Columbus North’s Neal White approaches the finish line in the Brown County Semistate at Eagle Park in Nashville, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
The Republic file photo
The cross-country postseason will have an entirely new look this October.
Gone is the semistate round. Now a three-week postseason, most local teams will run in the sectional at Brown County, with the top five teams advancing to the regional at Angel Mounds State Park in Evansville. The state finals remain at Terre Haute’s Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
Here is a look at the local boys teams heading into the 2023 season:
Columbus North
The Bull Dogs are coming off another podium finish at state. But only two varsity runners return from that fourth-place team.
Junior Neal White is the top returner. White finished 53rd in last year’s state meet and came within one spot of making it to state in the 3,200 meters in track this spring.
“Neal is outstanding,” North coach Rick Sluder said. “He was darn near a state qualifier in track in the 3,200 and was one of the best sophomores in the state. Neal right now is running fantastic, and he’ll be leading us.”
Junior Draven Martinez is the only other varsity returner. Senior Akot Tong was part of the Bull Dogs’ seventh-place 4×800 relay team in track.
Junior Jonny Klaus, senior Adam Reckers, sophomore Denton Sluder and junior Evan Bense have the inside track on the other varsity spots.
“We had those guys in track that popped out,” Rick Sluder said. “Those guys have looked great this summer, so we have a good group there. Then, we have a really strong group of sophomores who have put in a lot of miles, so they’ll be making a really big jump, too. Then, we have a big freshman class, big numbers, and they have some talent.”
North figures to battle with Bloomington North and Bloomington South for the top spots in Conference Indiana and with those two schools, along with Floyd Central, in the regional.
“We think we have a team that can be really competitive,” Rick Sluder said. “They’re going to have to gain a lot of experience in September, but by October, they should be ready to go, and I think we’re starting to get some high expectations.”
Columbus East
The Olympians returned to the regional last season after a two-year absence. Four varsity runners return from that team.
“I’m really excited about this season,” East coach Ryan Burke said. “We’re a pretty young team. We’ve had a little bit of turnover from last season. We’re a pretty young team, but I think that we’re going to be in a good position.”
Columbus East’s Jackson Brookes competes in the boys cross country sectional at Eagle Park in Nashville, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Junior Jackson Brookes has been the Olympians’ No. 1 runner the past two years. Sophomores Lorren Westerfeld and Elijah Clore and junior Chris Gilroy also ran varsity last season.
Junior Zeke Weatherford, freshman Zander Weatherford, sophomore Asher Stevens, junior newcomer Austin Menefee and freshman Stillman Whittington are competing for the other varsity spots.
“We’re not big in numbers, but I think we’re going to be pretty competitive with the guys that we do have,” Burke said. “I’m expecting us to take a big jump this year from where we were last year. I know that the format has changed a bit this year, and I do think that we have a good chance to make it to the regional round.”
Hauser
The Jets repeated as Mid-Hoosier Conference champions last season and finished only 11 points behind East for the fifth-and-final regional qualifying spot.
Hauser’s Colin Kistler competes in the boys cross country sectional at Eagle Park in Nashville, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
The Republic file photo
Senior Colin Kistler made it to semistate as an individual. Sophomore Nolan Dailey and junior Collin Buck were individual regional qualifiers.
Junior Kase Meister and sophomore Mason Moore also return to the varsity. Three freshmen — Grady Niccum, Adrean Tungate and Koleson Grenentz — will battle for varsity spots.
“Our 1-2 should be real good for us, and 3-4-5 could carry us along,” Hauser coach Ben Finke said. “Those freshmen are capable, so we may see some breakthroughs from them, too.”
Columbus Christian
For the first time in about a decade, the Crusaders have some individuals competing in cross-country.
“It was just two or three weeks ago that we looked at resurrecting the program,” Columbus Christian coach Dean Schlaudroff said. “We saw some interest, so we thought we’d get it going again.”
The Crusaders have three runners. Junior Benjamin Halsey is joined by eighth-graders Zane Schlaudroff and Maddyn Fellharty.
“I’m hoping to double that, if not more,” Dean Schlaudroff said. “I think they all show some talent, but we’re just kind of learning as we go. ”
Jennings County
Six runners who ran varsity last year return from a team that qualified for semistate.
