By Becky Walz,
The Turkey Valley cross country teams may be small, but there is talent.
With six returning athletes, the Trojans will need everyone to step up and produce strong times meet in and meet out.
Putting the team together is Head Coach Sarah Bakula, who is entering her fifth season with the program.
Small squad
The Trojan girls of 2020 had one senior, four juniors and a freshman making up a team. The boys had four harriers including a junior, a sophomore and two freshmen.
Despite the limited participants, there was experience available to lead the team throughout the season. Running at the front of the field for the entire season, Jalyssa Blazek was the runner-up at the Upper Iowa Conference meet in West Union, behind Kee’s Haley Meyer and just ahead of South Winn’s Billie Wagner. Also earning fourth all-UIC honor was senior Jaycie Byrne. Cambree Kruse was also an all-UIC honoree, finishing fifth in 21:07.
When it came time for the state qualifying meet, the Trojans put together a team which finished fifth with 104 points and saw two harriers keep their seasons alive.
Blazek took bronze and punched her third ticket to the state meet in 19:52.6. Crossing the finish line in eighth, Byrne earned her third trip to the state cross country meet in 21:37.2. Kruse came home in 11th, while Hailey Elsbernd and Kourtney Schmidt completed the team score in 47th and 55th places, respectively.
Byrne finished her high school career with a personal best time of 21:20.3, earning 33rd place at state.
Looking forward
The Trojans have four athletes back with letters from 2020, giving Bakula several reasons to be excited about the season starting, beginning with her returning veterans.
Leading the way will be three-time state qualifier and medalist Blazek. Entering her senior campaign, she is ranked No. 3 in Class 1A after finishing third last season in 19:30.5. Each of her prior seasons, Blazek has been in the top six at state.
Kruse narrowly missed individually qualifying for the state meet, finishing 11th in 21:49.7. Hailey Elsbernd toured the course in 26:31.6, good for 47th during her junior state qualifying race.
Senior Dale Schwamman is the lone letter winner back for the boys’ squad. A year ago, Schwamman finished 32nd at the UIC meet in 20:37 and 44th in the state qualifier in 20:51.6.
“We have a small squad so everyone will have a role to play in success of the teams,” noted Coach Bakula. “I see the same strengths in both the girls’ and boys’ teams — unity, determination, friendly and supportive.”
Joining the small contingent of runners for the Trojans are Alayna Kuennen, Luke Langreck, Lucas Hanson and Bode Balk.
Teams to beat
The South Winn girls are at the top of Coach Bakula’s list of favorites to claim the Upper Iowa Conference title, while she expects to see North Fayette Valley and South Winn boys battle it out.
Looking at her own Trojans, the fifth-year coach has a goal to have all her runners performing their best at conference with some all-UIC nods.
“I look to have a great season with this bunch of kids. We have some huge potential for improvement in each individual and the end result of the season is to finish on the big stage at state, so those are the goals we have set,” concluded Coach Bakula.
The Trojans will open the season Thursday, Sept. 2, at Charles City.
Submit A Comment
Fill out the form to submit a comment. All comments require approval by our staff before it is displayed on the website.