PREVIEW: Panther teams have traditions to continue

     Both the girls’ and boys’ teams for Monticello High School cross country enter this season with credentials that would be the envy of most athletic programs – of any sport – in the state of Iowa.

     The five seniors on this year’s girls’ team have had a hand in two state team championships and a runner-up finish in the past three years.

     The four seniors on the boys’ team have helped add to a state meet-qualifying streak that began before any of them were born – now 20 years straight.

     Both teams have high hopes of extending those achievements in the 2017 season.

     “Conference, district and state championships could all happen this year with the girls’ team,” 13^th-year head coach Dan Sauser said. “This is a smart bunch of girls, and I believe we have the runners to compete for another state title.

     “For the boys, we hope to improve as the season progresses. Another state qualifying team and a possible top-10 finish would be a great season for this young team.”

     The Panther girls, defending state champions, have started this season ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, and with good reason. The entire state championship roster is back, and there are a total of 11 returning letter-winners.

     Leading the way is senior Paige Holub, a two-time individual state champion who finished fourth a year ago. Senior Jordyn Patterson was eighth in the state meet last fall, and junior Keeley Anderson was 17^th.

     Others who ran at State last year are sophomore Gabrielle Steiner, senior Taylor McDonald, senior Rachel Larabee and sophomore Lizzie Petersen. Senior Anna Loes, and sophomores Sydney Ballou and Emily Schlarmann round out the list of returning letter-winners.

     “We cannot afford to become complacent, and will need to earn everything all over again,” Sauser said. “We need to maintain focus and continue to improve all season.”

     The boys have nine letter-winners back, including five who ran on last year’s State-qualifying team: junior David Titman, who led the Panther runners at State; senior Aaron Loes, sophomore Cole Cruise, and seniors Ryan Oswald and Ben Barnhart.

     Also back are senior Janik Chally, and juniors Daltyn Kramer, Austin Timm and Dalton Hampson.

     “We are still a young team,” Sauser said of the boys. “A lot of people wrote off last year’s boys because of the graduation losses from previous years. But we will still need to have some runners step up and fill spots on the team.”

     The competition in the River Valley Conference will be plenty strong. Three RVC girls’ teams finished in the top 10 at State a year ago: Monticello first, Mid-Prairie third, Cascade seventh.

     For the boys, Mid-Prairie is the defending state champion and has all its runners back. Tipton, Bellevue and Iowa City Regina also look to be strong.

     “We need the runners to continue to improve each and every day they come to practice,” Sauser said. “As our training intensifies, we will need to maintain health. As always, we need the athletes to not just train physically, but also nutritionally and mentally.”

     Vallerie Lynn is the assistant coach. Bruce Novak and Mike Lambert are volunteer assistants.