PAGE 12 ? FALL SPORTS 2015 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? PLAIN TALK S.D. BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY Alcester-Hudson COACH: LeeAnn Haisch VITALS: Class B, Region 2, Tri-Valley Conference LAST YEAR: Marcus Ireland and Ashton Liston graduated from the Cubs’ 2014 squad. RETURNING: Brayden Pulscher (Fr., state qualifier) NEWCOMERS: Khristian Beeck (8th) Avon COACH: Beth Dykstra VITALS: Class B, Region 3 LAST YEAR: Avon had one runner qualify for state, Brant Blaha, who graduated. NEWCOMERS: Brenden Voigt (8th) Beresford COACH: Matt Coy (7th year) ASSISTANT: Dawn Coggins (3rd year) VITALS: Class A, Region 3, Dakota XII Conference RETURNERS: Alec Atwood (Fr., 22nd state meet); Jake Limmer (So., 50th state meet); Tim Peterson (Jr.); Cole Homandberg (Jr.); Riley Twedt (Jr.); Dakota Galt (Jr.) NEWCOMERS: Kellyn March (8th); Noah Hinrichs (Fr.); Trystan Olbertson (So.) Bon Homme COACH: Janet Wagner ASSISTANT: Drew Koch VITALS: Class A, Region 3, Southeast South Dakota Conference LAST YEAR: The Cavaliers lost three runners from last year’s squad, including Cole Cahoy and Kyle Klinnert to graduation. RETURNING: Nathaniel Klinnert (So.), Anton Hejna (So.) NEWCOMERS: Nathan Hall, Facmda Ramos (Jr., exchange student) Dakota Valley COACH: Tiffany Wendling ASSISTANT: Phil Breed VITALS: Class A, Region 3, Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: One runner qualified for the state meet. RETURNING: Charlie Long (Sr., state qualifier); Jon Green (Jr.); Tyler Kennedy (So.); Henry Jensen (Fr.) NEWCOMERS: Bear Jensen (Sr.), Aidan Vick (So.), Chase Olsen (So.), Josh Midland (So.), Jared Messersmith (So.), Mitchell Kistner (Fr.), Hayden Jensen (Fr.), Miles Byington (Fr.), Michael DeWaal (8th), Jaden Kittler (8th), Joe Graves (8th), Nick Bradshaw (8th), Hannes Boecker (8th), Gunnar Gunderson (7th), Drew Steele (7th) Elk Point-Jefferson COACH: Kelly Haberling (3rd year) VITALS: Class A, Region 3, Haggerty, Bobcats Look To Build On Program’s Best-Ever State Finish BY MICHAEL HAMMOND sports@yankton.net FREEMAN – Senior Ryan Haggerty will lead the Freeman Academy boys’ cross country team after finishing 10th individually at state a year ago. And with most of that roster back this fall, hopes are high in Freeman. “We have essentially the same group of guys as we did last year,” coach Suzanne Koerner said. “They want to improve and have put in quite a few miles over the summer to keep the training going.” The top four runners from a year ago, Haggerty, junior Dane Allison, freshman Thaniel Schroeder, and sophomore Brennan Haggerty, all return to improve upon last season where they finished third as a team in the State Meet. These four work well as a team together and run as a pack consistently according to Koerner. It’s this depth that will be one of the team’s strengths going into the season. “It is hard for me to know who will finish on top on a given day in a given meet,” Koerner said. “They are all fairly matched and push each other. “When one guy has an off day, another will have a good day, they have each other’s back.” Haggerty also enjoys competing with his fellow teammates and spoke highly of his coach. “Out of the other three guys, I think it’s Thaniel that pushes me the most either in practice or in meets,” Haggerty said. “Our coach is great at helping us along emotionally and spiritually, which really helps us out.” Haggerty has goals of Dakota XII Conference LAST YEAR: Hunter Paulsen won the Class A individual championship for the Huskies. He graduated and is now competing for the University of South Dakota. RETURNERS: Dylan Colt (Jr.), Christian Smith (Sr.), Drew Johnson (So.), Eric Nelson (So.), Jordan Niles (8th) NEWCOMERS: Casey Kneip (7th), Christian Welch (7th), Matthew Noteboom (So.) Ethan-Parkston COACH: Jared Digmann ASSISTANT: Eric Aisenbrey VITALS: Class A, Region 3, Southeast South Dakota Conference RETURNING: Jonah Murtha (Jr., state qualifier), A.J. Zolnowsky (Sr., state qualifier), Tanner Hohn (So., state qualifier), Tucker Murtha (So., state qualifier), Erik Fuerniss (So., state qualifier NEWCOMERS: Dylan Chmela (So.), Evan Weeman (Fr.), Zach Clauson (8th), Eric Gustafson (7th), Logan Hettinger (7th) Freeman COACH: Rory Hermsen VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Cornbelt Conference #1483 Alec Atwood • Beresford Save money. Live Better. 3001 Broadway Ave. Yankton, SD 605-665-1425 N. Hwy. 81, Yankton 665-6394 HOURS: Sun.-Thurs. 11am-9pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-10pm Jim & Pam Cunningham, Owners FREE Truck & Driver With Move-In Ryan Haggerty • Freeman Academy placing again in the State Meet. “Typically I am strong at the end of the season, but I would like to be more consistent in the early meets,” Haggerty said. “I would like to place again and that is pretty doable.” Freeman Academy will compete against stronger competition by racing in meets against Class A schools, instead of just Class B schools, to help push the team to get better. They will also be competing in the Nike Heartland Preview in Sioux Falls on Sept. 12 that will bring competition from Class AA schools as well as 1501 West City Limits Rd • Yankton, SD Follow @michaelhammond_ on Twitter. Gayville-Volin COACH: Larry Buffington ASSISTANTS: Gene Bormann, Matt Malloy VITALS: Class B, Region 2, Tri-Valley Conference RETURNING: Parker Bailey (So.); Cade Rickford (So.); Colbey Rickford (So.); McKee Taven (So.) Irene-Wakonda COACH: Jim Katrenak VITALS: Class B, Region Jonah Murtha • Ethan-Parkston 2B, Tri-Valley Conference RETURNING: Levi Van RETURNING: James Bauer Beek (Jr., state qualifier); Joe Sees (Fr., state qualifier); (Fr.); Bailey Sage (8th); Tryg Aanenson (8th); Klyle Lemme Mike Sees (So.); Alfonso Erickson (So.); Kaden Mork (8th) (So.) NEWCOMERS: Zain Spangler (7th) COACH: Suzanne Koerner VITALS: Class B, Region 3, Tri-Valley Conference COACH: Jerry Kippes LAST YEAR: The Bobcats, VITALS: Class B, Region 3, champions of the Tri-Valley Cornbelt Conference Conference and Region 3B, RETURNING: Greg Engbrefinished third at the state cht (Sr.), Elias Fredriksen meet. RETURNING: Ryan HagBOYS XC | PAGE 13 gerty (Sr., state qualifier, th 10 ), Dane Allison (Jr., state qualifier, 24th), Brennan Haggerty (So., state qualifier, 29th), Thaniel Schroeder (Fr., state qualifier, 28th) NEWCOMERS: Stephen Waltner (So.), Luke Allison (Fr.), Titus Roesler (7th) Freeman Academy Marion Stewart Carpet Center 1803 Broadway, Yankton, SD Ph. 605-665-7183 stewartcarpetcenter.com Carpet and Hard Surface Flooring Logan Hansen • Viborg-Hurley Keeping Smiles Healthy & Young Experience Gentle, Personalized Dental Care For Your Entire Family! 1101 Broadway Suite 105, Morgen Square Plaza 665-2448 • www.scott-family-dentistry.com We aren’t just in your neighborhood. We are part of your community. Being located in your community and being an active member of it are two very different things. We’re honored to serve you both through funeral care and community involvement. Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust. On-Site Manager • Security Gate Fenced Facility • Overhead Doors Lighted • 7 Different Sizes Available 605-665-4207 bigger schools from outside of the state. 665-9679 • 1-800-495-9679 www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton Memorial Resource Center, Tyndall Memorial Chapels, Tabor, Menno & Tyndall