NV/OM boys runners begin season ranked 20th

Head coach Brooke Wilson has her entire boys roster returning from last season, which makes her excited for the upcoming cross country season.

Nodaway Valley/OM kicks off competition Thursday, Sept. 4 in a meet hosted by West Central Valley in Redfield.

There are 11 boys on this year’s roster and three girls.

Last year, the Wolverine boys had a host of accomplishments, topped by winning the conference meet championship and sending Gabe Winkelmann to state. They begin this season ranked 20th in Class 1A, according to the Iowa Track and Field Coaches Association rankings released Monday. No individuals are ranked yet for the Wolverines.

“I think this is going to be a really good season for us. I think we’ve got a lot of strong runners and have brought in a few new ones who have done really well all summer in our practices,” Wilson said. “I think it’s going to be really good.”

Wilson isn’t shy that the team’s goal is to go to state as a group this fall. If they do, it would be the first time a team has made it to state since 2020 and their 18th trip in program history.

“I think we were a tad bit disappointed last year because wanted to send a few more to state than we did,” Wilson said. “We were very happy with what we had. There was a lot of sickness last season, so I think that had something to do with it as well. I’m excited to see how this season goes.”

NV put all of its top five runners in the top 11 at the conference meet last year and all of them return. Behind Winkelmann, returners are junior Luke Kading, junior Haden Colton, junior Paul Kading, sophomore Cherubim Mercado and sophomore Dominic Breheny. Everett Ehler, Lyrick Schwartz and Lincoln Van Horn are in as freshmen after turning in solid performances in eighth grade.

Kaylee Van Horn is a junior who returns to the girls team. Others are freshmen Abby Nelson and Kenzie Lilly. Nelson had an outstanding middle school career, taking the conference championship. Wilson’s goal for her is to qualify for state this year.

Also ranked among 1A boys is AC/GC. The Chargers are ranked No. 7 in the preseason rankings. The Chargers have one ranked runner in junior Preston Kent who is ranked 30th.

On the girls’ side of the 1A rankings, the Pride of Iowa Conference had one ranked team. The Martensdale-St. Marys Blue Devils check in ranked 10th. MStM also has a pair of ranked individual runners in seniors Karson Oberender (seventh) and Maclaine German (16th).

NV/OM hosts its home meet Monday, Oct. 6 but also hosts the Pride of Iowa Conference Championships Oct. 14.

“We expect to take the boys team to state. I hope that happens,” Wilson said. “They all have the talent. If they stay healthy and push themselves we will get there.”