Waukon girls cross country returns a dozen letterwinners in effort to earn a return trip back to the State Meet during 2025 campaign
2025 Waukon girls cross country team ... Left to right - Front row: Bentley Johnson, Maren Kurth, Leah Peake, Hailey Cook, Laira Davis, Kayler Hanson, Tanner Burrichter, Braelyn Zuercher, Nalia Benda, Callie O’Neill, Ali Melcher, Malea Downing, Ivy Streeper; Back row: Manager Danika Reiser, Cora Miller, Nora Davis, Emma O’Neill, Moriah Downing, Miriam Downing, Claire Johnson, Makenna Kurth, Marissa Schullo, Addisyn Berns, Malia Clark, Sophia Pommersheim. Not pictured: Reegan Benzing, Jaelyn Johanningmeier, Kara Helgerson, Harper Winter, Tatum Dugan, Elsie Retallick, Kendyl Wedo.
2025 Waukon girls cross country returning letterwinners ... Left to right - Front row: Kayler Hanson, Tanner Burrichter, Braelyn Zuercher, Nalia Benda; Back row: Nora Davis, Emma O’Neill, Moriah Downing, Miriam Downing, Claire Johnson, Makenna Kurth. Not pictured: Reegan Benzing, Jaelyn Johanningmeier.
Coming off its most successful season in recent years with its first team qualification in five seasons for the State Cross Country Meet last fall, the 2025 Waukon girls cross country team will be focused on renewing a qualifying streak as the Lady Indians hit the course this fall. Headlining that effort will be the return of 12 letterwinners from last fall’s campaign, five of whom return after helping the distance Tribe to a 13th-place team finish among Class 2A’s elite at last fall’s season grand finale.
The pair of Moriah Downing and Emma O’Neill headline that list of returnees with their most veteran experience as seniors this season, with sophomore Miriam Downing being the youngest of those varsity returnees but taking a leadership role at the front of the Lady Indian pack during her inaugural high school season last fall and being joined in bringing back letterwinning experience by fellow sophomores Nalia Benda, Tanner Burrichter, Kayler Hanson and Braelyn Zuercher. In between those grade-level bookends is a large group of high-end juniors in Reegan Benzing, Nora Davis, Jaelyn Johanningmeier, Claire Johnson and Makenna Kurth, who round out this season’s collection of returning letterwinners.
“Most of these girls are our varsity returning runners,” Waukon girls cross country coach Tyler Scholl shared. “They were part of our State qualifying team from last year and they are excited to chase their goals once again. Most of them hit the 200-mile mark or above for their training this summer and it shows in the workouts already. Makenna Kurth and Moriah Downing right now are leading our large JV squad which is looking to have some depth.”
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