Mid-Prairie cultivating a culture to reign as a cross-country dynasty

WELLMAN - The Hostetler family of runners have established a well-known tradition across the state of their running prowess at distances.

It could be said there is a dynasty the Golden Hawks have created.

Maybe the word dynasty is too much? According to a Merriam-Webster dictionary a dynasty is a 'line of hereditary rulers of a country.” Another meaning it lists is 'a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.”

How about an open field filled with cross-country runners that the Hostetlers have played a prominent role in with individual and team titles to their credit.

Oldest sister Ana Hostetler, who now runs for the University of Iowa, was the Class 2A champion as a junior in 2016 but her senior year saw Marie defeat her as a sophomore. Now both Hostetlers have graduated, but their father, Mark, still is the coach and has been for 15 years. and there is another Hostetler set to follow in those quick long footsteps of her older sisters. Little sister Danielle was the eighth-grade champion at the junior high state meet last season. Abby Fleming is also an incoming freshman and finished second at that eighth-grade meet.

The preseason cross-country rankings by the Iowa Association of Track Coaches seem to regard the Golden Hawks highly without Marie Hostetler as they were ranked No. 1 in Class 2A.

The three consecutive team titles were won with a strong group. There are four returning runners from last year's championship who have all demonstrated discipline, mental toughness, and an ability to come through in big meets.

Returning Golden Hawks from the state meet and how they placed are: at 11th, now senior Ana Fleming, 13th Mitzi Evans, now a junior, 21st Sydney Yoder, now a junior and 39th Jaden Yoder, now a junior.

Beside Hostetler, the Hawks lose graduated seniors Abbagail Evans (15th) and Angelina Evans (29th).

Fleming, who is a three-time team champion, a two-time all-state individual (10th as a freshman, 15th as a junior); Evans, a two-time team champion with two top-25 individual finishes at state; and Jaden Yoder and Sydney Yoder. Junior Britney Kissinger and sophomore Amara Jones are returning letterwinners.

'The summer training has seen big gains in a number of varsity hopefuls,” assistant coach Aaron Fleming said.

When you are considered a dynasty, there are always those that want your crown and Mid-Prairie has very talented rivals in their league.

The Golden Hawks run in the River Valley Conference and there is Monticello, ranked eighth in Class 3A, Tipton, ranked 10th in Class 2A as well as Iowa City Regina, ranked first in Class 1A.

While those are conference rivals, the biggest rivalry of late for the Golden Hawks has been Williamsburg.

Mid-Prairie had lost to the Raiders at the state qualifying meet last year, but won the state team title by a single point over Williamsburg.

A rematch will happen at the Iowa City West meet Monday and Williamsburg is ranked second in 2A just like last year.

Danielle Hostetler. Abby Fleming and other new freshmen will have to adapt to the longer high school distance to step up, compete and maintain the expectations of a dynasty.

The boys team has a similar situation in Daniel Rodgers, who led the eighth grade team in 2019 and showed promise in summer training.

The male Golden Hawks will be led senior Jamie Stutzman, who was a state qualifier in 2019 as was sophomore Nathan Wallington.

Other seniors are Lucas Bontrager and Luke Albright. Juniors are Thaddeus Shetler, Chandler Hershberger, Robert Nagy and Carter Harmsen with sophomores Mose Yoder and Jordan Stock.

The male Golden Hawks have 'great relationships, great work ethic, and a deep hunger to succeed after a promising season was derailed by injury,” Coach Fleming said.

All runners from the state qualifying squad return, as well as team leader Shetler, who sat out the state qualifier because he was hurt.

Even with the ranking, the boys are still looking for those sixth and seventh runners.

'We have five strong front-runners but we need some who can step up and push the pack,” Fleming said.

In the RVC, the pack is always pushed by perennial powers Tipton, Monticello, and Bellevue, 'regardless of how many runners they graduate,” Fleming said.

Confidence and resilience will be key attributes for both Golden Hawk teams this season, befitting that of a dynasty.