By John Rittenhouse
An expanding participation rate has Hills-Beaver Creek-Ellsworth cross country coach Tom Goehle feeling good about the 2001 season.
Goehle, who has headed the program for the past four years, has 23 boys and girls running in the pre-season practice sessions.
Along with having a program-record number of athletes to work with, Goehle's roster is graced with talented kids who should make the 2001 season a good one for the Patriots.
"We have a great group," Goehle said. "When I look at the scope of our boys' and girls' teams, I see 23 kids who are blessed with a lot of ability. When the numbers start to increase in the program, it makes the practices more enjoyable with all the camaraderie that goes along with it. I'm looking forward to a fun season."
With all six runners back from last year's team that placed fifth at the Section 3A meet, it looks like the Patriot boys can have a lot of fun this fall.
H-BC-E didn't graduate any athletes from its team last year, and Goehle reports he has 16 boys to help form his different teams in 2001.
"We have a lot of ability here. They are the kind of kids who are hard-workers that will keep on working hard," he said.
Leading the H-BC-E boys' team will be senior Brad Haak, who has become one of southwest Minnesota's top runners over the last four seasons.
After qualifying for the Minnesota State Class A Cross Country Championships as an individual the last two seasons, Haak is looking to make a third consecutive appearance this fall.
A sideache hampered Haak when he placed 108th at state as a sophomore in 1999. After placing third in the Section 3A last season, Haak returned to Northfield and placed 65th overall.
"Brad made it to state the last two years, and he has his sights set on it again," Goehle said.
Haak and five other returning letter winners should make the Patriots a competitive team this season.
Seniors Nathan Fick and Matt Buck, sophomore Lee Jackson and freshmen Tyler Bush and Kale Wiertzema also ran at the section meet.
Bush and Jackson didn't finish behind Haak by very much in section competition, crossing the finish line 14th and 19th respectively.
Fick and Buck contributed to the team score that day by placing 49th and 66th respectively, while Wiertzema finished in 76th position.
With six proven runners coming back, and some more talent to choose from, the H-BC-E boys are expecting big things for themselves in 2001.
"I know our boys would like to move into one of those top two positions as a team at the section meet, which would move them on to state," Goehle said.
The remaining 10 boys on the roster (one senior, four freshmen, three eighth-graders and two seventh-graders) vary in experience.
Senior Paul Jess is running cross country for the first time, as are freshmen Corey Van Batavia and Jared Drenth, eighth-graders Devin DeBoer and John Sandbulte, and seventh-graders Nathan Mahone and Adam Finke.
Freshmen Derek Haak and Justin Hinks will enter the program for the fourth and second years respectively.
Eighth-grader Kerry Fink has run cross country for three years.
Unlike the boys, the H-BC-E girls did lose a pair of seniors to graduation.
Shanna Tilstra and Connie Lewis ran for the Patriots during the course of last season before graduating last spring, but neither they, nor any other H-BC-E girl, competed in the section meet.
Sending girls to the section meet might happen this season, but putting together a varsity team with seven athletes to choose from might be a problem.
"To start the season, we'll run a couple of girls in the junior high races, a couple in the junior varsity races and a couple in varsity races. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll be able to put together a full varsity squad," Goehle said.
The girls' roster, which features one letter winner from 2000, consists of two seniors, two freshmen, one eighth-grader and two seventh-graders.
Senior Bev Wurpts is the Patriot returning with a varsity letter winner from last season.
Becky Broesder, another senior, is running cross country for the first time, as are the other members of the 2001 team.
Cassi Tilstra, who is coming off two successful track seasons, is a freshman who should be able to make an impact for the cross country program.
Brittney Rozeboom is another freshman competing with the team.
Eighth-grader Stacy Bush and seventh-graders Amanda Tilstra and Kim Janssen cap the roster.
"Slowly but surely, our numbers are increasing on the girls' side. This will be a nice group of girls to work with," Goehle concluded.
The Patriots open the season in Mountain Lake Wednesday.