(Guthrie Center, IA) — The Chargers Cross Country team both finished in the top five at state a year ago — the guys got a trip to the deck with a second place finish while the girls got into the top 5 at #5. With a ton of runners returning, expectations will be high for a return trip to Ft. Dodge.
ACGC does have a new coach — Rick Blake had been an assistant for a number of sports at the school for the last five years and he takes over for Colin Shawgo. The Charger boys are ranked third in the state in the pre-season rankings from the Iowa Coaches while Senior Gavin Sloss is ranked 19th. Sloss will have to take over the #1 running spot for the graduated Andrew Mahaffey who was 4th last year. Blake believes he’s ready to lead the pack
On the girls side, ACGC is ranked #5 in the pre-season polls, exactly where they finished at state last year. Three of their top runners are back but Blake sees a lot of depth of girls runners. It starts with Senior Ava Campbell who was 11th in the state a year ago and will be a favorite to get on the deck individually this year — she is ranked 9th in the pre-season poll
Overall, Blake and his team would love to go back to state but everything needs to come together to make that happen
ACGC opens their cross country season on Thursday, August 29 at Gowrie Municipal Golf Course hosted by Southeast Valley.
Complete Interview with Head Coach Rick Blake
