConferenceLAST YEAR: Tara Ronke and Kelsey Sutera

both qualified for the state meet.TOP PROSPECTS: Tara Ronke (So.), Emily

Roberson (So.), Brittany Cihak (So.), KelseySutera (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Liz Kubal (7th), JaclynRothschandl (7th), Ali Vleek (8th), ShawnaRezac (8th), Anna Robertson (10th)

ASSESSMENT: The Cavaliers don’t have asingle upperclassman on the roster and onlyfour returning runners, but Bon Homme still hasa talented lineup. Sophomore Tara Ronke hasqualified for the state meet the last two yearsand Kelsey Sutera qualified last year as a 7th

grader. The team is also adding five more run-ners to its roster this year.

“This was a fun group to work with lastyear and they should continue to improve thisyear,” head coach Janet Wagner said.

CentervilleCOACH: Eric Hanson (1st year)VITALS: Class B, Tri-Valley ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Tornadoes finished 4th at

the state meet last year. Becca Steadman led theway with a 10th place finish at the state meet.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: BeccaSteadman (Jr.), Nicole Steadman (So.), KierenO’Malley (Fr.)

NEWCOMERS: Adrianna Shubeck (Jr.)ASSESSMENT: All three runners are back

from last year’s team.“We are returning a solid group of girls

from last year and are hoping to build on the fit-ness and experiences for 2009,” head coachEric Hanson said.

Hanson is in his first year and inherits agroup that placed all three runners in the top 40at the state meet.

Dakota ValleyCOACH: Tiffany Wendling (9th year)ASSISTANTS: Erin SchleefVITALS: Class A, Region 3A, Big Sioux

ConferenceTOP PROSPECTS: MaKayla Perryman (Sr.),

Megan Scollard (Sr.), Whitney Dunn (Sr.), SarahCork (Jr.), Sadie Clement (So.), Callie Frisch(Fr.), Kylie Dunn (Fr.), Olivia Brown (Fr.), SarahVogts (Fr.), Shelby Olson (Fr.), Audrey Brosnan(8th), Ellie Freebern (8th), Jenna Kittler (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Abby Faldmo (7th), CrystalOchoa (7th), Faye Buckley (7th), Jenna Likness(7th)

ASSESSMENT: The Panthers will be with-out Haley Bosse, who went back to Elk Point-Jefferson, but will have have plenty of leader-ship from three seniors on the team this year.

Elk Point-JeffersonCOACH: Billy McDonald (2nd year)

VITALS: Class A, Region 3A, Big SiouxConference

LAST YEAR: The Huskies placed fifth at thestate meet. Bobbie McLaury finished 11th at thestate meet and Jordyn Hudelson finished 27th.The team lost Allison Lawler and RobynMcLaury from last year’s team.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: BobbieMcLaury (Jr.), Jordyn Hudelson (So.),Mackenzie Klinkhammer (Jr.), Jenna Donnelly(Jr.), Talory Donnelly (9th)

NEWCOMERS: Stacie McLaury (8th), HaleyBosse, Maya Fehr

ASSESSMENT: The Huskies return the toprunner in the region, junior Bobbie McLaury,who won the Region 3A meet and finished 11that the state meet. There are no seniors on thisyear’s roster, but the team is still hoping tomake the state meet and to have a strong show-ing as well.

Head coach Billy McDonald said the teamreally gets along well with each other.

Ethan-ParkstonCOACH: Carrie Oakley (2nd year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast

South Dakota ConferenceLAST YEAR: Parkston finished 14th at the

Class A state meet, led by Alena Laber’s 10thplace finish.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Alena Laber(Sr.), Marie Malloy (So.), Mikeala Murtha (So.),Heather Kollmann (So.), Kendra Degeest (8th),Katie Murtha (8th), Tanna Waltman (8th)

NEWCOMERS: Sadie Schoenfelder (7th)ASSESSMENT: With every member of last

year’s 14th-place state meet squad returning for2009, Ethan-Parkston looks to be one of thestate’s most potent teams.

Senior Alena Laber will seek an individualstate title, while sophomores Marie Malloy,Mikeala Murtha and Heather Kollmann also lookfor a return trip to state.

“We have a great bunch of kids with greatwork ethics,” Oakley said. “The leadership fromthose kids will pave the way to a great season.”

FreemanCOACH: Rory Hermsen (8th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Cornbelt

ConferenceLAST YEAR: The Flyers qualified two run-

ners for the Class B state meet in Huron. CarlyUecker finished 7th and Leah Uecker was 42nd.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Leah Uecker(Sr.), Carly Uecker (So.), Megan Eisenbeis (8th)

ALSO RETURNING: Morgan Vetch (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: The Uecker sisters of Leah

(Sr.) and Carly (So.) are back to attempt anotherrun for the state meet. They will be joined byeighth-grader Megan Eisenbeis, while freshmanMorgan Veth also joins the fray.

