Girls have experience, boys regroup for DNH XC

2022 Results: Izzy Houts 89th at State Cross Country, Girls eighth and Boys eighth in NICL Conference Meet

Head Coach: Will Reingardt 

Inexperience was a concern for both teams of the Dike-New Hartford cross country program last season. The girls team was young with one letterwinner back as senior. The boys team had seniors, but not much in terms of experience. Izzy Houts gave the Wolverines something to celebrate at the end of the season by running in her third State meet of her high school career. Experience was gained on both teams and everyone returning wants to improve upon last season. 

“The team was able to spend five days in early August at Estes Park, Colorado together training and bonding,” Coach Will Reingardt said. “We want to use the positivity and efforts we gained in what we do from the trip into our season. While out there we go on runs, hikes, strength work, team games, and team bonding. The team did a fantastic job out west.”

Connections were made on the trip and chemistry developed with the girls team, who come into 2023 with more experience under their belt. Houts will strive to qualify for State in her final season and her fourth time as a Wolverine. Junior Elyse Folkerts, senior Rosie Wardell, junior Hanna Steffen, sophomore Josey Syhlman and sophomore Allison Starbuck all return varsity experience to the lineup.

“For the girls, we now have some experience coming back that knows what it takes to get better,” Reingardt said. “It will be fun to see the girls improve with their confidence and strength that they have built from a year ago.”

The boys ran five seniors by the end of the 2022 season and sophomore Rush L’Heureux is the only returning varsity runner. Junior Bryan Mungai-Chavez has experience in distance running from track. Seniors Ethan Kirby and Liam Eiklenborg both drew praise from Reingardt for their work adjusting to a new sport. Freshmen Cooper Dall and Brady Hartsock will look to make an immediate impact on the team.

“The boys team is pretty much completely new,” Reingardt said. “We return three runners on the boys side and have 16 out. I am excited to see the boys have a new start to build from and see where we end up.”

The NICL will continue to be a strong conference for the sport in Reingardt’s opinions, noting Denver and Union on the girls side, Denver and Grundy Center on the boys side. The conference meet and competition throughout eastern Iowa will prepare the Wolverines ahead of the postseason.

“I want to see each runner on the team and our overall teams improve every day in every way,” Reingardt said. “This is a fun group that is working hard at what we are doing. It will be fun to see them grow over the season.”

Dike-New Hartford cross country will open their season at a meet in Charles City on Thursday, Aug. 24.