COLERAINE—Can the Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin High School boys cross country team keep up with tradition?
The Titans have won seven Section 7A titles over the past nine seasons, but are they set up for an eighth in 10 years?
Only time will tell as the 2024 season gets underway, but never count out Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin, which is ranked second in the state in Class A.
Titan coach Will Floersheim will never doubt what his boys can do.
“Early on in that run, I absolutely never saw it coming, having a team do that every year,” Floersheim said. “We never take anything for granted. I impress that upon the kids every year.
“There’s an expectation of success and excellence that has developed in the program, so it’s not a shock when it happens. The kids don’t take it for granted.”
Especially the seniors, Hunter Milstead and Max Gangl.
“They’re incredibly instrumental in what happens,” Floersheim said. “They’re the captains, and they’ve been around for a number of years. Hunter is coming off a strong track season. He grew a lot as a runner and competitor.
“That will help him grow further this cross country season.
“Max was our seventh runner at state last season. You never would have known that by the way he raced. That kind of mindset is needed to be a captain.”
The top-two runners, however, will be juniors Bryce Nielsen and Brayden Nielsen. They will be joined by Preston Troumbly.
“Preston grew a lot last year,” Floersheim said. “If he continues to take additional steps this year, it will be critical to what we do as a team. Bryce and Brayden are captains as well.
“They’re good athletes. If those two come into their own, they have more potential to be all-state athletes.”
Sophomore Isaac Danielson missed the state meet last year with an illness, but will be instrumental in the Titans’ success.
“He might be the kid who took the biggest step forward,” Floersheim said. “I expect him to be in the front group, with Hunter and Max. He will contribute, too.”
Brenden Hendrickson, an eighth-grader, will also be called upon to compete.
“He had a good, strong track season,” Floersheim said. “He worked hard this summer. He loves it. He’s going to be a kid that could step up and surprise some people. People ask me, ‘Where do you keep finding these kids?’
“He’ll be the kid who surprises everyone. He’s talented, but he’s also a hard worker.”
Last year, the key to Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin’s success was running in a tight-knit pack.
That might not be the case this season.
“This year, that’s going to be tougher to run in as tight of a pack, but that’s always the goal,” Floersheim said. “We’ll have the two Nielsen’s in the front, then three, four or five runners with them.
“We’ll be able to put a good group of four behind our top two. At the section meet, that will be the key, how close can we put those guys up to our top two?”
Floersheim is hoping that strong tradition continues and is enough to carry the Titans to another Section 7A title.
“The boys that we have are our younger kids that need to embrace what the program has become,” Floersheim said. “They know what it takes to go out all season and race like they know to race.
“I love their work ethic. It’s a matter of having consistent effort and teamwork. Our kids have to live up to their own expectations, which are sky high.”
Local News
Comments / 0