Eagles fall sports teams flying high

Men’s Golf

The men’s golf team flies returns five of their top six scorers from a team that finished 11th at state last season. This includes seniors Ben Schmidt, Alec Weber, Carter Amundson, Bo Burgmeier, Cordell Pemsl, and Rian Weber.

“My veteran players make a huge impact,” Coach Tim Erhmann said. “In any sport, when you have talented, experienced seniors, they will influence the younger players to strive to reach that level when they are upperclassmen. Leadership occurs more in actions than in words.”

Along with these returners, John Timmerman, ‘16, has played in all of the Eagles’ meets. Juniors, Jonathan Becker, Jack Kamentz and Riley Bohr have also played in multiple meets for the Eagles.

The Eagles hope to improve on their finish at state a year ago, and Ehrmann is hopeful. “If we play to our potential, the sky is the limit for these guys.”

So far this season, the Eagles have improved their average 18-hole score by about three strokes and have finished in the top three, three times, with two first place finishes.

Boys’ Cross Country

Last season, the Eagles fell just 23 points short of qualifying for state, finishing fourth at the district meet. The team returns with eight letterwinners from last season: Michael Olk, Alex Walsh, Brendan Nugent, Jacob Berning, Nathan Tranel, Jonathan and Luke Schaefer and Davis Flogel.

The returning runners provide the leadership necessary to make it back to state. “They have a great work ethic and really provide great leadership for our younger players,” Head Coach Tim Berning said.

Along with the veterans, Berning is pleased to have 13 freshmen on the team. “They look to the older runners as role models and that can only help them in the future,” said Berning. “Success breeds success.”

A sign of that success will be a return to State in Fort Dodge, Iowa. “One of the goals for our runners is always to make it to state,” Berning said. “I’m just looking for them to put forth their best effort because there’s no defense in cross country. It’s just running.”

Girls’ Cross Country

Heading into the 2015 season, the girls’ held the 12th spot in the state preseason rankings, and with good reason. The team returns 18 seniors, 6 letterwinners, and 5 runners who have competed at state, along with 4 state placewinners in Grace Herber (38th), Hanna Meyer (51st), Sarah Mockler (52nd) and Kaylee Osterberger (65th).

Head Coach Cynthia Wagner, who was named a national coach of the year by the Coaches’ Association, appreciates her veterans. “Students who return are usually very dedicated and help teach the new runners what cross country is all about,” Wagner said.

Last season, the Eagles finished 15th at state and are hoping to improve upon that in Wagner’s 42nd season at the helm. “Getting back to state is always in the mind of the upperclassmen,” Wagner said. “Once there, we look at how far we can go.”