Pazdernik leads CHS runners into fall

An even 25 athletes for Carrington High School, 16 girls and nine boys, will put their toes to the starting line for the sound of the pistol and another fall cross country season.

Coach Josh Kerbaugh's team returns a solid base for the girls' squad to have meet success, while the boys' team will largely be untested and out to prove themselves.

CHS brings back one of the state's top runners on the girls' side in senior Kenadie Pazdernik. The three-time All-Stater and last year's East Region champion finished in fifth place at the Class 'B' meet in Jamestown last season, and should be in the running for a top slot again in 2024.

It doesn't just stop with Pazdernik, however, as there are several other girls who could make a podium push.

Fellow senior Kaylin Pate finished just one place out of All-Region status in 21st at Cooperstown, and placed 52nd at last year's state competition. Teammate and freshman Macy Fiebiger was just ahead of Pate at the state meet, finishing 51st while getting a big jump up from her regional finish of 43rd.

Other runners for the Cards with state meet chops include sophomore Cyrena Kuss (61st region, 69th state), freshman Joie Helseth (64th, 133rd), sophomore Molly Fiebiger (88th, 150th), junior Jaedyn Lura (106th, 132nd), junior Nela McKibben (148th, 212th), and freshman Kate Fiebiger (165th, 216th).

The remainder of the girls' roster includes eighth graders Renae Raines and Jamisyn Schroeder, and seventh graders Paige Fiebiger, Grace Inglish, Anna VanRay, Kahri Kollman and Rachael Bilow.

For the boys' team, junior Ben Gustafson is the elder statesman of a group that is composed otherwise of seventh graders through freshmen. Gustafson finished 202nd at the East Region, and 347th overall at state.

Top returning runners for CHS include eighth grader Gabe Inglish (96th region, 168th state), freshman Sam Garr (125th, 261st), freshman Eric Hallwachs (211th, 356th), and eighth grader Howie Simonson (216th, 345th).

Seventh graders on the Cardinal roster are Kreed Kirkeby, Chayse Steadmon, Gavyn Steadmon and Henry Pavelko.

The Cards got their season going at the 'Orr'iginals Invitational at Parkhurst Recreation Area north of Jamestown Saturday, August 24, and are scheduled to race in Northwood on Tuesday, August 27, at 4 p.m.

Carrington's home meet will be held at CrossRoads Golf Club Tuesday, September 3 at 2 p.m. This season, there will be a two-week break between the East Region Meet in Cooperstown (October 12) and the State 'B' meet at Parkhurst on Friday, October 25.