Columbus North’s, from left, Clayton Guthrie, Mateo Mendez, Will Russell and Evan Carr compete in the regional meet Oct. 16, 2021 at Ceraland. Guthrie, Mendez and Russell return to lead the Bull Dogs this season.
The Republic file photo
After three consecutive podium finishes, including a state championship in 2020, the Columbus North boys cross-country team will try to make it four in a row this fall.
Here is a look at the Bull Dogs and the other area boys cross-country teams going into the 2022 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs lost their coach and four of their top seven runners, including state champion Reese Kilbarger-Stumpff, who now is at Colorado, and Matt Newell, who now is at Navy.
But North does return a trio of seniors from that third-place state team in Clayton Guthrie, Mateo Mendez and Will Russell. Guthrie and Mendez ran on the Bull Dogs’ state champion 4×800-meter relay team in track this spring, and Russell was a state qualifier in the 3,200.
“All three of them have done well in our workouts that we’ve done,” said Andy Keffaber, who takes over as head coach after being an assistant the past few years. “I don’t know who’s going to be out front, but they all look really good right now.”
Seniors Kellen Hottell and Sam Hobbeheydar have been among the Bull Dogs’ top JV runners the past couple of years and could fill the No. 4 and 5 spots. Senior Charlie Smith and sophomore Neal White are the frontrunners for the other two varsity spots.
“Our senior class is strong,” Keffaber said. “We knew that coming in.”
Also pushing for a spot in the top seven are juniors Akot Tong, Adam Reckers, Draven Martinez and Amit Gangadhara; senior Adler Larson and sophomore Jonny Klaus.
“We had a really good week of camp, which means that when guys were on their own, they were still getting their runs in,” Keffaber said. “I think it shows a lot of discipline on their part that even though we weren’t together all the time this summer, when they were on their own, they got their training in.”
Columbus East
The Olympians will look to make a postseason run this fall after not making it out of the sectional last season.
“Our goal is actually to get to semistate,” East coach Ryan Burke said. “I definitely think regional is something we’re going to get to this year, and I want to get a bigger breakthrough than that and go to the next level.”
Columbus East’s Cayden Lynott, Jackson Brookes and Derek Patchett compete against Columbus North Aug. 24, 2021 at Ceraland.
The Republic file photo
Sophomore Jackson Brookes was the Olympians’ No. 1 runner as a freshman last year. Senior Cayden Lynott and junior Derek Patchett joined Brookes in qualifying for regional as indivdiuals.
Junior Parker Hammack and sophomore Zeke Weatherford also ran varsity last season. Junior Jacob Peeples and freshman Lorren Westerfeld have the inside track on the other two varsity spots.
Freshmen Asher Stevens and Elijah Clore and junior Chris Gilroy, a transfer from Hauser, also could push for spots in the top seven.
“We have a lot of turnover from last year, but I’m excited about the group we have right now,” Burke said. “We’re a pretty young team, but I think we have the potential to go further than we have in awhile.”
Hauser
The Jets will have a full team this year after not having enough runners to score last season.
Junior Colin Kistler was the No. 1 runner and a regional qualifier last season. Senior Cameron Toole, who ran cross-country his first two years and played soccer last fall, is back after a big track season this spring.
Freshmen Nolan Dailey and Mason Moore, sophomores Kase Meister and Ledger Gelfius and juniors Taylen Absher and Will Walters are newcomers.
“We’re definitely very young,” Hauser coach Ben Finke said. “We’re learning some things, and hopefully, we’ll get better as the season comes along.”
Jennings County
The Panthers have been solid contenders to make the state finals the past few years, but it may be a little tougher this season after losing four of their top five to graduation.
“There’s a lot of spots open for these younger guys coming up,” Jennings coach Luke Inman said. “We’re inexpereinced this year, but I think that’s going to create a more competitive environment. We lost a lot, but I’m feeling pretty good about the team we have this year.”
