In recent seasons, the Gaels have placed as high as third in the team standings, qualified both squads multiple times and have claimed gold at the North Central Conference.

Every year since Szalat took over in 1999, St. Edmond has been represented at the state meet.

The task this season is to keep all of that going in the right direction.

“We had a really good summer with the majority of the kids putting in a lot of miles,” Szalat said. “These seniors have had a lot of success in cross country. They won’t see anything they haven’t had to deal with in the past as far as expectations go or quality of competition.

Photo by Kevin Yetmar: Returning letterwinners for the St. Edmond boys cross country team are (left to right): Liam Shannon, Thomas Cosgrove, Anthony Valles and Thomas Knobbe.

“Nothing should surprise them.”

Both the Gael girls (seventh) and boys (eighth) cracked the Class 1A Top-10 at state, as nine of those that competed are set to return. That includes Anna Lursen, who led the girls with a 21st-place finish in her freshman campaign.

Joining Lursen will be seniors Michaela Leiting, Hannah Landwehr and Andee Barwin from the state team, along with junior Ellie Knox. Leiting finished 42nd, Knox was 63rd and Landwehr 82nd.

Landwehr and Barwin each ran as ninth-graders at state.

Leiting, Landwehr, Knox and a returning Reese Lemberg were all part of the third place team for the Gaels in 2021, as Leiting finished 23rd. Landwehr, Knox and Lemberg were all in the Top-96.

“Our Top-4 really compliment each other and any of them could be the No. 1 on a certain day,” Szalat said. “We get Reese back after a year off and that is exciting. We have a little more depth and a nice freshman class to replace the seniors next year.”

For the St. Edmond boys, Liam Shannon, Anthony Valles, Thomas Cosgrove and Thomas Knobbe all return after running at state. Shannon was 73rd overall with Valles placing 89th.

Shannon and Cosgrove are both two-time state qualifiers, as they helped the Gaels finish 10th in 2021.

“Losing the Top-2 is tough to overcome, but if Liam, Anthony and Thomas can all take that next step, we’ll make it work,” Szalat said. “Anthony put in a ton of miles this summer and Thomas (Knobbe) ran over 200 miles. We have a few others back competing for those final spots and a couple freshmen in the mix.”

In the preseason team rankings, the Gael girls will start fourth in 1A behind Earlham, Dyersville Beckman and Alta-Aurelia, while the boys begin the season 12th overall. Lursen is ranked 15th as an individual.

St. Edmond will host the North Central Conference championships this year at Lakeside Golf Course on Oct. 10.

Szalat will once again be assisted by Monica Shelly.

2023 ST. EDMOND CROSS COUNTRY

Roster

Boys

Senior — Thomas Cosgrove.

Juniors — Levi Oder-Westrum, Logan Reed, Liam Shannon.

Sophomores — Jonah Carlson, Thomas Knobbe, Anthony Valles.

Freshmen — Erik Larson, Abram Ribbens, Drake Yurkovac.

Girls

Seniors — Andee Barwin, Emma Barwin, Hannah Landwehr, Michaela Leiting, Reese Lemberg.

Junior — Ellie Knox.

Sophomore — Anna Lursen.

Freshmen — Lily Eslick, Alex Leiting, Nina Smith, Abby Tofilon.

Schedule

Aug. 24 — at Southeast Valley Invitational; 28 — at Webster City Invitational.

Sept. 9 — at CYO; 18 — at Humboldt Invitational; 25 — at Algona Invitational.

Oct. 5 — at Fort Dodge Invitational; 10 — host North Central Conference Championships.