What to look for with the boys cross country season
Four things you should know as the high school cross country season gets under way today.
1. With one of the top runners in state history gone, runners who thought they may never have the chance to win the all-class Gold Medal can do exactly that this season. After winning the Gold Medal as both a freshman at Omaha Marian, and sophomore at Millard North, Emily Sisson has moved to St. Louis. Sisson won the Gold Medal by 40 seconds last season, and could have become only the third four-time individual champion in state history. Omaha Marian’s Kelli Budd, second to Sisson the past two seasons, may become the new favorite.
2. Lincoln Pius X will be the overwhelming favorite to win its fourth Class B girls state championship in the past five years. The Thunderbolts return their top five runners from last season, each of whom were in the top 25 at state. Their best runner is senior Katharine Lange, and she’s been the state runner-up the past two years.
3. Trevor Vidlak will try to defend his unexpected win in the Lincoln Public Schools meet. The Lincoln Northeast senior won by an impressive 21 seconds last year. Girls city champion Michelle Fluitt of Lincoln East has graduated, and there are several runners that appear capable of taking over the top spot. Defending team champions are the Lincoln East girls and Lincoln Southwest boys.
4. The first of many big meets in Lincoln is the Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday at Pioneers Park. The girls varsity race is at 10:30 a.m., and the boys race at 11. The Fremont boys and the girls from Omaha Marian have made a habit of dominating this meet on their way to top state meet finishes.
— Brent C. Wagner
Here's a quick look at Lincoln's high school boy's cross country teams:
LINCOLN CHRISTIAN
Coach: Lynn Wilson.
Boys to watch: Logan Williams, sr.; Matthew Cornell, jr.; Richard Coryell, so.; Ryan Humphrey, so; Alex White, so.
Outlook: Williams was a district runner-up and eighth at the Class D state meet last season.
Girls to watch: Tiffany Byh, sr.; Meg White, sr.; Karah Ludwig, jr.; Renee Williams, so.; Lauren Nun, fr.
Outlook: A district champ last season, Williams placed 10th at state.
LINCOLN EAST
Coach: Kirk Skiles.
Boys returning letterwinners: Jonathan Rife, sr.; Derek Schave, sr.; Michael Weitz, sr.; Aiden Fleischer, so.
Outlook: The returning letterwinners were on the Spartan team that placed eighth at state last season. Weitz had the best finish at state, finishing 28th.
Girls returning letterwinners: Devin Schultze, sr.; McKenna Slack, sr.; Melissa Frohberg, jr.; Emily Heyl, jr.; Julia Kerrigan, jr.; Becca Ross, jr; Britni Waller, jr.; Shawn Zajicek, sr.
Outlook: East lost a lot from its Lincoln Public Schools championship team. Waller and Ross were each in the top five at the LPS meet last season.
LINCOLN HIGH
Coach: Jon Dawson.
Boys returning letterwinners: Ryan Hammack, sr.; Mitch Hendricks, sr.; William Ledford, sr.; Paul Pape, sr.; Cooper Soto-Olson, sr.; Thoung La, so.; Charlie Neibel, so.
Outlook: Pape was fifth at the LPS meet and 14th at state last season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Amanda Costello, sr.; Emme Grafton, jr.; Storm Mellick, jr.
Outlook: Costello was seventh at the city championship and 21st at state last season. Beyond her, the Links don’t have much experience.
LINCOLN LUTHERAN
Coach: Gary Bredehoft.
Boys returning letterwinner: Andrew Malin, jr.
Outlook: The Warriors lost five of the six runners from their state meet team. Malin’s best time is ninth on the school’s all-time chart.
Girls returning letterwinners: Tara Dudycha, sr.; Kayla Asche, jr.; Laura Rasmussen, jr.; Jenna Ripke, jr.
Outlook: Asche was 30th at state last season, helping Lutheran to a sixth-place finish in Class D.
NORTHEAST
Coach: John Snoozy.
Boys returning letterwinners: Paul Creger, sr.; Chuol Koang, sr.; Trevor Vidlak, sr.; Thomas Guittar, jr.; An Tran, jr.
Outlook: Vidlak was the surprise winner of the city championship last season, but struggled at state . Having 33 runners on the team may help the Rockets improve this season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Nyrika Dobouny, sr.; Kayla Reyes, jr.; Theresa Staley, jr.
Outlook: The girls team should be better than last season, Snoozy said.
NORTH STAR
Coach: Matt Musiel.
Boys returning letterwinners: Arou Arou, sr.; Alan Jiminez, sr.; Taylor Lucas, sr.; Derek Schnell, sr.; Taylor Cobb, jr.; Brian Foote, jr.; Eric Lomison, jr.; Damon Mackety, jr.; Matt Keeshan, so.; Robert Partee, so.
