Panthers continue to improve

The Creston cross country team held their end of season banquet Sunday where they celebrated the wins from the year and said goodbye to four seniors.

Boys

“The boys team this year was really inexperienced in the sport of cross country, but they made huge strides,” coach Maggie Arnold said to the runners and their families.

The team of seven runners brought back only three from a year before.

Freshmen Colt Key and Austin Jondle; sophomore Johnathon Henry and senior Spencer Brown all earned their first varsity letters.

Sophomore Wyatt Goodenberger earned his second after another good season. “Wyatt was our leader of the pack all year for the boys team,” Arnold said. “He sets a good example always and every day.”

Juniors Hector Suazo and Kylen Parsons also each earned their second letters.

“Both guys had huge gains from last season, and they were just solid in our lineup all year long in that second, third, fourth spot,” Arnold said. “We could always find them putting up good numbers for us.”

She spoke more in depth about Brown as the only boys senior.

“We’re so glad Spencer said he wanted to try something new and to push himself,” Arnold said. “I really appreciate Spencer. He’s such a great soul. He’s really improved his PRs over the last two races of the season. I appreciate everything he did and the example he made for the boys team. It was nice to have his leadership.”

The boys team finished 11th in the Hawkeye 10 this season. They were honored by the IHSAA with a cumulative GPA of 3.408.

Henry was voted by the team as the most improved runner of the season.

Girls

“We had an excellent season this year — the best in five years,” Arnold said. “It’s because each and every one of these girls selflessly showed up every day for practice and worked hard every single day.”

The eight-girl squad brought in four newcomers this season. Earning their first varsity letters this season were freshmen Karlie Kruse and Cora Smith and junior Maylee Riley. Junior Grace Keeler was also new to the team, but was injured all year.

Smith led the girls throughout most of the season.

“Cora is an extreme running talent and an even better human,” Arnold said. “There were only two races that Cora ran in during the regular season that she didn’t medal in. That’s a huge stat for a first-year girl who has never gone out for cross country before.”

Sophomore Reese Strunk earned a second letter. Gretchen Hoepker was also honored as a second-year runner. Strunk was Creston’s sole state-qualifier.

“From last season to this season, Reese has definitely made the most gains,” Arnold said. “She was dedicated all summer. She put in the work and she put in the time this season.”

Arnold said bringing more talent to the team helped propel them all forward.

Junior Abby Freeman earned her second letter as well.

“She pushes and gets just a little better every race,” Arnold said.

Senior Karter Clayton earned her second letter while senior Payton Davis earned her fourth.

“Karter is an aggressive runner. She has always ran really hard on the track team for us so she decided to try cross country last year,” Arnold said. “She was a solid athlete for us, but this year she took her cross country talents to the next level. She’s a very very dependable solid scorer for us every single time. She was excellent all year long.”

Arnold has coached Davis for the past six years, first as a middle school coach.

“This was a huge year for her. She reached what I feel was her potential at that 3.1 mile distance,” she said. “She ran so hard for us this season and I’m so proud of how her senior season went.”

The girls finished 4th in the Hawkeye 10 and were honored by the IGHSAU for their 3.682 GPA.

Davis was selected by her teammates as the most improved runner of the season. Davis sat out the summer and much of the beginning of the season with an injury, but was able to come right back to a top-three place on the team.

Davis earned the Chris Wyatt award given to a senior athlete who displays an expectation exceeding work ethic and attitude. The award is earned by someone who embodies and shows a passion for cross country.

Senior Savanna Davis earned the Brandon Gale award given to a team manager displaying commitment and above and beyond expecations.

“Coach Davis is the greatest manager in all the land,” Arnold said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that can replace what Savanna does. She doesn’t miss anything. The manager of the team is not the most glorious job, but Savanna does it better than anyone I’ve ever known.”