Gillis medals as Cardinals find success at state

FORT DODGE – A magical season that will be held in high regard for Central Decatur came to a close Saturday with one runner on the deck at the 2020 Iowa State High School State Cross Country Meet.

Will Gillis entered Saturday as the No. 4-ranked runner in Class 2A. The team was ranked No. 13 in the class, making the state meet without its top runner.

Sidelined due to COVID quarantines, Gillis was unable to run at the state qualifying meet, but the team prevailed against “shark-infested waters” after being counted out.

“We’re hardworking. We put forth our best effort,” Gillis said. “We’ve definitely been practicing. With the whole quarantine and stuff, they knew they had to step it up and get it done. They just had to do that.”

Despite missing the team’s best runner, Central Decatur head coach Reece Tedford said the group’s expectations never wavered, knowing the could make the state meet as a team. For Gillis, on the return, two weeks off proved to be difficult for the Cardinals’ ace.

“It affected me more than I thought it would have,” Gillis said with a laugh. “It just shows you, two weeks without practicing day-in-day-out can affect you.”

Saturday, at the state meet, Gillis continued his strong season, running with the top end of the best runners in the state. He finished on the deck with a time of 17:18.7 in ninth place to contribute as the top scorer on the team.

Central Decatur scored 239 points for ninth place. Sitting at the top of the class as No. 1 Danville/New London took the top spot Saturday with 64. No. 2 Tipton scored 86 points in second place and No. 3 Des Moines Christian finished in its place in third place.

Rounding out scorers, two-time qualifer Tyson McDole finished in 52nd place with a time of 18:20.6. Tate Swartz (18:29.9) and Vincent Carcamo (19:13.3) finished in 68th and 101st places, respectively. Glenn Oesch was the final scorer for Central Decatur, clocking a time of 19:37.3 for 118th place.

Joe Sheetz (20:16.1) and Jack Greenwood (21:04.0) also ran for the Cardinals, coming in 132nd and 139th places, respectively.

“Today is a big day. I think it’s a hook when you make it to state,” Tedford said. “Winning the conference meet this year was a big and then the way they made it to state was dramatic. Took a little bit of character.”

Looking at the future for a young team, things are looking bright as all scorers are set to return for the 2021 season for the boys. For the girls, the standards are set just as high, being right on the cusp of the boys’ success.

“I think (this experience) is going to be contagious for the girls program,” Tedford said. “They’re close and making it here, it’s a fun trip, an exciting thing. You get some attention. They’re all coming back, and I think they’re going to be pretty determine to keep this rolling for the duration of their career.”

GIRLS TEAM SCORES

1. Mid-Prairie, Wellman 45; 2. Tipton 107; 3. Williambsurg 119; 4. Jesup 135; 5. Starmont; 6. Denver 194; 7. Cherokee 215; 8. Sibley-Ocheydan; 9. Davis County 238; 10. Unity Christian 244; 11. Dike-New Hartford 248; 12. Panorama 281; 13. Danville/New Lond 305; 14. Roland-Story 312; 15. Des Moines Christian 315.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Individual leaders —1. Danielle Hostetler, Mid-Prairie, Wellman, 19:08.9; 2. Addison Parrott, Danville/New London, 19:31.3; 3. Jaden Yoder, Mid-Prairie, Wellman 19:38.9; 4. Amber Homan, Denver 19:46.1; 5. Clara Teigland, Treynor, 19:47.1; 6. Amanda Treptow, Jesup, 19:47.7; 7. Ruth Jennings, Williambsurg, 19:54.7; 8. Mitzy Evans, Mid-Prairie, Wellman, 19:56.4; 9. Clare Wright, Jesup, 20:00.3; 10. Maria Kruse, Beckman Cahtolic, 20:02.0.

BOYS TEAM SCORES

1. Danville 64; 2. Tipton 86; 3. Des Moines Christian 95; 4. Western Christian, Hull 105; 5. Davis County, Bloomfield 137; 6. Mid-Prairie, Wellman 177; 7. Williambsurg 189; 8. Denver 224; 9. Central Decatur 239; 10. Waukon 242; 11. Unity Christian 289; 12. GCGR 201; 13. George-Little 205; 14. Albia 317; 15. North Fayette Valley 339.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Individual leaders – 1. Caleb Shumaker, Tipton, 16:13.2; 2. Ty Carr, Danville/New London, 16:50.1; 3. Alexander Julian, Danville/New London, 16:50.6; 4. Carson Houg, Des Moines Chrisian, 16:58.6; 5. Aaron Fynaardt, Des Moines Christian, 16:59.1; 6. Tage Hulstein, Western Christian, Hull, 17:00.3; 7. Kenny Cronin, Davis County, Bloomfield, 17:07.7; 8. Carson Shively, Davis County, Bloomfield, 17:111.0; 9. William Gillis, Central Decatur, 17:18.7; 10. Kenny Day, GCGR, 17:19.9.

Central Decatur – 9. William Gillis,17:18.7; 52. Tyson McDole, 18:20.6; 68. Tate Swartz, 18:28.9; 101. Vincent Carcamo, 19:13.3; 118. Glen Oesch, 19:37.3; 132. Joe Sheetz, 20:16.1; 139. Jack Greenwood, 21:04.0.