RAPID CITY — When the James Valley Christian boys’ team steps to the line for the start of the Class B State Cross Country meet today at Hart Ranch Camping Resort, it will be aiming to win a third straight state title.
“I love the competitive nature and heart of our team, and we are excited about being in position for a state team title,” JVC coach Tom Brantner said. “Three in a row would be very special, but past accomplishments don’t help us in the pressent, so we’ve been trying to focus on this year alone.”
The Vikings will begin defense of their state championship at 2 p.m. MT today.
Juniors Darrian Hood and Colton Schweigert both return after earning all-state honors at last year’s state meet for the JVC boys. Also running at this year’s event for the Vikings will be junior Braden Held and eighth-graders Daniel Ayoroa and Jevin Goertz. Hood was 10th last year, while Scheigert was 16th.
“We’d like to see Colton Schweigert and Darrian Hood in the top 10 finishers and Braden Held to be somewhere in the top 20,” Brantner said. “Daniel Ayoroa has come on strong late in the season and should be in the top 40 and even has a decent chance at top 30.”
Freeman Academy/Marion challenged the Vikings for the top spot last year and Brantner expects it to be one of a handful of teams vying for the title again this year.
“I feel like five Class B boys’ teams have a shot at winning the overall title — Burke/South Central, Ipswich, Freeman Academy/Marion, Warner and JVC,” Brantner said. “I don’t think I’ve seen a more wide open meet at state. I think Burke/South Central and Ipswich are ultimately the teams to beat, but if our boys run as well as they are capable off, I like our chances against them.”
Other area runners in the Class B boys’ race will be senior Christopher Hass and junior Jace Burma of Sunshine Bible Academy; junior Spens Schlicht of Sanborn Central-Woonsocket; sophomore Baylor Beck of De Smet; freshman Schuyler McElhone of Clark-Willow Lake; and eighth-grader AJ Neely of Wessington Springs.

Burma earned all-state honors for the Crusaders a year ago with a 15th-place finish.
In the Class B girls’ race, which is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. MT, De Smet will be the lone area that qualified a complete team for the state meet.
Running for the Lady Bulldogs will be senior Callie Martens, junior Raegan Burke, sophomore Reyna Beck, sophomore Emily Martens and freshman Carly Wiese.
Beck earned all-state honors last season by finishing 24th.
Although James Valley Christian wasn’t able to qualify its entire girls’ team for the state meet, however, the Lady Vikings will still be competing in the team competition with four individual qualifiers.
“Our girls lost Kerstyn Fast to a volleyball injury the week prior to regions and they finished fourth in our region,” Brantner said. “But they were only one point back from finishing in a three-way tie, which would have given them second place.”
Sophomore Madelynn Brantner is the only runner with previous state meet experience for the JVC girls. She will be joined at this year’s event by senior Avery Shumaker, eighth-grader AbbyKate Hamilton and seventh-grader Abby Hasart.
“She has made big improvements this season. We believe she can finish in the top 10 and has a chance to crack the top five,” coach Brantner said of his daughter. “AbbyKate Hamilton, Avery Shumaker and Abby Hasart will all run in their first state meet this week, but they have come on strong at the end of this season and we hope to see them finish between 60-75, with a chance to crack the top 50.”
Other area runners competing in this year’s state meet are sophomore Oakley Jandreau of Highmore-Harrold and freshman Josie Peskey and eighth-grader Shiara Noyes of Wolsey-Wessington.