Class AA boys cross country preview: Patriots chasing another state crown
Lincoln enters this year's cross country season as the two-time defending Class AA champions, and the Patriots didn't lose much from last year's team.
A third consecutive crown is definitely within reach for the loaded Pats, who boast the top two runners in the state in seniors Will Lauer and Nathan Schroeder.
Lauer finished runner-up last year to Brookings' Addison DeHaven, but with DeHaven graduating, Lauer is a favorite to take the individual crown.
Schroeder will be in the mix as well, finishing in fourth place just 18 seconds behind Lauer at last year's meet.
Lincoln won the state championship with 32 points last year, fifth-best in state history, cruising to a 63-point advantage over runner-up Roosevelt.
Rapid City Stevens could make some noise this year as the Raiders return their entire team that placed third at last year's meet. Mark Poston is back for his senior year after finishing ninth last season.
O'Gorman also returns its entire group from last year's team that finished fourth in state.
Roosevelt returns a healthy squad as well as Jesus Urtusuastegui and Tyler Slaba both return for their senior season after strong runs at the state meet in 2013.
Here's a closer look at the Sioux Falls teams:
Lincoln
The Patriots return six of their top seven runners from last year's state championship team and are poised to repeat at this year's Class AA meet, to be held Oct. 25 in Huron.
"We had a great summer of training and we have put ourselves in position to achieve some lofty goals set a year ago," said Lincoln coach Eric Pooley.
Along with Lauer and Schroeder leading the way, Lincoln has a deep pack of runners from positions three through seven. Returning runners are seniors Anders Rasmussen, Tyler Dobson, Dreux Selzer and sophomore Gabe Peters.
Roosevelt
The Riders have a strong tradition and have placed in the top three positions at the state meet for eight straight years. Last year's second-place finish is most likely where Roosevelt will be gunning for again this year with Lincoln heading the field.
Roosevelt has a strong returning cast through the top four spots, but things get thin for the Riders after that. The season will most certainly create some separation from the fifth spot down for Roosevelt.
Along with seniors Urtusuastegui and Slaba, the Riders look to senior Lukas Nelson and junior Daniel Armstrong to carry the load. Sophomores Seth Iverson and Thane Hein will also contribute for the Riders.
O'Gorman
The Knights are deep as they return their entire roster from last year's fourth-place team.
Ethan Knobloch was O'Gorman's top finisher last year with a 19th-place effort, and he's back for his senior year.
Knobloch and seniors Rodrigo Balmaceda and Joseph Schmidt will carry the leadership load for the Knights. Juniors Tiegen Lindner, Cole Edwards and sophomore Preston Knobloch round out the field for O'Gorman.
Washington
The Warriors have depth, but not a lot of those returners are running up front. Senior Logan Swenson is the top performer for the Warriors after he finished eighth in last year's state meet. But things fall off after that.
Swenson was the only Washington runner to place in the top 25.
"Every year we have a goal of placing in the top half of the state meet," Washington coach Mike Schultz said. "Our inexperience will make that a very tough goal. We are going to need some other runners to step up and compete at a high level for that to happen."
FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS
The Argus Leader is taking a closer look at the high school fall sports season with a series of area previews. Here's the schedule:
Today: Boys cross country
Sunday: Girls cross country
Aug. 27-28: Soccer
Aug. 28: Football (special section)
Sept. 1-2: Volleyball
Sept.5: Softball