Orioles cross country team to begin season this Thursday
The Lennox High School cross country teams are preparing for another season with a strong group of returning runners and the goal of making another trip to the State Cross Country Meet.
Both the Lennox boys and girls teams placed at the state meet a year ago, giving the Orioles plenty of momentum heading into the 2026 season.
“We have a great group of athletes and hope to go to the State Meet again this year,” said head coach Mike Oltmanns.
The Orioles return six letter winners on the girls team, including sophomores Lucy Carlson, Allison Loewe, Adie McVey, Kamille Schmidt and Natalie Aesoph, along with freshman Sophia Jonson.
The boys team also returns a large group of experienced runners. Returning letter winners include seniors Case Aasheim and Isaiah Sayler; juniors Leo Aesoph, Isaak Booker and Jackson Schmidt; and sophomores Charlie Bittner and Landon Strasser.
While the Orioles return considerable experience, the team will also have to replace several seniors who graduated last spring. Oltmanns said the graduating seniors will be missed, including Cloy McVey, who will continue his running career at the collegiate level. McVey will compete in cross country and track at Augustana University.
Karson Iken, another senior graduate, will attend South Dakota State University. Iken will not continue running at the collegiate level.
The Orioles will also have a change to their coaching staff this season.
Assistant coach Paul McVey will be greatly missed after accepting the head coaching position for Lennox High School girls soccer.
Taking over as the new assistant cross country coach will be Kray Person. A graduate of Augustana University, Person had a successful career as a cross country runner for the Vikings and will bring his collegiate running experience to the Lennox program.
The Orioles will get their first opportunity to compete this Thursday, Aug. 27 at the Watchdog Cross Country Opener at The Bridges at Beresford Golf Course and Community Center. The team will then compete at the Dakota Valley Invitational Sept. 1 before taking part in the Augustana Twilight XC Meet Sept. 4 at Yankton Trail Park.
Other September meets include the Parker Cross Country Meet on Sept. 9, the Nike Heartland Preview on Sept. 12, a varsity boys meet at Dordt College on Sept. 24 and the Lennox Invitational at Lenkota Country Club on Oct. 2.
The Conference Tournament will be held Oct. 8 at Yankton Trail Park, followed by the Region 3A Meet on Oct. 15 at Lenkota Country Club.
The State Cross Country Meet is scheduled for Oct. 24 at Hart Ranch in Rapid City, where the Orioles hope to once again compete among the state’s best.