Christian Goettsch 5K PR 17:42 - Section 3AA '11. Christian started cross country in 6th grade and has improved steadily over his high school career. The team picture in '06 does not lie, he looks way too small for football, but ready to compete in CC. His sophomore year he particpated in soccer and when he returned to Simley CC, the team welcomed him back with open arms because he is a talented runner and a super kid who provided leadership by hosting team dinners two years in a row in addition to running on his own. Christian has the ability to run competitively in college if decides to do so. More importantly he has the drive run beyond his college days. A listed goal of his simply stated; 'run forever'.
Josh Ketchmark 5k PR 20:26 - Section 3AA '10. Josh has run with Simley CC since 7th grade. Although he took a break during high school, he returned to join the team. We are glad he did as 'Ketch' is a great competitor and fun teammate to be around. He contributed on the varsity squad during the entire season and can be found on the baseball diamond in the spring. And sometimes the batting cages in the fall :. Although the no- shirt club faded at times this season, Josh finished off his career with Simley CC very strong. Good luck next year Ketch!
Connor Phares 5k PR 20:01 - Section 3AA '10. For over two years Connor has embraced the concepts of long runs on the weekend, leadership for workout locations, the importance of cool downs, and pace setting in both practice and meets. Connor has a good understanding of what a captain needs to be for his team and how to conduct himself properly. Connor was also an original 'greenie' who has an awesome attitude about school and sports which is critical to his success as a team leader. Connor has grown up quite a bit since his early days in CC. It has been a pleasure to see his development as an athlete and person.
Parker Tangen 5K PR 18:54 - Section 3AA '11. The boys varsity team was fortunate to have Parker decide to join this year, his first time out for cross country. When he was younger he ran on his own and is also a dedicated swimmer which made him very fit and able to contribute to the varsity team whenever he had a chance. He had a new PR seemingly every week and was able to step up to varsity competition off the hop. Parker even loaned his spikes to a forgetful teammate at the conference meet. A team player to the first degree. He is a nice and genuine young man whose late addition to the team exemplifies the adage 'better late than never'!
Max Wellens 5K PR 16:07 - Section 3AA '11. Along with many of his teammates, Max has been around Simley CC since 7th grade. One of the original 'greenies' of 2006. Back in those days there was no shortage of bravado, speed, big goals, and hair. Fast forward to today, and not that much has changed except the hair. 'Max Man' has learned some tough lessons along his path to high school running success. In order to reach the ultimate goal he had set way back in middle school, make state, this season was to be the 'trials of the miles'. Max has been persistent in his pursuit of that goal and has made a trip to Northfield, MN, a reality. Max was the first Classic Suburban Conference boys champion from Simley High School in a few decades.
TJ Farber 5K PR 20:31 - Classic Suburban Conference '11. TJ has shown the glimpes of a front pack high school runner in both track & field and cross country. He had numerous PR's during the season and knows that he can improve even more. He has the passion and dedication for running; often working out on his own and rarely missing practice. TJ will be one of the top runners on varsity this fall. He is an excellent student, teammate, and human being.
Eric Baehman 5K PR 22:10 - Section 3AA '11. Eric is a pole vaulter in the spring and was out for CC the first time this year. He is a developing athlete who has the potential to make big strides in both track and CC. We first heard about him a few years ago but it took some time for him to be sold on running cross country. Staying focused will be the key for Eric who has proven that he can persevere in the classroom and in athletics. He communicates well with coaches and has a legitimate shot to improve a lot next season.
Jeremy Danner 5K PR 21:46 - Rochester Mayo Invtitational '11. Jeremy was a sprinter on the track & field last spring. He showed great form during the year and won a 100m heat at the JV csc meet. This season was his first experience running distance. Jeremy is an avid outdoorsmen and a great kid who even recruited others even though it was his first time out for the team! If you have ever seen Jeremy at top speed and maximum effort, he is a dead ringer for Dathan Ritzenhein, an elite US distance runner.
Brady Krech 5K PR 24:47 - Blaine Invitational '11. Brady is a friend of Jeremy's and came out for the team a bit late but showed good poise at practice and was able to improve his fitness throughout the season to where he could run the full distance in races. Brady can improve even more next season and we are hopeful that he will back on the squad again.
Kyle Nordstrom 5K PR 19:56 - Section 3AA '09. Hard to pin down the wrestler and 'new guy' on the team. Cat Lover' shirt one day and no- shirt club on the next. Captain as an 8th grader and then running off to the hills when the team was headed to the fields for the workout. Maybe it is called being a freshmen. : Kyle is a huge part of Simley CC now and we hope down the line because his teammates and coaches love the 'new guy' because he cares about others, his effort level, and how the team performs at every turn. Looking forward to working with him next year and even learning his name. His families' house is located is on one of our favorite routes and he managed to stop but a few times during this season on those runs.
