Six of the seven members of Gehlen's state qualifying cross country team return as the Lady Jays seek a return trip to Fort Dodge this fall.
LE MARS -- With nearly all of their varsity runners returning from 2010, the Gehlen Catholic boys and girls cross country teams are poised for another successful season.
"I'd say we are further ahead, just because everyone knows where they stand already and we can push each other harder," Gehlen senior Kaitlin Roberts said. "We want to just keep pushing and see how good we can get."
The Lady Jays return all but one runner, graduated senior Mary Henrich, from their team that raced to a 13th-place finish at the state cross country meet last fall.
Gehlen senior Matt Mayer is seeking a repeat trip to state after qualifying as a junior.
The boys squad graduated senior Josh Hodgson, one of three All-War Eagle Conference runners in 2010, but returns the remainder of its varsity lineup.
Both teams have high expectations for the 2011 season.
"I think we are a lot better and if everybody does their best, we can easily win meets," senior Matt Mayer said. "Having most of our varsity back is definitely a plus."
Teresa Taylor returns to coach the Gehlen runners for the fifth year and she too is excited about the possibilities this fall.
"Our core teams are back for this season, so we hope to have a strong season once again," said Taylor, who sent eight runners to state a year ago. "I've already started emphasizing to my runners that the little things count - each part of the season is important to work hard and be proud of."
On the boys side, Mayer advanced to state where he clocked a 48th-place time of 17:51.
Mayer, who placed 10th at the district race in Holstein and also earned all-conference honors as a junior, is the only senior on the boys team, but is surrounded by plenty of experience.
Jacob Begnoche was also an all-conference runner a year ago and is pushing his teammates in practice, Mayer said.
Derek Bretey, Greg Langel, Andrew Lipp and Austin Woerdehoff are all returning letter winners for the Jays.
"It's a lot of pressure, being a senior, but you just gotta set a good example and get everyone motivated," Mayer said. "I want to get to state and hopefully have the whole team go too. I know what (state is) like, I know what you have to do to get there, so hopefully it will work out."
On the girls side, a trio of seniors - Roberts, Nicole Ryan and Molly Wankum - will lead the team as it searches for a return trip to Fort Dodge.
"I feel like we all understand cross country and we know the courses," Ryan said.
"We know how we are as a team and I think that will make us stronger."
The girls agree that the team looks strong in practice and that they all feel like a family.
"Our strength is how close we are," Roberts said. "We all run together as a pack - there's not anyone super far ahead or super far back. We all run together and push each other."
Wankum and Alli Sitzmann were both All-War Eagle Conference runners in 2010 and the Lady Jays raced to a third-place finish in the league meet. The girls also placed third at the regional meet in Holstein. The seniors would like to see their team improve on those finishes this fall.
Leah Ellensohn and Alexis Madsen join Roberts, Ryan, Wankum and Sitzmann as the team's returning letter winners. All six girls ran at the state meet last fall.
"I think everyone's looking really strong," Wankum said. "If everyone keeps working hard, we'll have a good team this year. It's exciting to have the same girls back and know that we can do well this year."
Gehlen opens the 2011 season at Okoboji on Thursday and will compete in Brunsville at the Gary Meyer Invite next Tuesday, Sept. 6.
"I am just looking forward to seeing how far we go and seeing how far we can push ourselves," Roberts said.
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