Xavier High SchoolSports14

Cross country teams prepare for Cascade Invite

Boys’ golf: MVC ChampsThe boy’s golf team is back for

another season coached by Mr. Tim O’Brien. This is Coach O’Brien’s sixth year at Xavier and he has high expectations after a 4th place finish last year in districts, and one state qualifier. “We already accomplished one goal this year by winning the Conference title in the first meet of the season. Now I want my team to win its second straight Valley Division title, and go to State,” Coach Tim O’Brien said. Only three teams can go to state in each division, and later this fall Xavier will try to qualify when they host districts at Elmcrest Country Club.

The boys’ golf season has started on a good note. The team won its first meet of the season which was the MVC Super Meet at Bunker Hill. The meet consisted of fourteen teams, and Xavier won by nine strokes. Ben Sagers was the meet medalist shooting a 68. The boys also placed third in the CRANDIC tournament on

Raymond Wright runs in the Prarie meet. Meghan Gerke photo

Next Class September 17-29th

September 4, only losing by two strokes. Matt Junge was the meet medalist in the tournament as he shot a 73. The team currently has a record of 31-10, and is ranked eleventh in the state.

This year Xavier graduated state qualifier JP King and Jason Beer. They replaced those two with returning seniors Robbie Thinnes and John Drahozal, returning juniors Ben Sagers and Matt Junge, and they added junior John Ingwerson, and sophomore Jordan Evan to their top six. The team believes that they can get to State.

“The whole team has put in a lot of effort this year, and after a few good results, I believe that this team is capable of getting to state,” sophomore Matt Junge said. Xavier plans to continue their season as they participate in the Cedar Falls Invite on September 4.

Shannon MulcaheySports Writer

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The Cedar Rapids Xavier High School cross country boys’ and girls’ teams started their season in high gear running their first three races of the year. The first meet was the Prairie Invitational on Saturday, August 25, followed by the Linn-Mar Invitational on Saturday, September 1. The third meet of the year, the Cedar Rapids Invitational, was at Noelridge Park on Thursday, September 6.

Both teams started practicing one week before the start of school with optional summer practices. These optional practices took place at Noelridge Park, where the athletes would run about five miles. They began their early season training sessions with lifting on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 a.m. This early start helped the Xavier cross country girls’ team place fourth in the 3A division and finish ninth overall in the Prairie Invitational. The boys’ team was able to place sixth in the 3A division and end twelfth overall.

“Our team hopes to make it to

State by keeping a positive mental attitude and keeping up the hard work,” junior cross country runner Marinna Schroud said.

At the Linn-Mar Invitational, Schroud led the Xavier girls’ team by capturing sixth place in individuals. This contributed to Xavier’s overall third place finish in their division with 64 points. They trailed behind first place Linn-Mar with 27 points, and second place Cedar Rapids Washington with 57 points. Junior Jacob Herndon reflected on the boys’ participation in the Linn-Mar invitational saying the freshman are really stepping up and are contributing to the success of the team. The boys’ team goals are to make it in the top three for state in their division, and to keep improving throughout the season.

Later in the week on Thursday, September 6, Xavier participated in the Cedar Rapids Invitational at Noelridge Park. The course was a 4,000-meter race for the girls’ portion and a 5,000-meter for the boys’. Senior Grant Hunt

led the boys’ squad with a solid time of 17:46. The girls’ team fell in the standings placing eighth overall while the boys’ team settled for 13th overall.

“As a team I thought we did very well going up against very tough competition. Nearly everyone on the team is ahead of where they were at this point last season and we had four team members run personal bests at the meet. Next week will be a huge meet for the team, heading to the Cascade Invite, as we will get the chance to compete against many teams ranked similar in size to Xavier,” Xavier boys’ cross country coach Nathan Hopp said.

The Xavier cross country teams run again Friday, September 14, at the Cascade Invite with the meet starting at 4:30 p.m. They hope to improve on their finishes from previous meets at Cascade, as well as the rest of the year.

Mark your calendar:Thursday, September 13 – 7 PM FFB DW H 5 PM FVB CRJ AFriday, September 14 – 4:30 PM CC CASCADE INVITE 5 PM FB DW “Future Saints” H 9 AM Bgolf CF Invite @ Beaver HillsSaturday, September 15 – VVB Benton Community TournamentMonday, September 17 – 3:15 PM Bgolf CRX Quad @ Twin Pines 5 PM FVB ICH ATuesday, September 18 – 5:30 PM VVB ICH HWednesday, September 19 – 3:15 PM 9th Bgolf LM @Hunter’s RidgeThursday, September 20 – 3:15 PM JV Bgolf CRK Invite @ Ellis 4:30 PM CC Eastern Iowa Classic 6 PM FFB CRW @ KingstonFriday, September 21 – 5 PM FB CRK HSaturday, September 22 – VVB Dubuque Invite Monday, September 24 – 4:30 PM JV VB ICH Invite 5 PM FVB ICW H 9 PM Bgolf MVC Divis. @ Hunter’s RidgeTuesday, September 25 – 3:15 PM JV Bgolf CRW Invite @ Gardner 4:30 PM CC ICW Invite 5:30 PM VVB CRW A 6 PM FFB ICH HWednesday, September 26 – 3:15 PM 9th Bgolf CRP Invite @ AirportThursday, September 27 – 3:15 Bgolf WE Tri @ Gates Park 5 PM FB CRW @ Kingston 5 PM FVB CRK AKyle Dmello

Sports Writer