The Ashby-Brandon-Evansville cross country teams got a jolt of energy last year when a number of athletes from programs like volleyball and football joined the sport due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the start of those seasons.
Even though a lot of those athletes either graduated or are back to playing their original sport this fall, A-B-E head coach Robert Bosma still feels that influx of talent set a tone for the athletes who are back.
“I hope this group of guys builds on the success we had last year,” Bosma said of an 11-athlete boys roster. “With the addition of many football players who ran due to postponement of their season, the team learned to compete with a different mentality. The same competition that was present at practices last year is already showing up this year, and the guys are looking to set new (personal records) in every meet.”
The two seniors in either program come from the boys team in Jayden Hoidahl and Wes Siira.
“The strength of the guys is their determination to compete in practice and their desire,” Bosma said. “We have a couple guys (Wes Siira and junior Logan Froemming) who have been in cross country since we started the team five years ago, and they are really stepping up as leaders. Jayden Hoidahl and Kian Gackle are two individuals who are also stepping up as leaders by trying to set the pace in practice. These guys are using each other in practice, which should be a huge benefit in meets if they can run in packs.”
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Both the boys and girls need to work on helping each other by running in packs at meets, Bosma said. The girls have a young nucleus where sophomores Ashley Paulson, Quynn Beherns and Kiatta Korkowski are the oldest runners on the team.
“We have a group of girls that we can start to build around,” Bosma said. “They are a younger group and want to improve. They have a great attitude and really support each other.”
Bosma wants to see these young runners continue to learn and grow around the veterans on this team as the program looks to take another step forward this fall.
“We have some new faces that are going to be huge assets to the team,” Bosma said. “Kian Gackle ran JV last year, but should be helping the varsity this year. Cohen Reiland and Ashley Paulson are new to the team, but proved to be hard workers in track, and I see them stepping up big for us. Many of the junior high runners and a couple freshmen are looking to push for spots on varsity, which means this is going to be a great season.”
2021 ASHBY-BRANDON-EVANSVILLE CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS ROSTER - SOPHOMORES - Kiatta Korkowski, Ashley Paulson, Quynn Beherns; FRESHMAN - Tuyet Vy Bui; 8TH GRADE - Lacey Siira, Lilly Tollefson, Ayden Beherns; 7TH GRADE - Hope Rovang
BOYS ROSTER - SENIORS - Wes Siira, Jayden Hoidahl; JUNIORS - Kian Gackle, Logan Froemming; SOPHOMORES - Cohen Reiland, Micah Fossell; FRESHMEN - Donell Lee, August Bredberg; 8TH GRADE - Kenneth Spielman; Kaleb Fuglseth; 7TH GRADE - Connor Dillehay
ASHBY-BRANDON-EVANSVILLE CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
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Aug. 30 Staples-Motley, 10 a.m.
Sept. 2 New York Mills, 10 a.m.
Sept. 7 at Wadena-Deer Creek, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 13 at Long Prairie GC, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Little Crow GC, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Melrose, 4:30 p.m.
Sept. 25 Milaca, TBD
Oct. 3 at Wheaton GC, 10 a.m.
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Oct. 7 at Hawley GC, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 B-E meet at Pine Ridge GC, 4 p.m.
Oct. 20 Conference meet at Blueberry Pines GC, 4 p.m.
Oct. 28 Section meet, TBD
Nov. 6 State Meet, TBD