Chiefs, Maidens CC prepares for season

The Ronan boys cross country team will have a good balance between young and experienced competitors as they prepare to enter the 2017 season.

The Chiefs team is also loaded with numbers.

“We are pretty loaded with boys numbers and our boys team is in pretty darn good shape,” Chief’s coach Noelle Decker said. “We are in the same position that we were in last year. “We have runners that will be fairly good competition for other spots.”

Last year, the Chiefs qualified for the Class B state championship. This season, the Chiefs will spend their first full season in Class A with the reclassification.

The Chiefs will be without their star runner from last season Jackson Duffey, who they lost to graduation. However, they will have senior Nate Dennis, Kiry Detwiller, Jacob Dresden, Michael Koehler and sophomore James Normandeau on the team this season.

“Even though we lost Jackson, our team isn’t in terrible shape by any means,” Decker said. “We have a core group of boys that are experienced and running the gamut in track and cross country. We have a group that is experienced and ready to take on that leadership role.”

The Chiefs will also have other runners who Decker said are “looking strong” including junior Christian Silgen, Terrell Slump and Aiden Birdinground.

“They both did not run track,” Decker said. “They are returning cross country runners and are experienced as well.”

They will also have Brant Heiner, who is a kicker for the Chiefs’ football team but will play multiple sports this fall as he tries to balance the football schedule and cross country schedule.

Ronan will also welcome three new runners Julian Schondrod, D’Artangian Dominguez, and wrestler Caden Rhine.

“Those three boys are new to the program and this will be their first experience running cross country,” Decker said. “Brant was part of our middle school and has some experience. Rhine is a sophomore with state experience and he runs to get into shape for wrestling but is also just a great competitor.”

Decker said her Chiefs cross country team will have a lot of great competitors as they prepare to enter their season in a talented Class A pool.

“Our boys and I talked a lot about teamwork and they have a lot of roles on the team,” Decker said. “They really need to focus on bringing some of the new members along. We’ve really been focusing on a lot of team work activities and we continue to push each other to become better. We have a lot of drive and focus this year. The kids just have experience and fortitude, and they know what it takes to succeed. They push each other to run the best they can. These kids have the work ethic to get where they need to be.”

Maidens boast of strong returners despite lack of numbers

The Ronan Maidens will miss one of their star runners who they lost to graduation: Ashley McCready. McCready signed with Montana State University-Northern in Havre.

Last year, the Maidens’ cross country team lacked numbers which made it difficult for them to do a lot of pack running. This year, the Maidens hope to field enough to have a team and individualistic concept but according to Decker, they are in the same boat as they get ready to start the 2017 season.

“We have a couple of prospects that we hope to gain before the season,” Decker said. “I am finding it really difficult because it isn’t easy to find people that are willing to step out there and run three miles.”

Chiefs, Maidens welcome back old coach

Other Maidens’ senior runners include Penni Weyant, Kinsley Barney, and Lindsey Brooks. Each of them bring their own strengths to the team.

Ronan also welcomes back a familiar face to its coaching staff. Gale Decker, who was the head coach of the 2005 boys, girls cross country team, will now join the Chiefs, Maidens’ cross country team as an assistant coach.

“It is very beneficial for us and he has the knowledge and expertise of so many years of coaching and running cross country,” Noelle Decker said. “He has been a physical presence and a go-to person. He is making sure the workouts are tailored and they doing the right things that we need them to do. He has a really good way with kids. They really connect with him and understand him. He puts it in a way that they really get it. They are doing different things at practices. He has always been behind the scenes and now he will be a more physical presence.”

Chiefs, Maidens change from Class B to A

Noelle Decker said the transition from competing in Class B to A would really change the dynamics for her team.

“We will be OK competing in Class A and we raced in Frenchtown and Hamilton right there with them,” Noelle Decker said. “Last year, we beat Hamilton and Polson. Our boys are capable of competing with the Class A teams and I think we have a couple of girls that will compete strong. Corvallis and Polson looked strong and will be a difficult challenge. Those teams are known for being strong. Our transition is not going to be that difficult. Our success will depend on how much time our kids put in the off season.”

One major difference between Class B and A will be the schedule, Noelle Decker said.

“Our schedule had changed a little bit (from last year),” Decker said. “We will be going to Thompson Falls, Browning, and East Glacier has a higher elevation. Everyone will be in the same boat. I know it does affect some distance runners a little bit more and it will good for them to run at a higher elevation.”