If anyone wants to look into the crystal ball to determine how the 2021 Western Athletic Conference cross country season will run its course, just consider the following:
Dodge City’s boys and girls teams captured WAC team championships and had numerous runners place among the top 20 at the Class 6A state meet. While the Red Demon boys were hit fairly significantly by graduation, the Lady Demons return 2020 WAC champion Serenity Larson and another all-WAC first team selection in senior Norma Rodriguez. Junior David Ultreaswas a top 10 finisher at the state while Martin Marquez was an all-WAC first team runner.
However, there is plenty of competition among the five schools, reflected by the return of 2020 boys WAC champion KaidenEsfeld of Great Bend and runner-up Devin Chappel of Garden City. Larson’s victory enabled the Lady Demons to edge past Great Bend, 39-41, to claim the girls title while the Dodge City boys scored 50 points to Garden City’s runner-up total of 60.
In a poll of conference coaches, Dodge City was unanimously chosen on the boys side to repeat while the Lady Demons edged out Great Bend for the top preseason choice.
WAC Coaches Preseason Poll
Boys: 1. Dodge City; 2. Garden City; 3. Great Bend; 4T. Hays and Liberal.
Girls: 1. Dodge City; 2. Great Bend; 3. Hays; 4. Garden City; 5. Liberal.
DODGE CITY RED DEMONS
BOYS
Head Coach: Buc Bolmer (17 Years as Head Coach at DCHS; 28 years overall)
2020 Season in Review: WAC Champions; Qualified for state as team
2020 Individual Accomplishments: Martin Marquez, 5th place, All-WAC 1st team; David Ultreas, 9th place, All-WAC honorable mention.
Top returners: David Ultreas (Jr.), 3rd at 6A Regionals; 10th at 6A state; Martin Marquez, Sr.; Josias Chavez, Sr.
Coach’s Comments: “We lost a lot of seniors off of last year’s team but hope to fill these spots left vacant with our junior varsity team that are hungry for a varsity spot. The young men have been working hard over the offseason and can’t wait for the season to start. We have some strong leadership that will help their younger teammates to push themselves to get better and obtain their individual and team goals.”
GIRLS
Head Coach: Brian Lenz (23rd year as head girls coach); 5 WAC Championship teams; 4 regional championship teams; 16 state qualifying teams.
2020 season record: 61-12, WAC champions; 6A regional champions.
Top returners: Serenity Larson, Sr., 2020 WAC Champion; Norma Rodriguez, Sr., 1st-team All-WAC; Daisy Orozco, Sr., All-WAC Honorable Mention; Andrea Yates, All-WAC Honorable Mention; Yessica Dozal, Sr.; Karina Estrada, Sr.
Top Newcomers: Alex Gere, Jr., WAC 400-meter champion; Ashley Alonzo, Fr., WAC Middle School cross country champion, 2020.
Coach’s Comments: “We are returning five girls from our WAC and regional champion team from last year and six girls that have competed at the state meet in their high school career. Three of the girls — Serenity Larson, Norma Rodriguez and Daisy Orozco — have all competed at state three times and have each been a 1st team all-WAC runner in their career. While we should be good this year, it is exciting that the WAC should be a very competitive league come October.”
GARDEN CITY BUFFALOES
Head Coach: Krista Linenberger (20th season as head coach)
BOYS
2020 in Review: Boys won 2 meets, took 2nd at WAC and 4th at 6A regionals.
Top Returners: Devin Chappel, WAC Runner-up; 6A regional champion; 12th place, 6A state. “Devin will return as our leading runner from last year and I think we’ll see him get stronger and stronger as we progress. Excited to watch him!”
Other top returners: Isaiah Casados, 22nd at WAC; Kenji Crai, 10that WAC, 22nd at regional; Evan Gurrola, 13th at WAC, 18th at regional.
Coach’s Comments: “Our boys’ team looks to be fairly competitive. We will be somewhat young but have good experience coming back in our junior class. We had a group of boys who trained through the summer and are ready to see what the results of their hard work will be.”
Who to Look For: Josiah (Kailyn) Munoz, So.; Ivan Rivas, So.; Hayden Bailey, Jr.; Aedryc Ortiz, Sr.; Taran Castro, Fr.; Hayden Nemechek, Fr.