Michael Omodt-Lopez 5K PR 22:28 - Rochester Mayo Invtitational '11. Michael showed good form during the summer and was looking for a varsity spot before an injury set him back. Michael is a good swimmer who will run with more gusto next year when he is healthy for the entire year. He will be back and is a great kid!
Andrea Castillo 4K PR 17:51 - Blaine Invitational '09. Andrea has been with Simley CC for 3 years now and emerged as captain again this season. She is an artist who loves to make jewelry and hopes to continue her passion by learning about the business side of art in college. Andrea brings a warm smile and kindness to practice everyday. She should be extremlely proud of how hard she worked during her cross country career and how she was an exceptional teammate. Andrea is a runner at heart!
Summer Freed 4K PR 18:47 - Section 3AA '11. Summer was elected as captain in this her third season. We can only hope that Summer can reclaim her funky hat from her sister and keep her dad's mountain dew hat out of the hands of max wellens. Summer ran through pain and was a trooper all year. She ran her best race of the year at Sections. She trains hard during nordic ski season and has a full plate with other activites other than sports and school. Summer is a terrific girl who is tough not to get along with!
Mady David 4K PR 20:56 - Section 3AA '11. Mady has been a key member of the girls varsity team for 3 years now. She is always at weekend practice and was running after school on her own as soon as the CC season ended for her. It is always satisfying to have your best race at the end of year, which is what consistent work allowed Mady to do. She is very coachable and likes to run which bodes well for her future cross country career here at Simley.
Alexa Vandermeer 4K PR 17:46 - Section 3AA '11. Alexa is a fast runner and super overall athlete who has contributed to the varsity team for two years now. She worked hard on the little things during the off-season to be ready for the challenge of cross country. Although an injury has prevented Alexa from running to her full potential, she ran gutsy races in order to help her team. When Alexa is at 100% she will be right up there with the best of them. Alexa has the tenacity, patience, intellegence, and talent to compete in college which she listed as one of her goals.
Margie Freed 4K PR 14:52 - Section 3AA '11. Margie is usually at the front at practices and meets. She has a fantastic time training and her hard work ethic and talent has earned her an opportunity to toe line at the state meet before she is even in high school. At workouts, she can dial in her pace with remarkable consistency. She trains smart during the off-season and is also in track & field as well as nordic skiing, Margie contintues to have a ball with her success and is starting to look pretty comfortable up on the podium. She also earned All-Conference honors this season.
Aejah Lockett 4K PR 18:33 - Rochester Mayo '11. Aejah helped out the girls varsity team tremendously this year even though she is in 7th grade and was out for cross country for the first time. She was at early summer practice and is also a basketball player and good all- around athlete. Aejah is very mature for her age and was able to rise to meet the challenge of varisty cross country by having a 'can- do' attitude. At Mayo, she was one of the fastest on varsity. She came out swinging at the end of the year when her team needed her to run her best.
Lucas Ferguson 5K PR 20:02 - Section 3AA '11. Lucas was out for early summer training and consequently showed that he is going to be one tough hombre in a few years. He had a breakout performance at Blaine where he was determined to run a fast time on a fast course. Lucas is very bright and is great kid who gets along well with his teammates and has a bright future for CC.
Claire Anderson Claire is a pleasure to coach; smart, interested, willing to work, great ability, and a terrific attitude at practice every day.
Rebecca Molstad Rebecca and her twin brother Nicholas can be found in the same place during meets; at the front of the pack.
Anna Royce Anna is an awesome talent who plays hockey and we hope stays with this nice young group of middle school female runners.
Parker Johnson Parker is a good runner who unfortuntely had a tough start to the season. An injury is going to force him to bounce back and become the CC runner that is capable of becoming.
David Lisson David was all about Fun Friday's and bringing his best to the meets.
Ebenezer Ojo 'Ebe' is a polite and gifted runner who was out for the first time this season.
Sam Keran Sam's improvement during the cross country season was second to none. He is a fine young man who is good to his teammates and is learning to run well.
Nathan Hostager Nathan lets his feet and work ethic do the talking at practice and showed glimpes of what his coaches hope are good things to come when he ran on fire at the Simley invite.
Zach Miller Zach is a super kid who has an extra question or two at practice and worked hard to improve and get fit.
Nicholas Molstad Nicholas emerged as one of the strongest runners in the middle school group.