-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla St. Edmond Girls Cross Country State Qualifier are, left to right, Front Row: Hannah Landwehr, Andee Barwin, Nina Smith, Ellie Knox Back Row: Anna Lursen, Alex Leiting, Reese Lemberg, Michaela Leiting

Mike Szalat pointed to a select group of kids while addressing the St. Edmond student body ahead of a state cross country send-off earlier this week.

That group was the current second grade class of Gaels.

What marked the significance of those kids?

“These current senior girls were all in second grade the last time we didn’t qualify for state as a team,” Szalat said. “That is just crazy. It truly is a testament to the kind of kids we have come through here.

“It’s definitely a special group and certainly left their mark on the program.”

Both the SEHS boys and girls have now qualified through districts as a team each of the past four seasons, with this marking the 10th consecutive trip for the girls. Overall in 25 seasons under Szalat, St. Edmond has 30 combined appearances, led by 17 for the boys.

“These kids make (assistant coach) Monica (Shelly) and I look really, really good,” Szalat said. “They put their bodies through a lot of tough stuff and have to really be both mentally and physically tough to do this for four years.

“The fun is in doing (the state send-off) and qualifying for state. The fun is in the journey and knowing that you worked hard and created a legacy for the next generation.”

Class 1A hits the trail at Lakeside Golf Course this Friday afternoon with the girls race starting at 2 p.m. Boys following at 2:45 p.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Running for the Gael girls will be seniors Michaela Leiting, Hannah Landwehr, Reese Lemberg and Andee Barwin; junior Ellie Knox; sophomore Anna Lursen; and freshmen Nina Smith and Alex Leiting.

For the SEHS boys will be senior Thomas Cosgrove; juniors Liam Shannon and Levi Odor-Westrum; sophomores Anthony Valles, Thomas Knobbe and Jonah Carlson; and freshmen Erik Larson, Abram Ribbens and Drake Yurkovac.

Leiting is a four-time individual state qualifier, becoming just the third girl to accomplish that feat. Landwehr is a three-time qualifier while Valles captured the North Central Conference title during the regular season.

“When that group of girls were freshmen, they had a very good class of seniors to look up to,” Szalat said. “They saw what the expectations were and they set the tone for the rest of the team.

“For Thomas, being the only one in your class can be difficult, but he’s taken on a silent leadership role and really bonded with the underclassmen.

Last year, the St. Edmond girls placed seventh led by Lursen, who was 21st overall, with Leiting finishing 42nd. The boys finished eighth with Shannon in 73rd and Valles 89th.

Knox, Landwehr, Barwin, Cosgrove and Knobbe also all ran at state last fall. For Landwehr, this will be her fourth time running at state while Shannon, Cosgrove, Leiting, Barwin and Knox are competing for a third time each.

“It might feel like this program is on cruise control at times but we are just blessed,” Szalat said. “I think in the back of their minds, the kids know the expectations are state but they never talk about it. They just come in, work hard and enjoy the benefits of that hard work.

“As coaches, Monica and I have been very lucky to have kids that make us look like smart coaches. They are raised right by hard working people themselves who hold the kids to a high accountability.”