Junior Kraedyn Young was the Panthers’ top runner for some of the meets. Also back are junior Brock Maschino, senior Lane Ernstes and sophomores Dawson Leak, Zachary Wahlman and Jace Vojkufa.
Freshman Aaron Lewis, whose father is the former school record holder, will fill the other varsity spot.
“We were really young last year, and we had a lot of new faces,” Jennings coach Luke Inman said. “The inexperience didn’t just hurt us, but we didn’t really mesh as a team. Last year was really tough as far as kids getting warmed up to each other, and we realized how important that is after last year. This year, it’s been great so far. Everybody knows each other. They’re all really good friends now and they trust each other. They’re all excited to run, and they push each other. It’s been an easier summer than last year.”
Brown County
The Eagles qualified for regional as a team last year, but lost five of their top six runners.
“We had a few that didn’t come back out for a variety of reasons, but the ones that did, we had a very good camp last week at McCormick’s Creek,” Brown County coach Rob Abraham said. “With the group that we had coming back, I thought they had the possibility to better than last year’s squad, but we took the hit with people not coming back for whatever reason.”
Senior Charlie Webb has emerged as the Eagles’ frontrunner. Junior Kai Koester is the only other returning varsity runner.
Sophomore Eli Wrightsman has shown a big improvement since last season. Also moving up are seniors Corbin Brahaum, Carter Condon and Elijah LaVere and junior Josh Redman.
“I think there’s some talent there,” Abraham said. “We’ll just have to see how it develops throughout the season.”
South Decatur
The Cougars have four seniors and three freshman to kick off the season.
Senior Donovan Hale and Conner Newby are the lone returners. They are joined by senior newcomers Bob Tryon and Logan Wilkinson.
Freshmen Nick Hunter, Keaton Troutman and Josh Chastain will look to make their mark.
“We definitely have a strong freshman group entering, so we are excited to fill those gaps,” South Decatur coach Bethany Fromer said.
Edinburgh
The Lancers have a new coach, but only one runner when practice began this week.
Senior Ethan Campbell returns as the lone runner.
“Our goal right now is just to get more kids out,” Edinburgh coach Jordan Bowman said.
Trinity Lutheran
After having no runners last year, the Cougars should have enough for a team this season.
Freshmen Rylan Adair, Jacob Lorenz, Braxton Sinclair and Sam Dyer likely will be joined by one other freshman.
“It’s going to be huge,” Trinity coach Keith Dyer said. “We’ve historically had some good cross-country runners from Trinity, and it will be nice to get the program up and running again.”
The 2023 boys cross-country schedules for Bartholomew County schools:
Columbus East
Aug. 16;at Brown County Challenge;5:45 p.m.
Aug. 19;at Brown County Harrier Classic;9:15 a.m.
Aug. 22;Columbus North;5;30 p.m.
Aug. 26;at Franklin Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 2;at Columbus North Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Whiteland Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;at Jennings County Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 23;at Bedford North Lawrence Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 30;HHC at Bedford North Lawrence;9 a.m.
Columbus North
Aug. 16;at Brown County Challenge;5:45 p.m.
Aug. 22;at Columbus East;5:30 p.m.
Aug. 26;Dennis Bays Invitational at Angel Mounds;10 a.m.
Sept. 2;Columbus North Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Brown County Eagle Classic;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;at Shelbyville Golden Bear Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 16;Conference Indiana at Ceraland;9 a.m.
Sept. 30;Nike Valley Twilight at LaVern Gibson;6 p.m.
Hauser
Aug. 15;Hauser Hokum-Karem;5 p.m.
Aug. 19;at Southwestern (Shelby) Small School Invite;10:30 a.m.
Aug. 24;at South Decatur Invitational;5 p.m.
Sept. 2;at East Central Invitational;9 a.m.
Sept. 9;at Whiteland Invitational;8:30 a.m.
Sept. 21;at Big Pumpkin Invitational;5:30 p.m.
Sept. 23;Hauser Heritage Day Classic;9 a.m.
Sept. 28;at Greensburg Invitational;5 p.m.
Sept. 30;Nike Valley Twilight at LaVern Gibson;6 p.m.
Oct. 7;MHC meet at Waldron;9 a.m.
