At the state meet on Oct. 30, the Girls’ cross country team won their fourth state title in five years. They continued their dominance in Iowa with four all-state runners; Bella Heikes ’21, Olivia Verde ’24, Aleah Tenpas ’22, and Ashley Faber ’21.

Coming into the meet the girls’ team was ranked second behind Valley, whom they lost to at the conference meet. That was one of the only times this year where the girls’ team lost. This was clearly a wake-up call as they went on to dominate the state qualifying meet and then win the state meet by 23 points over Valley.

Senior Bella Heikes was the top runner as she placed third overall with an 18:20. A freshman, Olivia Verde, followed her as she placed sixth with a time of 18:27. The last two All-State runners were Aleah Tenpas who placed ninth with a time of 18:43 and Ashley Faber who placed 15 with a time of 19:19. Faith Nead ’22 placed 31 with a time of 19:44. Nead was followed by Bailey Vaughan ’22 who placed 34 with a time of 19:49. Sam Strauss ’21 placed 61 with a time of 20:19.

After an outstanding finish to the year, the girls now look to next year as the regional meet that usually takes place the second week of November was canceled in August due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The girls’ team will look to finish off the three-peat next year. Their team looks to be in a good position to do that as they are returning four of the seven varsity runners including two top ten runners in the state. As of now their biggest competition again would be Valley as they are returning five of the seven runners from their second-place team.

The Boys team placed 10 at the state meet. They were competing in one of the deepest years of cross country in Iowa. Going into the meet they had high expectations and hopes of finishing on or close to the podium. They had a plan and it seemed like it fell apart part of the way through the meet.

The conference champion Yohana Yual ’21 was first on the team and placed 29 with a time of 16:40. Fellow senior Carter Borwick came in right after Yual as he placed 33 with a time of 16:45. Carson Stanley ’21 was third on the team and placed 65 with a 17:18. Matt Borgemeier ’21 followed Stanley and placed 72 with a 17:24. Aidan O’Connor ’23 rounded out the top five on the team as he placed 77 with a 17:31. Carter Eckhoff ’22 placed 78 with a 17:31 and Nathan Kellar ’21 placed 89 with a time of 17:45 to finish off the team.

Coach Matt Jaschen had to miss the meet for the birth of his first baby, Caleb.

Looking to next year the boys team is returning two varsity runners from this year. This will be a big hit, but they have many returners who finished the year on the brink of varsity.