PREVIEW: Different paths, but same goal for Monti

Published by admin on Wed, 08/22/2018 - 10:14am

The Monticello boys cross country team, first row from left: Mark Sunlin, Matthew Beal, Grant Hospodarsky, Noah Webber, Jayden Orcutt, Keegan Glawatz and Gavin Baugh. Second row: Ethan Martensen, Erlin Bell, Carter Kurt, Nathan Oswald, David Titman, Zach Chapman, Levi Temple, Jasper Nietert and Dominic Chally. Third row: head coach Dan Sauser, Jaison Monk, Dalton Hampson, Daltyn Kramer, Austin Timm, Carter Cruise, Cole Cruise, volunteer coach Bruce Novak and assistant coach Vallerie Lynn. (Photos by Kim Brooks)

The Monticello girls cross country team, first row from left: Lauren Lambert, Triniti Etzel, Lizzie Petersen, Dru Kramer and Makenna Patterson. Second row: Brooklyn Stark, Jaelyn Graver, Gabi Guilford, Lydia Recker, Karle Kramer, Kehdi Campbell and Olivia Kremer. Third row: head coach Dan Sauser, Faith Hansen, Maddie Stadtmueller, Emily Schlarmann, Gabrielle Steiner, Sydney Ballou, volunteer coach Bruce Novak and assistant coach Vallerie Lynn.
MONTICELLO CROSS COUNTRY
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     For Monticello’s boys, it will be a matter of continuing the improvement of last year’s young runners.

     For the girls, it will be replacing several of their top athletes.

     Both Panther teams have high hopes and the usual goal as the high school cross country season begins: returning to Fort Dodge for the state meet.

     And, both are earning preseason, statewide respect from the Iowa Association of Track Coaches (IATC). The girls, state runners-up a year ago, start the year ranked second in the state, while the boys are ranked 10th.

     The Panther boys return nine letter-winners, including four who ran at last year’s state meet – the 21st straight appearance for the Monticello boys’ squad.

     “The boys gained a lot of confidence last season, and they will look to build upon what they earned last year,” 14th-year head coach Dan Sauser said. “With another year of growth and running, they are primed to make a significant jump this season.”

     They will be led by Cole Cruise, a junior who finished 35th individually at State last season. Also running on that State squad were senior David Titman, and sophomores Jasper Nietert and Zach Chapman.

     Additional returning letter-winners are seniors Daltyn Kramer and Dalton Hampson, and juniors Carter Cruise and Jaison Monk.

     “For the boys, we are still a relatively young team,” Sauser said. “The coaches will be looking for one of these young runners to step up and be the solid number one we are looking for.”

     The girls lost their top three runners from State last year, but return three who did compete at Fort Dodge: juniors Gabrielle Steiner (21st individually), Emily Schlarmann and Lauren Lambert. Junior Lizzie Petersen is the fourth returning letter-winner.

     “The girls lost a lot of talent with the graduation of last year’s seniors,” the coach said. “They do return a nice group of junior runners who, with some newcomers, have a lot of potential.

     “This group listens and works hard. These are two great qualities to making a good cross country runner.”

     The loss of a large senior class leaves the Panthers young, and perhaps not as deep as they’d like to be.

     “We will try to stick to our training philosophy as much as we can, but may need to alter it, if required, to maintain healthy runners,” Sauser said. “As always, we need the athletes to not just train physically, but also nutritionally and mentally.”

     The River Valley Conference is strong again this year. Sauser said top contenders among the boys’ teams could be Mid-Prairie, Tipton, Bellevue and Durant; while Cascade, Mid-Prairie and Iowa City Regina should be strong on the girls’ side.

     Assistant coaches are Vallerie Lynn and volunteer Bruce Novak.

     

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