Boy’s strength: Experience in returners and summer miles. Concern: Youthfulness.
GIRLS
Top returners: Jocelyn Sosa, Jr., 7th at WAC meet; 6A regional runner-up; State, 24th place; WAC runner-up as freshman; Samantha Orozco, 28th at WAC, 23rd at regional; Lana Rodriguez, 36th at WAC, 37th at regionals; Joscelyn Monarrez, 36th at WAC, 27th at regional; Kiera Hageman, Sr., sidelined with injury in 2020. “Jocelyn finished her sophomore season a year ago running strong. Kiera was able to safely put in a good number of miles this summer and we hope she will be a strong senior leader for us.”
Others to Watch: Joselyn Hoff, Sr.; Ruby Aguilera, So.; Quinlynn Harms, So.; Top Newcomers: Riley Sekavec, Fr.; Chelsea Torres, Fr.; Maritza Romero, Fr.; Hailey Brown, Fr.
Coach’s Comments: “Our girls’ team brings back less experience and will have only a few returners from the previous season. The key to our girls’ season is going to lie with our freshmen. I think the more competitive and confident we can get them to be behind our upperclassmen the more success our girls group will find.
Girls’ strengths: our strong freshman group and returners. Concern: experience.
GREAT BEND PANTHERS
BOYS
2020 in Review: 3rd in WAC;
Top Returners: Kaiden Esfeld, WAC Individual champion; Malachi Wasson, 12th WAC.
Coach’s Comments: “Boys only return two of the top five and will struggle early on. Hopefully the young ones will develop as the season progresses.”
GIRLS
2020 in Review: 2nd in WAC
Top Returners: Emilia Diaz, 3rd in WAC; Emma Loomis, 4thWAC; Addy Nicholson, 10th WAC; Morgan Beckwith, 11th WAC; Eliana Beckham, 13th WAC.
Top Newcomers: Diane Alvarez, Fr., 1st in WAC Middle School; Marissa Boone, Fr., 4th in Middle School WAC; Darcy Feist, Fr., 5th MS WAC; Reese King, Fr., 7th, WAC MS.
Coach’s Comments: “Our girls return the top five and add some depth with some quality freshman.”
HAYS HIGH INDIANS
Head Coach: Jerold Harris, 12 years head coach, 23 years total
BOYS
2020 in Review: 5th in WAC.
Top Returners: Matthew Dempsey, Ty Dempsey, Leo Hernandez, Elijah McCullough, Daimon Lang, Landon Viegra.
Coach’s Comments: “I have a large group of experienced varsity runners returning, especially in the sophomore group. Good mix of seniors with good leadership skills will help guide our young maturing squad. Excited about where these two squads could end up at the end of this season.”
GIRLS
2020 in Review: 3rd in WAC
Top Returner: Arely Maldonado, 6th in WAC.
Other Top Returners: Amelia Jaeger, Jaycine Watson, Avery Winter, Brenlynn Albers, Brynn Kinderknecht, Julia Zadina, Alt. Landri Dotts.
LIBERAL REDSKINS
Head Coach: Stanley Kachel, 3rd year at Liberal, 20th overall
BOYS
2020 in Review: 4th, WAC; 6th, Class 6A regional
Top Returners: Adian Bernhardt-Purdey, Sr.; Daniel Amparan, Jr.; Elian Laguna, Jr.; Jack Naranjo, Jr.; Bryan Ortega, Jr.; David Villa, Jr.
Top Newcomers: M.J. Foster, Jr.; Enrique Morales, Fr.
Coach’s Comments: The boys’ strengths are their experience as our juniors have been running varsity for the last two years.
GIRLS
2020 in Review: 4th, WAC; 5th, Class 6A Regionals
Top Returners: Gaby Ramirez, Sr.; Ava Maxwell, Jr.; Hallie West, Jr.; Daniela Cerda, So.
Top Newcomers: Bently Fitzgerald, Fr.; Hailey Contreras, Jr.; Isabella Gutierrez, Fr.
Coach’s Comments: The girls’ strengths are with the two returning state qualifiers and the quality of our newcomers.