Outlook: Partee was the only North Star runner who ran at state last season. He was the top freshman in Class A (32nd place).
Girls returning letterwinners: Karissa Kruse, sr.; Karen Silverstrand, jr.; Janice Weinhold, so.
Outlook: Silverstrand was 13th in the LPS meet last season.
PIUS X
Coach: George O’Boyle.
Boys returning letterwinners: Ethan Hart, sr.; Ben Kotopka, sr.; Ben Magstadt, sr.; Daniel Blake, jr.; Jeff Cassell, jr.; Joe Castillo, jr.; Dylan McDermott, jr.; Greg Portsche, jr.; Sam Pospisil, jr.; Nolan Border, so.; Mark Hugo, so.; Bill Hynes, so.; Sam Vossler, so.
Outlook: Pius X won its 10th boys state championship last season, which is tied for most boys team titles in state history. Blake (15th place), Castillo (19th) and Magstadt (42nd place) were on that team.
Girls returning letterwinners: Veronica Benton, sr.; Tara Grosserode, sr.; Jessica Hugo, sr.; Katharine Lange, sr.; Ashley Meradith, sr.; Bridgett Schilmoeller, sr.; Mikayla Wagner, sr.; Julie Ward, sr.; Lindsey Berning, jr.; Claire Bertrand, jr.; Erin Statz, jr.; Liz Hruby, so.; Ashley Patzela, so.; Kelli Rice, so.
Outlook: Lange (second place), Statz (seventh), Ward (11th), Wagner (16th) and Hugo (25th) were on last year’s state championship team.
SOUTHEAST
Coach: David Nebel.
Boys returning letterwinners: John Borstelmann, sr.; Aaron Bright, sr.; Rohan Sohl, sr.; John James, so.
Outlook: Sohl qualified for state as an individual last season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Cara Anderson, sr.; Samantha Karnes, sr.; Erika Ohles, sr.; Camilla Ortl, sr.; Ali Tewes, jr.; Taylor Johnson, so.; Tess Kohout, so.; Maddie Monohon, so.
Outlook: Tewes was sixth at the city championship and 19th at state.
SOUTHWEST
Coach: Ted Larson.
Boys returning letterwinners: Parker Schoen, jr.; Connor Marshall, so.
Outlook: Schoen and Marshall were second and third, respectively at the LPS meet last season, beating some talented upperclassmen along the way. Southwest lost a lot from its city championship team.
Girls returning letterwinners: Brianne Brestel, jr.; Alie Kloefkorn, jr.; Kristal Schuster, jr.; Joslyn Soucie, jr.; Kaitlin Weskamp, jr.; MacKenzie Steinauer, so.
Outlook: Six of the seven runners are back from the team that placed 11th at state. Still, Southwest will need to find a “front-runner” to score well, Larson said.
SCHEDULE
September: Today—Papillion-La Vista South Invitational (Lincoln High, Southwest); Thorell Invitational in Seward (Christian, Lutheran, North Star); Plattsmouth Invitational (Pius X); Friday—Johnson County Central Invitational (College View); Saturday—Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational (East, Northeast); Omaha Burke Invitational (Southeast); 9—Arlington Invitational (Lutheran); 12—Millard South Invitational (East, Southeast); Kearney Invitational (Lincoln High, Southwest); Omaha Central Invitational (North Star); Archbishop Bergan Invitational (Christian, Lutheran); 15—McConnell Invitational at Pioneers Park (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); 18—Harold Scott Invitational (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest); Fillmore Central Invitational (College View, Christian, Lutheran); 19—Waverly Invitational at Pioneers Park (Pius X); 20—Roosevelt Classic (North Star); 23—Malcolm Invitational (College View, Christian, Lutheran); 25—Grand Island Invitational (East); Oakland-Craig Invitational (North Star); Fort Calhoun Invitational (College View); 27—Omaha Bryan Invitational (Lincoln High, Northeast); Norris Invitational (Pius X); 29—Nebraska-Kearney Invitational (East, Lutheran, North Star, Pius X, Southwest).
October: 2—Lincoln Lutheran Invitational (College View, Lutheran); Aquinas Invitational (Christian); 3—Lincoln Public Schools Championship (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); Millard West Invitational (Pius X) 9—Heartland Conference Championship at Pioneers Park (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); Pius X Invitational (Pius X); 10—Centennial Conference at Pioneers Park (Christian, Lutheran); 16—A-1 district in Fremont (East, North Star); A-2 district in Norfolk (Southeast, Southwest); A-3 district at Pioneers Park (Lincoln High, Northeast); B-2 at Pioneers Park (Pius X); C-1 in Bennington (Lutheran).
