Skip to content
SEIU Morning Breath
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Account Account

Share this article:

More Stories

Looking ahead: River Valley cross-country

Mid-Prairie boys and girls set to return an abundance of talent including 2022 state champion

Hunter Moeller

Aug. 13, 2023 10:26 am

Mid-Prairie’s Danielle Hostetler crosses the finish line for her third-straight Class 2A girls’ cross-country title on Oct. 28, 2022, in Fort Dodge. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mid-Prairie’s Danielle Hostetler crosses the finish line for her third-straight Class 2A girls’ cross-country title on Oct. 28, 2022, in Fort Dodge. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

If one things for certain, Mid-Prairie will always be in the hunt for cross-country gold.

This season the same will be true as both squad return a plethora of talent from a year ago.

The Golden Hawk girls cross-country talent seems to be never-ending.

For years now Mid-Prairie has been a powerhouse in the sport.

Mid-Prairie’s Emmett Swartzentruber finishes the Class 2A boys’ state cross-country race on Oct. 28, 2022. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mid-Prairie’s Emmett Swartzentruber finishes the Class 2A boys’ state cross-country race on Oct. 28, 2022. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

In 2022, the Golden Hawks were ranked inside the top two for much of the season.

The season ended with Mid-Prairie back in the state meet, this time earning a fifth-place finish.

Before that finish, the Golden Hawks had won six straight cross-country state titles.

Mid-Prairie’s Abby Fleming pushes the pace during the 2022 state cross-country meet in Fort Dodge on Oct. 28, 2022. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)
Mid-Prairie’s Abby Fleming pushes the pace during the 2022 state cross-country meet in Fort Dodge on Oct. 28, 2022. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

In 2023, they will look to get back to the state meet as they bring back some heavy hitters.

That includes now senior and three-time state champion Danielle Hostetler. She one the title a year ago by 20 seconds.

Hostetler is sure to be the favorite once again in her final campaign.

Also making a comeback will be fellow senior Abby Fleming.

Fleming put together a great junior season as she ran to a 16th place finish in the state meet.

Phoebe Shetler, who’s also a senior, will be back for more.

Shetler helped the Golden Hawks at the state meet with a 44th place finish.

Also returning will be senior Greta Sieren and junior Dessa Poll. Both were a part of the Golden Hawks state meet roster last season.

Two graduates will be replaced in Tabitha Evans and Amara Jones.

Mid-Prairie isn’t the only RVC cross-country powerhouse from a year ago.

Williamsburg and Monticello both edged the Golden Hawks in the state meet, finishing second and third.

Look for it to be a competitive season once again.

On the boys’ side, the Golden Hawks bring back a ton of young talent.

A year ago, Mid-Prairie punched a ticket to the state meet after a grinded out third-place finish in the state qualifying meet.

They went on to place 13th in the state meet.

Headlining the Golden Hawks in 2022 will be junior’s Emmett Swartzentruber and Preston Yutzy.

Swartzentruber was the highest finisher from a year ago.

He ran won of his best times of the season in the state meet on his way to a top-20 finish. Swartzentruber placed 20th in the Class 2A race.

As for Yutzy, he ran to a 41st place finish to help propel the Golden Hawks.

Along with the two 12 runners will be back from last season, which includes state meet participants sophomore Jesse Stultz and senior Daniel Rodgers.

Blake Creed, Nathan Wallington and Jordan Stock all graduated. The trio were on the state meet team as well.

Also competing in RVC will be Monticello and Williamsburg. Both were ranked ahead of the Golden Hawks in 2022.
Date Time Location Previous Next chevron-circle-right Funeral Home Facebook Bluesky X/ Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram Tiktok Reddit Email Print Buy RSS Feed Opens in new tab or window PDF