By Brenda Erdahl
Sports Editor
The Irish cross country season will kick off its competitive schedule on Friday, Sept. 2 with a good mix of experienced veterans and new runners.
Maple Lake hosts its first and only home meet at East Ney Park, Friday with multiple teams competing. Returning for the Irish girls are juniors Kass Fynboh and Makenna Wetch and eighth graders Abby Gindele and Maddie Austin. Since Gindele and Austin are so young, they have the option to race for the junior high team, but based on their pre-season time trials, they’ve earned the right to run varsity, Head Coach J McClelland said.
The boys team returns from last year’s varsity squad, junior Nick Lind and sophomore Logan Anglin.
“I see willingness to work hard and grow by the kids we have out this year and having lost many from last year’s team, they have room to spread their wings out there and see what they are capable of. Several will be experiencing varsity for the first time, “McClelland said. “It’s always exciting.”
As far as newcomers, McClelland said he is seeing a lot of exciting things from several of the team’s runners, including freshman Carmyn Anderson and sophomore Hans Peterson who will have been front running at most practices and will be on the roster this year.