1. With one of the top runners in state history gone, runners who thought they may never have the chance to win the all-class Gold Medal can do exactly that this season. After winning the Gold Medal as both a freshman at Omaha Marian, and sophomore at Millard North, Emily Sisson has moved to St. Louis. Sisson won the Gold Medal by 40 seconds last season, and could have become only the third four-time individual champion in state history. Omaha Marian’s Kelli Budd, second to Sisson the past two seasons, may become the new favorite.
2. Lincoln Pius X will be the overwhelming favorite to win its fourth Class B girls state championship in the past five years. The Thunderbolts return their top five runners from last season, each of whom were in the top 25 at state. Their best runner is senior Katharine Lange, and she’s been the state runner-up the past two years.
3. Trevor Vidlak will try to defend his unexpected win in the Lincoln Public Schools meet. The Lincoln Northeast senior won by an impressive 21 seconds last year. Girls city champion Michelle Fluitt of Lincoln East has graduated, and there are several runners that appear capable of taking over the top spot. Defending team champions are the Lincoln East girls and Lincoln Southwest boys.
4. The first of many big meets in Lincoln is the Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational on Saturday at Pioneers Park. The girls varsity race is at 10:30 a.m., and the boys race at 11. The Fremont boys and the girls from Omaha Marian have made a habit of dominating this meet on their way to top state meet finishes.
— Brent C. Wagner
Here's a quick look at Lincoln's high school boy's cross country teams:
LINCOLN CHRISTIAN
Coach: Lynn Wilson.
Boys to watch: Logan Williams, sr.; Matthew Cornell, jr.; Richard Coryell, so.; Ryan Humphrey, so; Alex White, so.
Outlook: Williams was a district runner-up and eighth at the Class D state meet last season.
Girls to watch: Tiffany Byh, sr.; Meg White, sr.; Karah Ludwig, jr.; Renee Williams, so.; Lauren Nun, fr.
Outlook: A district champ last season, Williams placed 10th at state.
LINCOLN EAST
Coach: Kirk Skiles.
Boys returning letterwinners: Jonathan Rife, sr.; Derek Schave, sr.; Michael Weitz, sr.; Aiden Fleischer, so.
Outlook: The returning letterwinners were on the Spartan team that placed eighth at state last season. Weitz had the best finish at state, finishing 28th.
Girls returning letterwinners: Devin Schultze, sr.; McKenna Slack, sr.; Melissa Frohberg, jr.; Emily Heyl, jr.; Julia Kerrigan, jr.; Becca Ross, jr; Britni Waller, jr.; Shawn Zajicek, sr.
Outlook: East lost a lot from its Lincoln Public Schools championship team. Waller and Ross were each in the top five at the LPS meet last season.
LINCOLN HIGH
Coach: Jon Dawson.
Boys returning letterwinners: Ryan Hammack, sr.; Mitch Hendricks, sr.; William Ledford, sr.; Paul Pape, sr.; Cooper Soto-Olson, sr.; Thoung La, so.; Charlie Neibel, so.
Outlook: Pape was fifth at the LPS meet and 14th at state last season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Amanda Costello, sr.; Emme Grafton, jr.; Storm Mellick, jr.
Outlook: Costello was seventh at the city championship and 21st at state last season. Beyond her, the Links don’t have much experience.
LINCOLN LUTHERAN
Coach: Gary Bredehoft.
Boys returning letterwinner: Andrew Malin, jr.
Outlook: The Warriors lost five of the six runners from their state meet team. Malin’s best time is ninth on the school’s all-time chart.
Girls returning letterwinners: Tara Dudycha, sr.; Kayla Asche, jr.; Laura Rasmussen, jr.; Jenna Ripke, jr.
Outlook: Asche was 30th at state last season, helping Lutheran to a sixth-place finish in Class D.
NORTHEAST
Coach: John Snoozy.
Boys returning letterwinners: Paul Creger, sr.; Chuol Koang, sr.; Trevor Vidlak, sr.; Thomas Guittar, jr.; An Tran, jr.
Outlook: Vidlak was the surprise winner of the city championship last season, but struggled at state . Having 33 runners on the team may help the Rockets improve this season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Nyrika Dobouny, sr.; Kayla Reyes, jr.; Theresa Staley, jr.
Outlook: The girls team should be better than last season, Snoozy said.
NORTH STAR
Coach: Matt Musiel.
Boys returning letterwinners: Arou Arou, sr.; Alan Jiminez, sr.; Taylor Lucas, sr.; Derek Schnell, sr.; Taylor Cobb, jr.; Brian Foote, jr.; Eric Lomison, jr.; Damon Mackety, jr.; Matt Keeshan, so.; Robert Partee, so.
Outlook: Partee was the only North Star runner who ran at state last season. He was the top freshman in Class A (32nd place).
