DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
One of the youngest teams in Randy Hisner’s long head coaching career brings excitement and a new challenge for the Bellmont Braves.
“We are young this year,” says Hisner. “Ten of our 14 runners are freshmen and sophomores. We were hit hard by graduation, losing our top one-two punch of Elijah Obringer (PR 16:37) and Ian Webb (PR 16:38), as well as two other varsity runners, Henry Kukelhan and Tristen Habegger.”
After graduating a seemingly endless rotation of semi-state and state qualifiers in recent years, this year’s Bellmont team lacks a definitive #1, leaving the door wide open for a new star for the team.
“I’m excited about what we have. We had an excellent summer of training, building a nice foundation for a successful season. Attitudes have been wonderful, work habits great.”
There are just two seniors and two juniors on the team this year and the Braves will be looking at trimming their times to get back to winning a sectional trophy, something they did for six consecutive seasons from 2016 until 2021.
The good news for the Braves comes in the fact that last year’s #3, #4 and #5 are back. Harry Gunsett, Maddux Miller and Landon Rich will all be vying for the spot of top runner on this year’s team.
On top of those returning runners, Hisner also has a very promising freshman who could challenge for top times on the team early on.
“Freshman Hudson Krull, coming off a very successful middle school year in cross country (runner-up in the conference meet), swimming (breaking several school records), and track (placing in four events in the conference meet), has been training right with our top returnees this summer and will challenge for a top spot in our lineup,” says Hisner.
“All three are well ahead of where they were last year at this time, and they will form a solid nucleus of returning varsity runners. They all gained valuable tournament experience last season.”
One place the Braves will not be going this season is to semi-state.
Why?
Because it no longer exists.
Bellmont will also be hopping on a bus to compete in a sectional, something they haven’t done in nearly 40 years.
All Adams and Wells County schools will travel to the Delta Sectional. (The new format reduced the number of sectionals from 32 to 25.)
As with any physically demanding high school sport, injuries will also play a pivotal role for Hisner’s boys.
“Returning varsity junior Ethan Curtis is struggling with an injury and will probably not compete in our first meet at Norwell on August 12,” notes Hisner. “That puts sophomore Hayden Whittenbarger in the inside lane for our #5 spot. Fortunately, he has put in a dedicated summer of training and is much improved over last year.”
Senior Caleb Adams lost most of last season to a stress fracture but has looked strong in training this summer and should be part of the varsity lineup.
Hisner also has his eye on Adams’ younger brother, Owen, as a potential freshman varsity runner. Sophomore Cayden Rauch could also jump into a spot.
Freshman Logan Whitacre did not run cross country in middle school but did have a good track season last spring and trained very consistently over the summer. He could be a nice surprise, says coach Hisner.
Sophomores Jackson Hicks and Cole Sipe, along with senior Ty Loshe and freshman Collin Dawson, will add depth to the squad.
The Bellmont season will get underway Saturday at Norwell, but the team won’t run again until August 23rd when they host an invitational on a Wednesday evening.
Bellmont Cross Country Roster with 2022 best 5K times)
Seniors: Caleb Adams (21:35), Ty Loshe (24:56)
Juniors: Harry Gunsett (18:03), Ethan Curtis (18:57)
Sophomores: Maddux Miller (18:22), Landon Rich (18:33), Hayden Whittenbarger (20:40), Cole Sipe (21:00), Jackson Hicks (24:17), Cayden Rauch (22:07)
Freshmen: Hudson Krull, Owen Adams, Logan Whitacre, Collin Dawson
Manager: Payton Miller
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