By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor
TIPTON — For the first time in a long time the Tipton Tigers will begin a season with enough kids to score at meets.
“It’s a big story,” said Tipton cross-country coach Eric Walsh. “We are going to have a scoring girls team. Last year, we would have 3-to-4 in a varsity race, but things are a whole lot different when you have a team,” he said.
The sole returner is Mara Jauron. Jauron placed 41st at the district meet last season and 35th at the River Valley Conference meet.
Others out are Kenzie Mente, Zoe Rezac, Alyssa Elijah, Emmarie Huseman, Zoe Comstock and Tiffany Schott.
“I am looking forward to having a team. There is a different feel to practice. For the kids, they have teammates that will hold them accountable out there and I am looking forward to seeing what they can do at the varsity level.
The River Valley Conference will be strong again this season. At last years state meet in Ft. Dodge, Cascade placed 3rd in 2A, Regina placed 5th, Monticello 6th and NE Goose Lake 15th in class 2A. Durant placed 11th in class 1A at state as well.
“The River Valley Conference is in my opinion, is one of the strongest confrences in the state. You look at where they finished at state and the teams that finish high at conference, finish high at state,” said Walsh.
Tipton will open the season on Thursday, September 4 at a meet at the University of Iowa Ashton cross-country course. The Tigers host their annual meet on Thursday, September 9 where eight of the 13 River Valley Conference schools are among the 23 participating schools.
Ford To Lead Beaver Girls’ CC Team
WILTON — The Wilton girl’s cross-country team will be a team of six led by Kaylee Ford. Ford placed 12th last year at the district cross-country meet. Wilton coach Dave Cook returns this season and said that his team is ready to go.
“Kaylee was 12th at the conference and the district meets last year and just missed out on qualifying. I think that is a big motivator for her this season and she has a goal of getting to state this year,” he said.
“We have a mix of returning people and a mix of kids that put in running this summer,” said Cook.
Out this year for the Beavers are Ford, Chloe Dohrman, Caitlyn Carter, Alex Reifert, Hannah Christensen and Jessica Kokjohn. Of those, Kokjohn placed 56th at districts, Reifert 57th and Hannah Christensen 76th. Wilton placed 6th at last season’s River Valley Conference meet.
“They all want to improve and stay healthy this season. They know that we can’t lose anyone to injury if we want to score as a team at a meet,” said Cook.
Wilton will open the 2014 season on Tuesday, September 2 at the Louisa-Muscatine Invitational held at the Langwood Education Center in Louisa County. Central Lee, L+M and West Liberty are the teams there.
The RVC conference meet is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 at the University of Iowa Ashton cross-country course.
Wildcats Being 2014 Ranked
DURANT — The Durant Wildcat girl’s cross-country team begins the 2014 season ranked in the preseason top-15 poll put out by the Iowa Track and Field Coaches Association. The Wildcats qualified for the 2013 state meet where they finished 11th overall in class 1A. The Wildcats start the season ranked 12th in 1A.
Durant welcomes a new coach this season after Jim Weisrock resigned after getting a job in a Davenport school district. Nolan Hovland is the new coach as he enters his second year at Durant.
“When Coach Weisrock resigned his position, I immediately expressed my interest and applied for the job. Having a background with cross country, I know how rewarding the sport can be. I also coach 7th grade girls basketball and volunteered as an assistant for the track program in the spring,” said Hovland.
Hovland reports that the Wildcats have put the time in needed during the summer months to prepare for the upcoming season.
“Most of the kids did a great job of getting in a lot of miles over the summer. That base of miles will really help as we begin the racing season in a couple of weeks,” he said.
Hovland ran cross-country at North Iowa High School for three years 2005-07 making the state cross-country meet all of those years.
Durant returns six of the seven members that were on the State team last year. Back are senior Whitney Ahrens, juniors Alyssa Williams, Janey Botkins, Sam Fusco and Emily Mundt and sophomore Madison Howe. Also competing for spots in the top-7 are sophomore Susan Graves and freshman Aubrey Doerscher.
“We have a great group of girls back. They've been working really hard so far this season, and many of them put in the miles they needed to over the summer. This group of girls are a joy to coach. They encourage each other during practice and really push each other to get better. The team has a great group of leaders that makes my job as coach a lot easier,” said Hovland.
Durant finished 5th in the competive RVC meet last fall and placed 3rd at the district meet.
The RVC conference meet is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 at the University of Iowa Ashton cross-country course.
14 Out For Knights In 2014
STANWOOD — A year after not scoring at the River Valley Conference meet and placing 10th at the district meet, the North Cedar Knights have 14 girls out for cross-country this season. The success of its track and field team last year, sparked some interest among the kids out for cross-country.
Out this year for cross-country are: Larissa Moore, Kelsey King, Tessa Fields, Britlyn Wilhau and Martha Jesuit. Back row: Erin Ruchotzke, Kylie Marshall, Rachel Gutwiler, Laura Hansen, Anna Petersen, Brianna Nebergall and Lakaya Lyon. The Knights are coached by Dain Jeppson.
“I have been happy with the work we have gotten in during the preseason,” said Jeppson. “Having the numbers we have out has made for competitive practices and I think that will be that way most of the year.
Of the 14 that are out, only two are out that ran on the district team - Kylie Marshall and Kelsey King and two that ran at the RVC meet - Madison Marshall and Kelsey King.
The Knights will host a meet on September 29 at the Lowden 330 Club. The RVC meet is scheduled for Tuesday, October 14 in Iowa City.
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