By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Very little can be said about Southeast of Saline’s cross-country program that hasn’t been said already.
The Trojans and Lady Trojans have raised 19 state championship banners over the years, making SES the sixth-winningest program in Kansas's history.
That dominance includes repeats, three-peats, and an unprecedented run of podium finishes, and this Saturday, Southeast has an opportunity to add even more hardware to an already crowded trophy case.
Last week, both teams ran strong races at the regional in Gypsum, with the #1 ranked girls team closing out a first-place finish, and the #3 ranked boys team wrapping up their race in second.
While some of this has been expected, the way SES has done it in 2024 has been different, with a youth movement leading the way, and overcoming unexpected losses.
“These kids have so much raw talent despite being really young and I’ve loved seeing how much they’ve matured throughout the season,” SES head coach Wade Caselman said. “Their enthusiasm for wanting to work hard and get better every week has been so great to see and these kids want to keep Southeast at a high level the way we have been for the last several years. I appreciate that out of each and every one of them.”
The four-time defending state champion Lady Trojans expected to be back in the mix for a fifth-straight title this season, but lost several key pieces from that 2023 team.
Despite the new challenge, newcomers like freshmen Ava McGraw and Alea Barnaby helped to keep SES in contention alongside key sophomores Piper Brown, Anna Jackson, Regan Duran and Layla Lund, and lone senior Cali Augustine.
As a result, the Lady Trojans come into the state run at Rim Rock as the favorites to win it all and pull off Southeast’s second five-peat in program history if they can fend off Wichita Trinity, Hesston, and Norton.
“A fifth straight state title for the girls has been our goal since the first day of practice,” Caselman said. “Only one other group of Southeast kids has ever done that. These girls want to etch their name in stone with that group and continue building the legacy of our cross-country program. They definitely have a shot but whatever happens I’m so proud of them.”
Things were a bit less clear cut for the Southeast boy’s team, which lost Levi Allen, Cayden Walker and Ben Grauerholz to graduation, then lost Isaiah Kejr to an injury earlier this year.
Fortunately, the Trojans will receive a shot in the arm on the boy's side, as Brayden Walker returns from an injury that kept him off the course at regionals for one last run this year.
With Walker returning to join senior newcomer Jacob Tonne, sophomores Cole Franklin and Tyler Kempke, and freshmen Brooks and Zach Carlin and Caleb Knopf, Southeast should be in the mix to land on the podium once more, a position they’ve occupied for the better part of the last decade.
That podium place will be contingent on if the Trojans can match pace with Wichita Trinity and Holcomb, each of whom is eying a state title on Saturday.
“We want our boys to be on the podium for a seventh straight season and continue that run of coming home with hardware,” he said. “No matter where they finish I’m proud of these boys and what they accomplished this year especially with how young we are.”
The state championships in Lawrence get underway on Saturday morning, with Southeast’s boys running at 10:00, and the girls running at noon.