Waukon girls cross country team for 2023 returns nearly all of its competitors from last season in fielding largest squad in a decade
2023 Waukon girls cross country ... Left to right - Front row: Nevaeh Cooper, Harper Winter, Braelyn Zuercher, Kara Helgerson, Laira Davis, Tatum Dugan, Leah Peake, Ali Nagel, Haley Cook, Miriam Downing; Middle row: Marissa Schullo, Nora Davis, Makenna Kurth, Claire Johnson, Reegan Benzing, Mia Kurth, Kaitlyn Krambeer, Emma Retallick, Bella Moudy, Bryiah Stewart; Back row: Danika Reiser, Moriah Downing, Jaelyn Johanningmeier, Emma O’Neill, Natalie Byrnes, Trudy Baxter, Ashlin O’Neill, Cameron Johnson, Mallory Berns, Addisyn Berns. Not pictured; Tanner Burrichter.
2023 Waukon girls cross country returning letterwinners ... Left to right - Front row: Mia Kurth, Kaitlyn Krambeer, Emma Retallick; Back row: Natalie Byrnes, Trudy Baxter, Ashlin O’Neill, Cameron Johnson, Mallory Berns.
The 2023 Waukon girls cross country season will not only benefit from returning nearly all of its competitors from last season but will also have the added bonus of fielding its largest participation numbers in more than a decade as the Lady Indians take to the course this fall. Having graduated just one senior from last season’s squad, head coach Tyler Scholl has welcomed 30 young ladies so far to this fall’s early-season practices.
“We have the largest group of kids out for girls cross country within the last 10 years,” Coach Scholl explained. “It’s been fun seeing 30 girls in grades 7-12 out for the sport and seeing how the team continues to mature and grow because of our leadership from the upperclassmen. We have new runners on our squad that have put in the work this summer and proved they can run on the heels of our veterans. Our freshman class will have a significant impact on our squad and I’m excited to see them grow into the sport.”
The Lady Indians will be looking to improve on their fifth-place team finish at last season’s Northeast Iowa Conference Meet. They will also be looking to continue this season on to the ultimate destination after having their previous campaign brought to a close with a seventh-place team finish at their State Qualifying Meet last fall.
“Once again, building our runners up has always been the focus,” Coach Scholl remarked. “Even though our runners have had plenty of achievements in the past, it’s rewarding to see them gain confidence in themselves and seeing their hard work pay off.”
That hard work was scheduled to get a chance to show itself when the distance Tribe opens its season Thursday, August 24 at the Iowa Falls Invitational being held at Maynes Grove Park located between Iowa Falls and Hampton. The Lady Indians will then compete at the Charles City Invitational Thursday, August 31.
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