—Messenger file photo by Britt Kudla St. Edmond’s Donn Larson was named the CYO Boys Track Coach of the Year. Larson will be honored next weekend in Algona.

Donn Larson’s first season as head boys track coach at St. Edmond presented many memorable moments.

Now, months later, Larson can add one more to the collection after being named the CYO Boys Track Coach of the Year.

Larson will receive his award during the CYO volleyball tournament hosted by Bishop Garrigan in Algona on Sunday, Sept. 22.

“I am very honored to be named CYO Coach of the Year,” Larson said. “Very humbling. I could not be considered for this award without the hard work, dedication and belief of the youth men that I have the opportunity to coach.”

The Gaels won both the 4×100 and 4×400 relays this past spring, finishing fifth overall in Class 1A. They also earned a third in the sprint medley relay and were initially declared winners of the 4×200 before being disqualified for an illegal handoff.

Larson had previously served as an assistant under long-time SEHS head coach Bill Kibby.

“I have learned a lot during the five years with Bill and my association with the Iowa Central coaching staff,” Larson said. “The late Denny Myers, Nigel Bigbee and Dee Brown have been instrumental in my growth as a coach.”

State champions Sean Flattery, Charlie Shelly and Kase Baker — who was eighth in the 200 — will return for St. Edmond along with qualifiers Cael Kolacia and Jackson Bemrich.

“The upcoming season should be exciting,” Larson said. “We have to replace the three seniors, which will not be an easy task.

“But I feel the success we had last year will ignite some underclassmen to step into those open positions for us in the spring.”