Waukon boys cross country program takes another step forward during 2015 campaign, says farewell to one of largest senior groups

The Waukon boys cross country team took another step or two forward this season in the recent resurgence of the program, using the return of every one of its runners from last season’s State qualifying accomplishment to not only repeat that same fate this fall but improve on it and many other team finishes throughout this season. Among those improvement steps forward was a 12th-place finish at the Class 2A State Meet, a second-place finish in the State Qualifying Meet that boosted them to that season grand finale, and the distance Tribe’s first invitational meet victory in half a dozen seasons.
Waukon boys cross country coach Tara Stein placed those season accomplishments among her team’s greatest achievements this fall. “Top of the list would be qualifying for and making a return trip to the State Meet,” she said, adding, “Winning the North Fayette Valley meet, which was our first team victory in six seasons.”
Coach Stein also listed some individual accomplishments achieved by some of her charges among this season’s highlights, including the All-Conference and All-District placewinnings earned by this season’s junior front-running pair, Tyler O’Neill and Austin Day, both of whom are anticipated back for their senior seasons next fall. Coach Stein also highlighted the combined classroom and course efforts of seniors Isaac Fink and T.J. Treptau that earned each of those veteran leaders Academic All-State recognition this season.
“Hopefully, we are able to use this year’s accomplishments as yet another stepping stone in our process to establish Waukon CC as a team to contend with year in and year out,” Coach Stein noted.
Despite that extensive list of season highlights and achievements, one can’t help but wonder if even greater things were in store for this season’s team had everyone remained in good health throughout the season. “The greatest challenge that we faced as a team this year was staying healthy,” Coach Stein explained. “Between illness and injuries, it made it tough to train and compete at our highest level and/or run the kind of times that we had our sights set on. However, the guys did an awesome job of picking up the slack when a teammate could not run or was not able to run at 100%.”
The end of this season not only closes the books on one of the most successful Waukon boys cross country seasons in recent history, but also on the high school cross country careers of eight seniors who have played a role in helping to rebuild the program that many of them have dedicated their falls and prior off-seasons to since they were in middle school. Five of this season’s seniors, Brock Berns, Isaac Fink, Will Keenan, Kameron Klinge and Noah Liddiard, have been running cross country for the Indians since they were seventh graders, with fellow senior Tanner Manning in the mix since his eighth grade season, and Carter Fuhrman and T.J. Treptau contributing their efforts since joining the team in their freshman and sophomore year, respectively.
“First off, I would like to thank the seniors for everything that they have done to help get Waukon cross country back on the map, and I would like to wish them well with their future endeavors,” Coach Stein remarked. “Most of this year’s group of seniors is a group that I have had the pleasure of coaching since they were in eighth grade. It has been fun to watch them grow and improve over the years on and off the cross country course. Needless to say, with all of the years that these young men dedicated to cross country, we are going to have some hefty shoes to fill next fall.”
With this year’s large collection of veteran upperclassmen having paved the way to the season grand finale now in back-to-back seasons, it is hoped that example is one that will leave a lasting legacy of high-end achievement for the future of the Waukon boys cross country program. “It is never easy seeing the seniors move on, but I am looking forward to next fall and seeing how the underclassmen step up to the challenge of fulfilling every cross country team’s ultimate goal of running in Fort Dodge at the end of October,” Coach Stein shared.
Reaching that ultimate goal, however, takes much more effort than just a legacy left behind and going through the motions during the fall cross country season, according to Coach Stein. “For continued growth, I feel that it is important for the boys to remain active during the winter and spring months, in addition to being committed to running summer miles,” she said. “Along these lines, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being out for track and logging summer miles, both of which play important roles in becoming stronger runners, ultimately resulting in improved times and results.”