Reloaded Elkader Central repeats as girls’ cross country state champions

FORT DODGE — Given the graduation losses sustained after last season, Elkader Central girls' cross country coach Mark Bauder wasn't initially sure what he had.

Turns out, if you continue to fill roster holes and build on a winning culture, a championship repeat can happen.

After going 42 years without a girls' cross country team state championship, Elkader Central has now won two in a row with a convincing victory in the Class 1A cross country state championships Saturday at Lakeside Golf Course.

'I was kind of surprised that we won by as much as we did,' Bauder said. 'They were focused, they were ready to go today and that was really big.'

The Warriors score of 66 points was well ahead of runner-up Hudson (116). North Linn was ninth with 238 points.

'Last year we were really nervous because we knew we were losing quite a few (runners),' Elkader sophomore Ciera Deitchler said. 'But this year, we just realized that we've got to work harder and we had to get more people into the sport. Everyone knew what we had to do. We all knew that we needed to work for it and just give it our all.'

Deitchler led the Warriors with a sixth-place individual placement in 20:12.

'She came out last year as a freshman and placed at state,' Bauder said. 'Everybody just kind of goes off of her. ... If you can run with her, then we're going to do all right.'

Senior Ashley Funk (20:51) and junior Deserai Weber (20:52) placed among the top 26.

Guthrie Center ACGC freshman Kate Crawford won the individual girls' title in 19:38. Edgewood-Colesburg senior Hanna Hess was third in 20:02.

Nodaway Valley claimed the 1A boys' team title for the second year in a row with 36 points, while Starmont was sixth (186 points).

North Union junior Riley Bauer sprinted to the 1A boys' individual crown in 16:09. Jacob Wessel was 12th for Edgewod-Colesburg (17:01).

CLASS 1A GIRLS

Teams —

1. Elkader Central 69, 2. Hudson 116, 3. Pekin 124, 4. Bellevue Marquette 138, 5. Denver 144, 6. Ft. Dodge St. Edmond 184, 7. Mason City Newman 216, 8. Griswold 222, 9. North Linn 238, 10. Panorama 242, 11. ACGC 245, 12. Maple Valley 246, 13. West Fork 268, 14. Colo-Nesco 286, 15. Alta-Aurelia 299

Individuals —

1. Kate Crawford (ACGC), 19:38; 2. Sheridan LaCoste (Rockford), 19:41; 3. Hanna Hess, Edgewood-Colesburg 20:02; 4. Jenna Twait (Hudson), 20:03.7 Hudson; 5. Reagan Weinheimer (Nodaway Valley), 20:12; 6. Ciera Deitchler (Elkader Central), 20:12; 7. Elise Emmick (SE Warren), 20:15; 8. Emma Swanson (ACGC), 20:16; 9. Dakota Hostetter (Colfax-Mingo), 20:18; 10. McKenna Weaver (West Fork), 20:22

1. Central, Elkader (69):

3. Deitchler 20:12, 12. Ashley Funk 20:51, 14. Deserai Weber 20:52, 19. Jasmine Mueller 21:00, 21. Danielle Weber 21:09

CLASS 1A BOYS

Teams —

1. Nodaway Valley 36, 2. Pekin 92, 3. ACGC 105, 4. Calamus-Wheatland 127, 5. Denver 181, 6. Starmont 186, 7. Boyer Valley 186, 8. Hudson 190, 9. Eagle Grove 198, 10. Bellevue 232, 11. Earlham 289, 12. Remsen St. Mary's 289, 13. West Fork 318, 14. Panorama 326, 15. Trinity Christian 334

Individuals —

1. Riley Bauer (North Union), 16:09; 2. Jerry Jorgenson (Treynor), 16:32; 3. Shane Breheny (Nodaway Valley), 16:41; 4. Ryan Millikin (Pekin), 16:47; 5. Wyatt Kelly (Hudson), 16:48; 6. Curren Matthias (Denver), 16:55; 7. Sean McDermott (Madrid), 16:56; 8. Brycen Wallace (Nodaway Valley), 16:56; 9. Zach Ambrose (Boyer Valley), 16:58; 10. Malcolm Myers (Pekin), 16:59

6. Starmont (186): 16. Mitchell Hayes 17:30, 33. Graham Schuchmann 17:55, 40. Caleb Wittman 18:07, 46. Colt Gilson 18:17, 51. Carson Willie 18:25.

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