The South Hamilton boys cross country team was a good mix of veteran and youth in the 2020 season, with senior Ty Skartvedt leading the charge throughout the season, placing 4th at the Heart of Iowa Conference Meet and qualifying for the Class 2A State Meet. 2021 brings the departure of Skartvedt, as well as other varsity runners in Gage Koster and Clay Willadsen.
For Darrell Paulsen’s 2021 squad, however, they do return juniors Eli Potter and Landon Grove, who were his second and third runners in terms of low-water mark in 2020. Runners who will likely make their mark this season for the Hawks include sophomores Bobby Tapper and Owen Jones, and senior Logan Halfwassen.
South Hamilton’s girls cross country team perhaps had an even wider mix of youth and veteran in 2020, as the varsity squad contained a pair of seniors in Marissa Jensen and Abby Ervin, as well as younger runners such as Anna Lammers, Paige Doolittle and Chandler George.
For coach Emily Bochmann, her 2021 team will return Lammers, Doolittle and George, but will need to find younger talent to replace veterans in Jensen and Ervin. Seniors Kelbe Krumm and Paige Seaton appear to be next in line to make their mark on the Hawks 2021 season.
The first action for both of South Hamilton’s cross country squads will be Tuesday, August 31st, when they travel to Webster City for the Lynx Invitational.
