Aberdeen Roncalli Cavalier runners set to take on new chapter
There’s a new chapter beginning in the Aberdeen Roncalli cross-country program.
Coaches Tim Baustian and Lisa Peterson inherited the reins of the boys’ and girls’ programs from longtime coach Mark Stone and will begin a new era in Cavalier cross-country.
“Stone was a huge key to building up this cross-country program at Roncalli, so it’s big shoes to fill,” said Peterson, who had served as an assistant coach under Stone for five years before stepping into the new role this season.
Baustian will head up the boys’ team, while Peterson will have charge of the girls’ squad, though both coaches and programs will often intermix. The partnership is off to a strong start, according to both coaches.
“I think Tim Baustian is going to be a great leader with his experience running cross-country in high school and in college,” Peterson said.
“(She’s) been an assistant for five years,” Baustian said of Peterson. “Even though she never ran cross-country, she knows how the program should work. The first couple days have been fantastic. She does the things I didn’t even think of.”
A new era, however, doesn’t mean the expectations for the Cavalier teams have changed.
The girls’ team returns two state qualifiers in Isabel Litzen and Mary Gutenkauf, key leaders from a team that finished fourth at the Region 1A meet last season. Litzen and Gutenkauf are young cogs in a youth-laden squad this season.
“We have a very young team,” Peterson said. “But there’s a lot of potential for them. I think we have an opportunity to be in the top three teams for our region.”
Aberdeen opens the season with the first of two home meets, but Peterson pointed out Webster as one of the teams in the Northeast Conference and in the region to keep an eye on.
“I think Webster has built a beautiful program,” she said. “They’ve got some good numbers for the girls, and I think they’ll be a team that we’ll be looking to compete with.”
Webster plays host to both the NEC Championships and the Region 1A meet in October.
On the boys’ side, Baustian has some experience to work with in his first season at the helm. The Cavaliers have five upperclassmen returning to the roster for the 2014 season, including seniors Zach Hammrich, Daniel Holmstrom and Justin Rosebrock.
“Daniel Holmstrom and Justin Rosebrock did a really good job over the summer coming to our open roads,” Baustian said. “Zach Hammrich came a lot, too. It starts from the top, a good program, and they showed up. Showing up is half the battle, or whatever that quote is. Those guys will have a good season.”
Junior Will Geyer, whom Baustian said could have “a pretty special season,” will add depth to the Cavalier seniors, while giving the rest of the nearly 15-man roster time to develop.
“We return a lot of who ran last year,” Baustian said. “We lost one senior, so I really think we’re looking to have a decent year. If we get in shape the way that I think we can, we can probably sneak up on a few people.”
Roncalli finished third at the Region 1A meet last season and figures to be in the mix with the top four teams again this year. Milbank, Redfield-Doland and Webster will be strong season-ending contenders.
But, he said, the beginning of the season is a bigger concern.
“Right now it’s us against ourselves, and towards the end of the year, it can be, ok, where do we rate,” Baustian said.
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Schedule
AUGUST — 30, Roe Granger Invite.
SEPTEMBER — 4, Redfield-Doland Invite; 8, Webster Invite; 13, Ipswich Invite; 18, Roncalli Invite; 20, Huron Invite; 22, Deuel Invite; 27, Univ. of Minnesota Meet; 29, Miller Invite.
OCTOBER — 2, Sisseton Invite; 9, NEC Championships (Webster); 16, Region Champions (Webster); 25, Class A State Championships (Huron).
