By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
With another fall semester already underway, the Southeast of Saline cross-country teams are gearing up for what should be another pair of exciting seasons for one of the most dynastic programs in the state of Kansas.
The girl’s team, which is currently on a run of three straight 3A state titles, added a tenth banner to the rafters last year, and will be the favorites to pull off an unthinkable fourth straight state win for the second time in program history.
“We’re hoping that our girl’s team can run up to those expectations and bring home another championship,” SES head coach Wade Caselman said. “We feel that we have the power and depth to do that. There’s nothing I would love more for them than to have an opportunity to four-peat.”
On the boy's side, Wichita Trinity remains the favorite in Class 3A, but last year’s runner-up Trojans will be hungry to challenge the Knights again, and will be expected to at the very least medal in this year’s state meet.
“Wichita Trinity has everyone back from their two-time state championship team but we feel like we’re a podium team come Rim Rock,” Caselman said. “It’s just going to be about finding our 6th through 8th runners and closing down our time gaps to the front.”
Despite losing one of their top runners in Ashley Prochazka to graduation, the Lady Trojans return a stacked lineup for 2023, including seniors Sadie Franklin and Brookelyn Adams, junior Abby Commerford, and sophomore Breckyn Alderson, all of whom ran at state last year.
The girls’ team will also get a boost from a trio of promising freshmen in Anna Jackson, Regan Duran, and converted track runner Piper Brown, who will get her first taste of cross-country experience this fall.
Southeast’s ability to churn out exceptional runners year after year is the product of a program that encourages kids to start running early, and fosters lifelong relationships in a family atmosphere few other schools can hope to replicate.
“Having a program like the one we have here at Southeast is so important,” Caselman said. “Our Freshmen come in every year with the experience of having run in some big meets and that helps them to be ready to step in and compete right away at the high school level.”
On the boy's side, despite graduating Damion Jackson and Nakari Morrical-Palmer, the Trojans return a strong lineup headlined by seniors Levi Allen and Cayden Walker, and sophomores Jacob Bircher and Brayden Walker.
The Trojans will also look to their #6 and #7 runners from a season ago to step up and play a big part, as Ben Grauerholz and Isaiah Kejr take on bigger roles in 2023.
The teams will open the new year at the Abilene Invitational on Thursday, August 31st, and will be eager to see where they stack up after a long offseason.
“The kids are looking forward to getting out there and competing again,” Caselman said. “Most of our team got a lot of miles in over the summer and they’re excited to get on the course to see all that hard work pay off.”