MID-PRAIRIE CROSS COUNTRY

Golden Hawks win team titles in River Valley cross country

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 10/26/24

IOWA CITY

Mid-Prairie’s cross country runners set the stage for state contention last week at Kickers Park in Iowa City.

Emmett Swartzentruber, a senior who is the defending state …

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MID-PRAIRIE CROSS COUNTRY

Golden Hawks win team titles in River Valley cross country

Posted

IOWA CITY

Mid-Prairie’s cross country runners set the stage for state contention last week at Kickers Park in Iowa City.

Emmett Swartzentruber, a senior who is the defending state champion in Class 2A, finished second in the River Valley Conference boys championship race.

Brooklyn Stutzman, a sophomore who made her state meet debut as a freshman last year, finished third in the girls race.

No surprises there.

But the Golden Hawks dominated both races behind their lead runners at Kickers Park, as both teams captured conference championships in a league that head coach Mark Hostetler calls the best 2A conference in the state. And both teams won those titles by 21 points over Tipton.

“It’s just a really tough conference,” Hostetler said. “And for us to be able to win both of them was exceptional. I always felt like, if you could finish in the top three, you’re doing extremely well.”

Five Golden Hawks finished among the top 14 in the girls race, and five Golden Hawks finished among the top 15 in the boys race.

Swartzentruber finished 12 seconds behind winner Clay Bohlmann of Tipton, but his time of 16 minutes. 37.4 seconds trimmed 22 seconds off his previous time this year at Kickers Park.

“I feel good,” Swartzentruber said. “I’m very happy with the team, super proud of our team.”

Preston Yutzy, a senior, finished fourth, and Jayse Yoder, another senior, was 10th. Maxon Swartzentruber, a sophomore, was two spots back in 12th. Luke Brokaw, a junior, finished 15th.

While Mid-Prairie’s boys team had three senior leaders scoring high, the girls team attacked with a squad filled by freshmen and sophomores. Two sophomores, Stutzman and Kendal Landstrum, finished among the top eight, and freshman Rachel Hostetler, a younger sister of three-time state champion Danielle Hostetler, finished sixth. Of the Golden Hawks’ top six finishers, only Dessa Poll, in 18th place, is a senior.

“Just to be able to do that well in this conference is amazing,” Mark Hostetler said. “I’m super happy.”

Stutzman finished with a time of 19:53.6.

Rachel Hostetler of Mid-Prairie was the only freshman to finish in the Top 10.

Tessa Brokaw, another Mid-Prairie freshman, finished 12th.

Coach of the Year

Mark Hostetler was named River Valley Coach of the Year following the races.

After taking a year off last year, Hostetler has led the girls and boys into state contention and conference championships, along with assistant coach Jeremy Meyers.

 

RIVER VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIPS

(At Kickers Soccer Park, Oct. 15)

GIRLS TEAM: 1, Mid-Prairie, 43; 2, Tipton, 64; 3, Monticello, 112; 4, Cascade, 134; 5, Maquoketa, 143; 6, Anamosa, 169; 7, Camanche, 174; 8, IC Regina, 177; 9, Beckman Catholic, 190; 10, Bellevue, 251; 11, Durant, 322.

GIRLS TOP FIVE: 1, Noelle Steines, Tipton, 18:47.4; 2, Izzy Hardin, Maquoketa, 19:21.8; 3, Brooklyn Stutzman, Mid-Prairie, 19:53.6; 4, Hallie Kelchen, Cascade, 20:12.6; 5, Peyton Ries, Monticello, 20:13.9.

MID-PRAIRIE: 6, Rachel Hostetler, 20:21.7; 8, Kendal Landstrum, 20:35.9; 12, Tessa Brokaw, 21:23.6; 14, Hannah Rodgers, 21:44.8; 18, Dessa Poll, 22:02; 25, Rebekah Wallington, 22:29.9; 35, Kyrie Poll, 22:53.8; 47, Ivy Reschly, 23:46.3; 67, Averi Janecek, 25:09.2; 68, Braelee Yoder, 25:10.1; 88, Stephanie Parks, 27:41.6; 90, Alaina Safly, 28:23.8; 94, Natalie Weaver, 28:50.3.

BOYS TEAM: 1, Mid-Prairie, 43; 2, Anamosa and Tipton, 64; 4, Monticello, 87; 5, Durant, 195; 6, Beckman Catholic, 204; 7, Cascade, 211; 8, IC Regina, 215; 9, Bellevue, 221; 10, West Liberty, 242; 11, Maquoketa, 282; 12, Northeast, 338.

BOYS TOP FIVE: 1, Clay Bohlmann, Tipton, 16:25.4; 2, Emmett Swartzentruber, Mid-Prairie, 16:37.4; 3, Aedan Althoff, Monticello, 16:59.7; 4, Preston Yutzy, Mid-Prairie, 17:08.2; 5, Caleb Bohlmann, Tipton, 17:37.8.

MID-PRAIRIE: 10, Jayse Yoder, 17:55; 12, Maxon Swartzentruber, 18:07.5; 15, Luke Brokaw, 18:13.7; 23, Thomas Flynn, 18:30; 32, Jesse Stultz, 18:56.2; 51, Reece Waters, 19:52.9; 79, Ben Lothamer, 21:19.8; 100, Evan Reschly, 22:35.4.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS: 16, Nikkari Poll, 14:39.8; 42, Leah Kelley, 16:14.9; 49, Audrey Huber, 16:56.1; 55, Emma Droll, 17:29.1; 57, Stella Miller, 17:41.7; 58, Ariel Carranza, 18:04.1; 66, Coral Sanchez Vera, 18:53; 67, Lorelai Onken, 18:54.6; 71, Chloe Fay, 19:38.7; 73, Brena Ellis, 20:15.5; 79, Ruby Lowenberg, 24:54.4.

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS: 15, Jacob Lothamer, 13:22.1; 32, Archie Damschen, 14:01.4; 38, Landon Hough, 14:26.8; 49, Andrew Adam, 15:03.5; 53, Jackson Rodgers, 15:48.6.

Mid-Prairie, cross country, River Valley, Emmett Swartzentruber, Brooklyn Stutzman, Mark Hostetler