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Washington Evening Journal
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Riley coaches, Bainbridge captains All-Union boys XC team
Seven area teams earn selections
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
It was another big year for area boys cross county teams.
Three squads reached state as a team and competed in the Class 1A boys race Nov. 1 in Ft. Dodge. Four individual runners also represented their teams in the biggest competition of the season after pushing other area runners all campaign.
The 2025 All-Union boys cross-country team features some of the best performances at the state meet, a nod to an outstanding career for WACO’s top runner and Columbus’ outstanding depth.
Coach: Steven Riley, Columbus
In charge of the boys cross-country program since 2012, Riley led a deep and balanced Columbus team this season. The Wildcats took sixth place in the Class 1A state race, the best among the three Union Area teams.
Four of the Wildcats seven runners at state finished in the top 75 and six came in the top 100. Columbus earned its trip to Ft. Dodge by finishing first at the 1A state qualifier in North Linn with 38 points.
Columbus took third place in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference meet this season. It also had first place finishes at the Timm Lamb cross-country Invitational, the Sigourney CC Invite and the Hillcrest Academy Early Bird Meet.
Captain: Lincoln Bainbridge, Van Buren County, senior
Bainbridge led the way for VBC all season, including the 1A state race where he finished seventh, improving from a 27th place finish in 2024. Bainbridge finished his career with a time of 16 minutes, 36.6 seconds at the state meet in Ft. Dodge.
The VBC senior also picked up wins at Central Lee, the Fairfield Invitational and the Lighted Links XC Meet. He finished third at the 2025 SEISC meet in Hillcrest.
Andrew Rees, Washington, senior
Rees notched the best time of any area runner at the state cross county meet. He crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 22.6 seconds to take 18th, his second top 20 finish at state.
Washington’s top boys runner capped off an outstanding career with a second Southeast Conference title to his name. He also finished first at the Demons home meet with a season best time of 16:11.10 and won the Hillcrest Academy Invitational.
Jude Dykstra, WACO, senior
Dykstra would have added to stacked field of Union Area runners with an appearance at state this season. He was unable to race at the Class 1A qualifier in Ottumwa due to injury and WACO narrowly missed out on qualifying as a team.
Still, Dykstra had another outstanding campaign that saw him earn an SEISC title. Dykstra also had wins at the Mike Jay Cross County Invitational, the Mt. Pleasant Invite and an individual title at the Hillcrest Early Bird Meet.
Cole Millikin, Pekin, senior
Pekin was able to reach state in Class 1A and Millikin led the way for the Panthers with a top-40 finish, placing 33rd at 17:12.3.
The senior finished in 16:48 to take first place at the Ottumwa state qualifier. He also won the Waterworks Grade Race and came second to Dykstra at the Mike Jay Invitational.
Max Swartzentruber, Mid-Prairie, junior
The lone area runner in the 2A state race, Swartzentruber represented the Golden Hawks with a 59th place finish in 17 minutes, 43.4 seconds.
Swartzentruber continues to surge on a talented Mid-Prairie team. He was part of a Golden Hawks squad that went to state last year. In 2025, he set a personal record of 17:03 at the River Valley Conference meet to win an individual title. He finished in the top 10 in five other races this season.
Silas Hulett, Mt. Pleasant, junior
The SEC’s other representative at state, Hulett also showed why he’ll be near the top of the conference next year after a strong junior campaign. He took 53rd overall at 17:03.4 in Ft. Dodge.
Hulett reached his first ever state race by achieving a personal record 16:44.2 at the Williamsburg 3A qualifier. He had three top five finishes this season and placed in the 10 in seven races.
Ryan Villa, Columbus, junior
Villa had the best time among Columbus’ balanced group of runners in the 1A state race. He finished 50th overall at 17:34.1, setting a personal record in the process.
Villa’s second place finish at the Hillcrest Early Bird Meet helped earn Columbus a team title. He also placed fourth at the Sigourney Invite and achieved top 10 finishes at the Timm Lamb Invitational, the Mike Jay Invitational and finished ninth in the 1A state qualifier at North Linn.
