The 2009 Runnin' Rangers had another outstanding season. The team showed a great deal of improvement throughout the season and came away with some big personal bests and lots of fun times.
The Ranger girls had their first team in a quarter-century and took full advantage of the good numbers. The Ranger girls won a couple of meets this season: the Southern Hills Invitational and the Black Hills Conference Meets (photo to the right). The girls placed third at the Region 5A meets, advancing them to the State XC Meet where they had an outstanding meet, finishing 8th in Class A.
Newcomers Kala McDonald and Karly Dehn led the team, along with seasoned vet, Steph Qualm. Cassidy Hart and a couple of seventh-graders, Jennifer Qualm and Michal Wiederhold came through big this season to make the Ranger squad extremely deep. All of the girls from the state-qualifying team return next season, for what looks to be an even better year for the Lady Rangers.
The Ranger boys were on the verge of being a state-meet qualifer as well, just missing the state meet with a fourth place finish at the Region 5A meet. A couple of injuries hampered the Rangers at the end of the season, but two boys, Tyler Triplett and Josh Robison (a football/xc guy) qualified for the state meet. Triplett cracked the Top 40 (37th)- a huge improvement after finishing in the 30's at last season's Region Meet. Justin Klein and Nick Mercy both clocked times in the 18's for 5,000 meters- very respectable times for anyone, let alone guys in their first season. Like the girls, all of the boys return next season, for what very well could be one of the Ranger's best ever.