Girls returning letterwinners: Karissa Kruse, sr.; Karen Silverstrand, jr.; Janice Weinhold, so.
Outlook: Silverstrand was 13th in the LPS meet last season.
PIUS X
Coach: George O’Boyle.
Boys returning letterwinners: Ethan Hart, sr.; Ben Kotopka, sr.; Ben Magstadt, sr.; Daniel Blake, jr.; Jeff Cassell, jr.; Joe Castillo, jr.; Dylan McDermott, jr.; Greg Portsche, jr.; Sam Pospisil, jr.; Nolan Border, so.; Mark Hugo, so.; Bill Hynes, so.; Sam Vossler, so.
Outlook: Pius X won its 10th boys state championship last season, which is tied for most boys team titles in state history. Blake (15th place), Castillo (19th) and Magstadt (42nd place) were on that team.
Girls returning letterwinners: Veronica Benton, sr.; Tara Grosserode, sr.; Jessica Hugo, sr.; Katharine Lange, sr.; Ashley Meradith, sr.; Bridgett Schilmoeller, sr.; Mikayla Wagner, sr.; Julie Ward, sr.; Lindsey Berning, jr.; Claire Bertrand, jr.; Erin Statz, jr.; Liz Hruby, so.; Ashley Patzela, so.; Kelli Rice, so.
Outlook: Lange (second place), Statz (seventh), Ward (11th), Wagner (16th) and Hugo (25th) were on last year’s state championship team.
SOUTHEAST
Coach: David Nebel.
Boys returning letterwinners: John Borstelmann, sr.; Aaron Bright, sr.; Rohan Sohl, sr.; John James, so.
Outlook: Sohl qualified for state as an individual last season.
Girls returning letterwinners: Cara Anderson, sr.; Samantha Karnes, sr.; Erika Ohles, sr.; Camilla Ortl, sr.; Ali Tewes, jr.; Taylor Johnson, so.; Tess Kohout, so.; Maddie Monohon, so.
Outlook: Tewes was sixth at the city championship and 19th at state.
SOUTHWEST
Coach: Ted Larson.
Boys returning letterwinners: Parker Schoen, jr.; Connor Marshall, so.
Outlook: Schoen and Marshall were second and third, respectively at the LPS meet last season, beating some talented upperclassmen along the way. Southwest lost a lot from its city championship team.
Girls returning letterwinners: Brianne Brestel, jr.; Alie Kloefkorn, jr.; Kristal Schuster, jr.; Joslyn Soucie, jr.; Kaitlin Weskamp, jr.; MacKenzie Steinauer, so.
Outlook: Six of the seven runners are back from the team that placed 11th at state. Still, Southwest will need to find a “front-runner” to score well, Larson said.
SCHEDULE
September: Today—Papillion-La Vista South Invitational (Lincoln High, Southwest); Thorell Invitational in Seward (Christian, Lutheran, North Star); Plattsmouth Invitational (Pius X); Friday—Johnson County Central Invitational (College View); Saturday—Nebraska Wesleyan Invitational (East, Northeast); Omaha Burke Invitational (Southeast); 9—Arlington Invitational (Lutheran); 12—Millard South Invitational (East, Southeast); Kearney Invitational (Lincoln High, Southwest); Omaha Central Invitational (North Star); Archbishop Bergan Invitational (Christian, Lutheran); 15—McConnell Invitational at Pioneers Park (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); 18—Harold Scott Invitational (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest); Fillmore Central Invitational (College View, Christian, Lutheran); 19—Waverly Invitational at Pioneers Park (Pius X); 20—Roosevelt Classic (North Star); 23—Malcolm Invitational (College View, Christian, Lutheran); 25—Grand Island Invitational (East); Oakland-Craig Invitational (North Star); Fort Calhoun Invitational (College View); 27—Omaha Bryan Invitational (Lincoln High, Northeast); Norris Invitational (Pius X); 29—Nebraska-Kearney Invitational (East, Lutheran, North Star, Pius X, Southwest).
October: 2—Lincoln Lutheran Invitational (College View, Lutheran); Aquinas Invitational (Christian); 3—Lincoln Public Schools Championship (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); Millard West Invitational (Pius X) 9—Heartland Conference Championship at Pioneers Park (East, Lincoln High, Northeast, North Star, Southeast, Southwest); Pius X Invitational (Pius X); 10—Centennial Conference at Pioneers Park (Christian, Lutheran); 16—A-1 district in Fremont (East, North Star); A-2 district in Norfolk (Southeast, Southwest); A-3 district at Pioneers Park (Lincoln High, Northeast); B-2 at Pioneers Park (Pius X); C-1 in Bennington (Lutheran).
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