By Becky Walz,
Ready to race for the South Winn boys cross country team in 2024 are (front row, l-r) Levi Feickert, Clayton Kuboushek, Matthew Donovan, Myles Green; (middle row) Lukas Weiss, Cameron Einck, Hugh Conway, John Donovan; (back row) Caden Tieskoetter, Henry Lensing, Eli Higgins and Brad Dahl. Not pictured is Diego Flores. (Photo by Becky Walz)
Freshman will have a big impact on the South Winn boys’ cross country team this fall.
With more than 50 percent of the team comprised of first-year harriers, it will be a trial by fire experience for the Warriors this fall.
Helping the team grow will be Co-Head Coaches Scott Conway and Kevin Kearney, both in their 31st season.
Good efforts
The 2023 squad was a small one with just three returning letter winners.
There were highs and lows throughout the season that saw the Warriors finish with an average time of 19:40 in third at the UIC meet. Senior Abe Conway and sophomore Brad Dahl finish near the front in fourth and fifth respectively to earn all-conference honors.
At the Class 1A state-qualifying meet a week later in Central Springs, South Winn finished eighth in the team standings but cheered as Conway punched an individual ticket to state in 10th place with a time of 18:01.9. Dahl capped of his season in 16th (18:25.5), while Weiss was 47th (20:29.2). Bo Wangsness concluded his high school career in 49th (20:30.6) with Brennan Franzen rounding out the scorecard in 59th (20:48.0). Others on the course for SW were Diego Flores (71st, 21:52.4) and Eli Higgins (76th, 22:38.0).
Ready to race
Left to pick up the pieces are Brad Dahl and Lukas Weiss to lead the young Warrior squad. According to the coaches, both made big gains this spring in track and look to carry that into this cross country season.
John Donovan will make his return to the courses after an injury sidelined him for his junior campaign. Juniors set to race are Diego Flores and Eli Higgins, while freshman eyeing a spot to make a difference are Clayton Kuboushek, Levi Feickert, Myles Greet, Hugh Conway, Cameron Einck, Caden Tieskoetter, Matthew Donovan and Henry Lensing.
“This season is all about gaining experience and helping the freshmen work into high school training. We may start out a little slower but have the potential to consistently improve and build strength over the season. If we can do that, we can develop into a strong team by the end of the season,” said the coaches. “This is one of largest groups of freshmen we have ever had. Half the battle in cross country is simply having athletes willing to come out and work hard. So, the fact that this group is excited about running at a young age is a great sign for the future.”
What lies ahead
With the boys team young, the season will be about getting them experience and helping them improve throughout the season.
“Learning how to train, how to compete at longer distances and working together as a team will be our main focus,” said Coach Conway and Coach Kearney. “It will take a little patience, but the guys like running, have some talent and are hard workers.”
That said, the Warriors likely will contend for a top 4 or 5 spot at the Upper Iowa Conference meet come later this season. The talented squads of North Fayette Valley and Central Elkader could prove to be the best of the league while MFL MarMac and Clayton Ridge had young teams last year and gained experience.
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