Page 20 Stillwater Ponies Fall Sports Preview • Friday , September 6 , 2024 stillwatergazette . com
BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY Seasoned lineup returns to set pace for Stillwater
Head coach — Ryan Miller ( 2nd year ).
Assistant coaches — Katie Kadera .
Last season — The Ponies fi nished 2nd in the SEC Meet and won the Section 4AAA title before placing eight at state .
2024 captains — Caleb Berry , Carson Fellows , Max Gerald , Evan Goddard , Cal Heinz , Dylan Riniker , Davis Rolstad and Andrew Walsh .
Who ’ s gone — All-State performer Ethan Foote was the most notable departure for the Stillwater boys cross-country team , which finished eighth in the Class AAA state meet . The Ponies graduated three of their top four finishers at state , which included Brady Bushlack and Jack Richter .
Foote finished with a flourish by placing sixth at state . Bushlack did not even run in the section meet , but was pressed into service due to an injury and he took advantage while finishing as the team ’ s third finisher , just ahead of Richter . Cohen Smith also graduated after joining Foote , Bushlack and Richter in serving as captains .
Who ’ s back — Dylan Riniker was a strong No . 2 runner for the Ponies a year ago before an injury sidelined him at state . The senior is expected to set the pace and enters the season No . 8 in the individual Class AAA state rankings .
Riniker was joined by returning seniors Andrew Walsh , Evan Goddard and Max Gerald , and junior George Nelson in
Seniors for the Stillwater boys cross-country team include , front row , from left , Andrew Walsh , Cal Heinz , Logan Liveringhouse and Davis Rolstad . Second row , Dylan Riniker , Carson Fellows , Max Gerald and Evan Goddard . earning All-Suburban East Conference honors a year ago . Goddard was the team ’ s second finisher at state and Nelson provided the fifth score for a deep and balanced lineup . Seniors Cal Heinz , Carson Fellows and Davis Rolstad add depth to an experienced returning cast .
Others — Senior Logan Liveringhouse was Stillwater ’ s top finisher in the conference JV meet last season and there is a strong group of younger runners who could emerge this season .
Additional potential contributors include juniors Brennan Hiland and Kingston Windschitl , sophomores Wyatt Wolfe , Harper Drexel , Nathan Fellows and August Massey , and promising freshmen Porter Shockey and Cole Wanvig .
Conference — Stillwater and Mounds View were the top teams in the Suburban East Conference a year ago and that should be the case again this season . Along with White Bear Lake , they are the perennial contenders in the conference , though Roseville also returns individual state champion Robert Mechura .
Mounds View is slotted fourth in the preseason state coaches poll while the Ponies are ranked sixth and White Bear Lake is ninth .
“ Mounds View looks to have a slight edge entering the season , but it will be close , like always ,” Ponies coach Ryan Miller said .
Section — The Ponies outdistanced White Bear Lake by 18 points to win the Section 4AAA title a year ago while the Bears finished just two points ahead of third-place Two Rivers .
White Bear Lake overtook Stillwater while placing sixth at state . East Ridge also finished in the top half of the section , but graduated individual state qualifier Nathan Schultz .
“ No major changes ,” Miller said .
Outlook — Last season was marked by steady progress for the Ponies , who climbed as high as No . 4 in the state rankings after defeating Mounds View and Edina at Alexandria . But they were unable
See Boys CC , Page 21