Fort Calhoun cross-country coach Kyle McMahon said his team's first practice of the 2023 season went OK.
That's good.
“We don't expect to be where we want to be on day one,” he said of the Pioneers. “They know that, but I'm really happy with where they are on day one and they are too.”
FCHS was determined to acclimate itself to the August humidity during the first week and proved to be in good shape through the opening practice of the fall season.
“But we have a lot of work to do to see where we're going,” McMahon said.
It's going to take patience.
“That's what we preach at the beginning of the season,” the coach noted.
What McMahon expects, though, is another top state finish for the Pioneers. He anticipates the boys team, in particular, will contend with Will Dennis, Travis Skelton, Lawson Tjardes and Gage Nixon returning after state races last fall.
“We'll be right in the thick of it — in the hunt again,” McMahon said after Calhoun finished third in Class C a year ago. “They put in the work this summer and they've all improved from where they were last year. Their times are all faster.”
The FCHS girls team, meanwhile, returns three runners from the lineup that finished seventh at the NSAA State Championships in Kearney. Maelie Nelson, a state medalist, Bella McLaughlin and Harley Schwarte are all back.
“We're missing some,” McMahon said. “But the girls have all developed better.”
He expects Emily Barta and Raeann Massey to contribute to a successful varsity season as well.
“We feel the girls team is going to be a really strong team this year, too,” the coach said. “They're going to be a top team in the state, conference and district.”
Clearly, the Pioneers' goals remain high despite the graduations of Ely Olberding, Lance Olberding, Dala Drowne and Kaitlyn Thalman.
“It's just what you hope,” McMahon said. “That your team is developing. That your freshmen are getting better and your sophomores are getting better, and you're watching them improve.”
Even on OK first days, the coach is seeing his program's hard-work tendencies continue even with past leaders moving onto their new challenges. The current Fort Calhoun team's season begins Aug. 29 in Plattsmouth's Rhylander Park.