Leah Uecker has qualified for state the lastfour years, while Carly has qualified three con-secutive years.

“We’ll have to bring along younger runnersand gain experience,” Hermsen said.

Gayville-VolinCOACH: Larry Buffington (2nd year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Tri-Valley Conf.TOP PROSPECT: Kelia Barta (7th)ASSESSMENT: The Raiderettes will have

just one runner on the girls’ roster this season,as seventh-grader Kelia Barta looks to begin hervarsity career on the right foot. She won theYankton Hersey Meet JV mile a year ago.

“We’re excited about her starting her crosscountry career,” Buffington said.

Irene-WakondaCOACH: Bridget Sees (4th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3BRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Pearl

Gaidelis (So.), Lauren Sokolowski (7th), AllysonGartner (7th)

NEWCOMERS: Morgan Lee (So.),MacKenzie Huber (Fr.), Chloe Nielsen (7th),Caitlin Hinseth (6th), Autumn Sees (6th), KateGartner (6th)

ASSESSMENT: The Lady Eagles will be ledthis season by sophomore Pearl Gaidelis, whoenters her fourth year as a cross country run-ner. Joining her will be seventh-graders Lauren

Sokolowski and Allyson Gartner, who both hadsuccessful seasons as JV runners in 2008. Theyboth finished in the top five at all of Irene-Wakonda’s JV meets last year.

“Our strengths are that we have a verydetermined and hard-working crew,” Sees said.“Our numbers have grown and we’re able tocompete as a team.”

MarionCOACH: Jerry Kippes (25th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 5B, Cornbelt Conf.TOP PROSPECTS: Cara Schardin (Sr.),

Brooke Glanzer (Jr.), Kylie Hughes (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: With no returning letterwin-

ners, the Bears will lean on senior CaraSchardin and junior Brooke Glanzer. The key willbe the contribution of freshman Kylie Hughes.

“We have a bunch of kids that have notrun before,” Kippes said. “We could be a decentteam by the end of the year.”

ParkerCOACH: Phil Bjorneberg (13th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Big East Conf.TOP PROSPECTS: Katie McKenney (Sr.),

Haylee Rand (Jr.), Amie Rand (8th)ASSESSMENT: The Lady Pheasants lose

three athletes from last year’s squad, and returnthree this season.

Parker will lean on senior Katie McKenneyand junior Haylee Rand, and will look for contri-butions from eighth-grader Amie Rand.

Platte-GeddesCOACH: Shawn Wynia (1st year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast

South Dakota ConferenceLAST YEAR: Rochelle Wynia was fourth at

the Region 4A meet and finished 22nd at theClass A state meet.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: ChristineHarrington (Sr.), Sammi Nachtigal (Jr.),Rochelle Wynia (So.)

NEWCOMERS: Lauren Millar (So.)ASSESSMENT: Led by returning state qual-

ifier Rochelle Wynia, Platte-Geddes looks for a

strong season for new coach Shawn Wynia.“We’re returning a good core of runners

from past seasons,” Wynia said. “This team hasgood work ethics that will prepare them for themeets.”

ScotlandCOACH: Gary Pepper (26th year)VITALS: Class B, Region 3B, Southeast

South Dakota ConferenceLAST YEAR: Behind Molly Kokesh’s 15th-

place finish, the Highlanders earned fifth at theClass B state meet. Kokesh is now runningcross country and track at Augustana.

TOP PROSPECTS: April Winne (Sr.), HaleyBrunke (So.), Mariah Roth (So.), Amber Alvey(8th), Sasha Roth (8th), Shelby VanDriel (8th),Emily Hegge (8th)

ASSESSMENT: Despite graduating MollyKokesh, Scotland brings back three runners whocompeted at the state meet last year. SeniorApril Winne and sophomore Haley Brunke havequalified for state the last three years.

But it’ll be up to the team’s four eighth-graders to guide Scotland back among thestate’s top squads.

“If the Scotland girls’ team is going toreturn to state, we’ll have to have help fromsome of our younger runners,” Pepper said.

WagnerCOACH: Carrie Tucek (3rd year)VITALS: Class A, Region 4A, Southeast

South Dakota ConferenceLAST YEAR: Katie Barnett finished 70th at

the Class A state meet.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Elizabeth

Donelan (Jr.), Katie Barnett (Fr.)NEWCOMERS: Alaina Cuka (Jr.), Hannah

Fleming (7th)ASSESSMENT: Wagner returns freshman

Katie Barnett, who qualified for the state meetlast year. She will be joined by junior ElizabethDonelan, as well as newcomers Alaina Cuka andHannah Fleming.

“The girls expect to have a good season in2009,” Tucek said.

Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan n Fall Sports 2009www.yankton.net PAGE 11

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X-COUNTRY •• BBEERREESSFFOORRDD IINNVV..,, AAuugg.. 2288:: Ten area teamsopen the season in the same place.•• BBOONN HHOOMMMMEE IINNVV..,, SSeepptt.. 2211:: State bordersdon’t matter in this mid-season showdown.

•• CCRROOFFTTOONN IINNVV..,, SSeepptt.. 2255:: Nebraska teams testthemselves on hilly Lakeview Golf Course.•• BBLLOOOOMMFFIIEELLDD IINNVV..,, OOcctt.. 99:: One final test beforedistrict meets in Nebraska.

MEETS TO WATCH• KRISTIN STEFFEN/RACHEL BARNES,Crofton: Duo have led CHS to 3 state titles.• AUSTIN HAMM, Bloomfield: 12th inClass D as a freshman.

• ALENA LABER, Parkston: Senior was10th in A, coming off great track season.• TRACE TJEERDSMA, Avon: Placed 20thin Class B as a sophomore.

RUNNERS TO WATCH

CreightonCOACH: Christine Baldwin (2nd year)ASSISTANT: Ward BaldwinVITALS: Class D-I, Northeast Nebraska Activities

ConferenceLAST YEAR: Jill Brady finished 11th at the district

meet after claiming 10th at the NENAC meet.RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Jill Brady (Sr.), Anne

Brogie (Sr.), Karlene Sukup (Jr.)NEWCOMERS: Becci Laflan (Sr.), Jenni Laflan (Sr.),

Anna Sorensen (Jr.), Becky Stevens (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: The Lady Bulldogs will again be led

by Jill Brady, who will look to take a step forward in herdevelopment. She will be joined by senior Anne Brogieand junior Karlene Sukup as Creighton’s leaders.

“The key for us is to stay healthy this year,” Baldwinsaid.

CroftonCOACH: Jayne Arens (7th year)ASSISTANT: Jason ArensVITALS: Class D, Northeast Nebraska Activities

ConferenceLAST YEAR: It was a dominant season for the

Crofton girls in 2008, as the Warriors won a conferencetitle, district title and a state championship. Crofton didn’tgraduate any runners.

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Rachel Barnes (Sr.),Karley Boecker (Sr.), Merissa Falkenberg (Sr.), KristinSteffen (Sr.), Elizabeth Kube (So.), Heather Lancaster(So.)

TOP PROSPECTS: Charlie Sukup (Sr.), SabrinaPoore (So.), Abby Braun (Fr.), Danielle Reisberg (Fr.),

Kirsten Tramp (Fr.), Tiffany Tramp (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: With every runner back from a state

title in 2008, there is no reason to think the Crofton girlscannot attain the same accomplishment this season.

The Warriors will again be led by its five state quali-fiers, including Kristin Steffen (4th), Rachel Barnes (7th),Elizabeth Kube (15th), as well as Karley Boecker andMerissa Falkenberg. Crofton will also look for continuedimprovements from its four freshmen and three sopho-mores.

“The leadership and work ethic that our four return-ing seniors bring to our team will shape this team andfuture teams,” Arens said. “They have led us to the suc-cess we’ve reached and will help us to attain our futuregoals.”

HartingtonCO-COACHES: Laura Noecker, Russell FlamigVITALS: Class C, Lewis and Clark ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Jo Bryan (Sr.),

Katelyn Brandow (Jr.), Jennifer Krause (Jr.), BrandyHinkel (Jr.)

NEWCOMERS: Aspen Olsen (So.), Greer Olsen (So.)ASSESSMENT: Senior Jo Bryan will lead the

Wildcats this season, while the junior trio of KatelynBrandow, Jennifer Krause and Brandy Hinkel will look toadd depth to the team.

“We have numbers and good experience this year,”the coaches said.

Laurel-Concord/ColeridgeCOACH: Megan Meyer (2nd year)VITALS: Class C, Northeast Nebraska Activities

ConferenceRETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Ana York (Sr.), Katie

Jacobsen (Jr.), Shelby Rath (So.)NEWCOMER: Sammie Camenzind (Fr.)ASSESSMENT: Leading the way this season for

Laurel-Concord/Coleridge will be Katie Jacobsen. Thejunior was the champion of the NENAC meet, earned run-ner-up honors at the district meet and qualified for theNebraska state meet.

Jacobsen will be joined by senior Ana York andsophomore Shelby Rath, who are also returning letter-winners.

“We’re a small team, but we have lots of passionfor the sport,” Meyer said. “We’ll just have to stayfocused and practice hard.”

VerdigreCOACH: Stacy Ludwig (13th year)VITALS: Class D, Niobrara Valley ConferenceTOP PROSPECTS: Haley Backstrom (So.)ASSESSMENT: With only sophomore Haley

Backstrom on the roster for this season, the Hawks willhave to not only develop her career, but increase num-bers.

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