Southeast of Saline poised to go after Class 3A title repeat

Not everything went completely to script for the Southeast of Saline cross country teams in 2020.

Coming off a second straight Class 3A state championship for the boys and a runner-up finish by the girls in 2019 – and returning the bulk of both squads – expectations were as high as maybe they've ever been for the program.
Which is saying plenty given the Trojans' rich history.

But then, well, life happens. Returning 2019 boys state champion Dylan Sprecker battled a stress fracture throughout the season, limiting him to just three meets. Returning girls' state champion Jentrie Alderson missed part of the year with COVID-19 protocols and battled illness throughout.

Throw in a couple more injury hurdles, and well, by the time they hit Wamego for the Class 3A state meet, neither Southeast of Saline wasn't close to being full strength.

"We battled a lot last year," Trojan coach Wade Caselman said. "But our kids just fought through it."

Indeed, the Trojans did.

Despite all the setbacks, Southeast of Saline finished 2020 on top of Class 3A. The boys edged neighbor and rival Smoky Valley by four points to capture their third straight state championship. The Trojan girls, meanwhile, enjoyed a banner day, scoring 62 points to beat Scott City by 16 points to complete the title sweep.

It was the eighth state championship for each team and first title sweep by the Trojans since each went back-to-back-to-back in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

"Southeast of Saline always takes pride in their cross country program," Caselman said. "We've had a good following through the years with alumni and parents and everything. Wayne Sager really built a strong program here in the 1990s and it's just carried on from there.

"We've been blessed to have some really good kids the past couple of years that have really bought into my coaching philosophy and into our program. They work hard in the offseason to get better and it's paid off for them."

Returning four state placers off its 2019 title team – including champion Sprecker and top-five finishers Dominic Jackson (fourth) and Luke Gleason (fifth) – Southeast of Saline's boys were overwhelming favorites to win 3A last season.

But Sprecker went down in the first meet of the season and didn't return until regionals. Jackson, meanwhile, also developed a stress fracture that led to him being the Trojans' seventh finisher at the state meet, taking 100^th overall after his fourth-place finish in 2019.

Yet, the Trojans still got it done. Sprecker fought his way to a fourth-place finish to lead the way while Gleason took 10^th and Damion Jackson added a 14^th. Seniors Spencer Smith and Andrew Hanson each finished in the top 40 and the Trojans fought off Smoky Valley, which was led by third-place finisher Ryan Heline.

"It was very satisfying to win," Caselman said. "We see Smoky Valley all the time with them being just 15 miles from our school. They had a great group of kids and we did too. We knew it was going to be a battle between us and them and we never overlooked them."

Sprecker returned to full strength in time to help lead the Trojan boys to the Class 3A state title in track last spring, sweeping titles in the 800 and 1,600 and on the 3,200 relay. The senior standout will be joined by junior Damion Jackson and senior Joel Kejr off last year's title team, while last year's state alternates – juniors Nakari Morrical-Palmer and Drew Richardson and sophomore Cayden Walker are also back.

The program also has a pair of newcomers who will make an impact – junior Drake Augustine, who was on the winning 3,200 relay in track, and sophomore Levi Allen, a transfer from Hillsboro who placed 16^th in last year's Class 2A state cross country meet.

"This group of boys, a lot of them have been through the whole program in junior high and high school," Caselman said. "They are just dedicated and make each other better every day in practice. They're there to encourage each other to work hard every day."

While the boys have holes to fill from a year ago, the Trojan girls return their entire state squad from last year.

Alderson, now a senior, slipped from being a state champion to a seventh-place finish last year while junior Ashley Prochazka just missed a state medal with a 22^nd-place finish. Seniors Joni Schroeder (31^st), Mallorie Pearson (42^nd) and sophomores Sadie Franklin (51^st) and Brookelyn Adams (72^nd) also are back as is junior Savannah Sutton, who was unable to finish due to an injury at the meet.

In addition to those returners, Caselman said incoming freshmen Abby Commerford and Cali Augustine have been pushing hard for varsity spots.

"They've already shown me they're not afraid to stick their nose in and push for a varsity spot," he said. "They want to succeed and have success. There's no resting on your laurels from the last meet because somebody down below is pushing for those spots."

Both Southeast of Saline teams enter the season as favorites in Class 3A.

On the boys side, Smoky Valley graduated Heline and one other from last year's runner-up team, but return state placer Lukas Apel and four others from the state squad. Scott City was third a year ago and returns all but one runner from its team.

Silver Lake, runner-up in 2019, didn't make it as a team to 3A last year, but has state placers Cameron TenEyck and Mason Brokaw returning. Girard lost two-time state champion Cormick Logue, but has almost everyone else back from its fourth-place team.

For the girls, 2020 runner-up Scott City returns six of its seven state runners led by Brinlie Stevens. Cimarron was third and has three of its five scorers back.

Colby and Minneapolis didn't have state qualifying teams last year but each had a pair of state placers – Kathie Chavez (third) and Seanna Metcla (ninth) for Colby and Maddy Krueger (fifth) and Alayna Cossaart (sixth) for Minneapolis. Wichita Trinity beat Southeast at regionals last year, but wound up fifth at state and returns all but one runner.

"We're not overlooking anybody this year," Caselman said. "Both Jentrie and Dylan had great spring track seasons so they're looking forward to this season a lot. They want to redeem themselves from last year, not competing at the level they thought they should be.

"Everyone has come in after putting in some miles over the summer. We're going to try and make a run for it again. I know that's their goal. We know it's not going to be easy. We've got big shoes to fill, but we're looking forward to the challenge."