Senior Eli Wahlman is the top returner. Sophomore Kraedyn Young played football last year, but had a big track season and is out for cross-country.
“He’s going to be our guy that’s going to challenge the front guys in our conference,” Inman said. “Eli Wahlman is super experienced, and he can challenge those boys, too. Then, Noah (McFall) has improved tremendously this summer.”
McFall, a senior, ran varsity last season, and senior Levi Marsh and sophomore Brock Maschino split time in the No. 7 spot. Battling for the other varsity spots this year are freshmen Zachary Wahlman, Dawson Leak and Danny Rodriguez and junior Elijah Hatton
Inman said most of the older runners got in about 425 miles in nine weeks this summer.
“At the end of the summer, we like to take our team up to Indiana Dunes National Park and reward the boys,” Inman said. “We have a lot of new guys, and it was a good bonding experience. It was pretty easy to get them out on the beach to train.”
Brown County
The Eagles return most of their runners from a semistate team.
Back to lead Brown County is individual state qualifier Chase Austin. Senior Rafe Silbaugh; juniors Cord Smith, Charlie Webb and Clay Austin and sophomore Case Smith also ran varsity last season.
Sophomore Kai Koester and freshman Eli Wrightsman are battling for the other varsity spot
“We have a frontrunner with Chase,” Brown County coach Rob Abraham said. “He’s kind of made himself into one of the better runners in the area. It’s just going to be how close we can pack our 2-through-5 together.”
South Decatur
The Cougars advanced to regional last year, but lost five runners to graduation.
Seniors Chase Kalli, Damian Jackson and Jack Hamilton and juniors Donovan Hale and Conner Newby are the top returners. They will be joined by junior newcomer Logan Wilkinson.
“We will be strong in leadership on the boys side with these upperclassmen,” South Decatur coach Bethany Fromer said. “I’m hoping that these young runners will be ready to step into the next few years with these varsity spots. Six runners so far on the boys side but are ready to come out as a strong team to start the year.”
Edinburgh
The Lancers have three runners to begin the season and are hoping for a couple more to be able to score as a team.
Sophomore Brian Callejas and junior Ethan Campbell return from last season. They are joined by sophomore Irving Luis-Orozco, who was a distance runner in track and also plays football.
“Brian and Ethan are both improving their times,” Edinburgh coach Amy Schilling said. “They’re looking strong. Irving needs to learn how to race, but his endurance is there, and he’s competitive. I think he’ll help quite a bit once he learns how to put together a full race.”
The 2022 boys cross-country schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Aug. 17 at Brown County Challenge 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 20 at Brown County Harrier Classic 9:15 a.m.
Aug. 23 at Columbus North 5:30 p.m.
Aug. 27 at Franklin Invitational 8:30 a.m.
Sept. 3 at Columbus North Classic 9 a.m.
Sept. 10 at Whiteland Invitational 9 a.m.
Sept. 17 at Jennings County Invitational 9 a.m.
Sept. 24 at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational 9 a.m.
Oct. 1 HHC at Seymour 9 a.m.
Columbus North
Aug. 17 at Brown County Challenge 5:45 p.m.
Aug. 23 Columbus East 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 3 Columbus North Classic 9 a.m.
Sept. 10 at Brown County Eagle Classic 9 a.m.
Sept. 17 Conference Indiana at Ceraland 9 a.m.
Sept 24 at Shelbyville Inviational 8:30 a.m.
Oct. 1 Nike Valley Twilight at Terre Haute 6 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 16 Hauser Hokum-Karem 5 p.m.
Aug. 20 Small Schol Invitational at Blue River Park 10:30 a.m.
Aug. 25 at South Decatur Invitational 5 p.m.
Sept. 3 at East Central Invitational 9 a.m.
Sept. 10 at Whiteland Invitational 8:30 a.m.
Sept. 17 MHC at Blue River Park 9 a.m.
Sept. 24 Heritage Day Classic 9 a.m.
Sept. 29 at Greensburg Invitational 5 p.m.
