:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/HBA2MGXU5NDFNLDDBFVSHLTWLU.JPG)
The Creston boys and girls cross country teams met in the commons at Creston Community High School Wednesday night which culminated the 2021 season.
Those present at the banquet got to enjoy both a chili and cinnamon roll dinner as well as a prepared speech by first year varsity head coach Maggie Arnold.
Coach Arnold opened the night with a reflection on the Homecoming run with the game ball from Saydel.
“The kids raised a ton of money doing that,” Arnold said. “My initial thoughts were if they could raise $300, I would be thrilled, there were 20 of them collecting money, you know, like they can get somewhere between $10-20 apiece, I would be pleased with that. They completely blew me away and actually raised $3,000 on that fundraiser alone.”
The boys cross country team only had two athletes that had ever run a cross country race before this season. However, even with the lack of experience, coach Arnold saw the passion and excitement from her runners.
“This was just such a fun group of guys,” Arnold said. “I loved watching them compete. I knew that when they went out to run every race, that they were running to win or to they’re trying their hardest to do.”
The most improved runner award, well, most improved runners went to the entire boys team.
“When thinking upon it and talking with Coach Briley, we wanted to give it to the entire guys team,” Arnold said. “Coming in with absolutely no experience, for the most part, they really turned it on at the end of the season.”
Adam Short earned a participant award.
To letter for the Creston cross country team, a runner must compete and finish and 50% of the varsity races on the regular season schedule, or make the varsity lineup for the postseason competitions.
Varsity letterwinners:
Christian Ahrens*
Triston Barncastle*
Gabe Hopkins*
Bryce Hull*
Tyson Smith*
Riley Wipperman***
* denotes letters won in Creston cross country.
In addition to winning letters and participant awards, every member of the Creston boys cross country team won an Academic Achievement Award from the IHSAA.
“The criteria is that they have to achieve a 3.0 or above in the classroom,” Arnold explained.
Triston Barncastle, Adam Short and Tyson Smith were the senior runners for the boys team this fall.
Coach Arnold had high expectations for the girls team as they carried experience into the fall slate of races.
“I expected them to compete every single time in the top half of all teams at every meet,” Arnold said. “I also had the expectation that they knew what they needed to do for me. They had me as a cross country coach in middle school, and I expect them to work hard every single day. And they knew that coming into the season, it wasn’t like we just met.”
Riley DeGonia, who was the lone state qualifier for Creston cross country had an exceptional postseason. She finished 17th at the Hawkeye 10 conference meet and 92nd at the state meet.
With the 17th place finish at the conference meet, DeGonia earned all-conference recognition.
“She was running her best cross country meets at the end of the season this year, and kept the state qualifiers streak alive,” Arnold said. “Since 2009, a girl on the cross country team has qualified for state.”
Tristen Rice and Caytee Wipperman won participation awards.
Varsity letters
Payton Davis*
Riley DeGonia***
Carly Green**
Emma Pantini***
Zoe Ralston**
Autumn Stafford***
Sydney Strunk***
Mallory Wilson***
* denotes letters won in Creston cross country.
The lettering process is the same for the girls team, compete in 50% of the regular season and/or compete in the varsity lineup for the postseason events.
Similar to the boys team, the IGHSAU gives out Academic Achievement Awards for those with GPAs of 3.25 or higher. Every girl on the Creston cross country team won an Academic Achievement Award.
There were no seniors on the girls cross country team.