RUNNERS - Front row, from left: Quinn VanMaldaghem, Holly Bartness, Annabelle Petsinger, Jacob Karl, Samuel Christensen. Back row: Torri Vaale, Lexi McGannon, Mady Schlaak, Erin Arvis, Gavin Sletten, Devon Nelton.
Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak
By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
The NRHEG Cross Country teams are expected to be led by solid individual performers this year including, for the girls; 1st All-Conference, All-section, state qualifier, and team MVP Quinn VanMaldeghem and 2nd team All-Conference and Panther Award winner, senior Torri Vaale.
“Quinn was our top female runner last year, finishing the year having qualified for a state tournament which wasn’t able to be held,” Head Coach Miles Otstot says. “She took second in the conference and will, hopefully, be competitive in both the conference and section this year.
“Torri was great last year and worked really hard all summer, training to prepare herself for her senior year.”
Notably, VanMaldeghem is entering her second varsity season, this time as an 8th grader.
For the boys, it’s difficult to say. “I think both Conner Nelson and Jacob Karl are primed to improve this year,” Otstot says. “But I am not certain of what their competition looks like. Both have the ability to be all-conference athletes and I am hoping they will achieve that.”
Expectations
Both squads are expected to have full teams. “I am unsure of what the competition will look like this year,” Otstot remarks. “The hope for both teams is that they are able to compete within the conference this year.”
For the girls, individually, Otstot has high expectations. “Hopefully Quinn will be able to qualify for state again. Both her and Torri should be all-conference athletes again.”
Keys to success
If the young runners step up, both squads will be successful. “We have four to five 8th grade runners competing at varsity, including one 9th grader,” Otstot explained. “How these students progress throughout the year and how they step into their varsity roles will determine how our teams do this year.”
Returning athletes
Other notable, returning athletes, for the boys, per Otstot, include:
Jacob Karl - All-conference honorable mention. “Jacob is only an 8th grader, but is our only returning all-conference runner for the boys. He had a great track season in the 2 mile and I look forward to watching him continue to improve as he enters his second season as a varsity athlete.”
Conner Nelson - Junior runner. “Conner Nelson is entering his junior year and he’s really stepped up as a leader and athlete over the summer. He has been training hard over the summer and I look forward to seeing how his season will go.”
Returning letter winners: Seniors - Eric Arvis; Torri Vaale; Juniors - Sam Christensen, Conner Nelson; Sophomore - Annabelle Petsinger; 8th grade - Jacob Karl, Quinn VanMaldeghem
2020, ‘21 Seasons
The Panthers are coached by 4th year head Coach Miles Otstot and assisted by Olivia Erickson. Last year, both the boys and girls finished 3rd in the Gopher Conference.