Baraboo Thunderbirds Embark on Promising Cross Country Season

The Baraboo Thunderbirds Boys Cross Country team is gearing up for a promising season under the guidance of coaches Jake Boll and Peter Arndt. This season marks Coach Boll's eighth year at the helm, taking over after Coach Arndt's retirement in 2018. The team is coming off of last year's notable success, clinching the 2024 Conference Champions title. This year's schedule is packed with competitive events that already started with the Haslanger 5K Run on August 2. As the season progresses, the team will participate in several key invites, including the Verona Invitational and the Nightfall Classic. One of the highlights of the season will be the Thunderbird Challenge on September 23rd, a special event hosted at their home venue. Additionally, the Thunderbirds are slated to host the Badger Large Conference Championship on October 18th, a significant event as they will compete on familiar terrain. The team faces the challenge of replacing key athletes who graduated, such as Keinan Jones, Enoch Hyzer, and Jacob Greenwood. However, optimism remains high with the return of standout runners like Will Boettcher, Dylan Davies, and Jimmy Martinez. They, along with other returning athletes like Joe Korthals, Ben Meise, and Jack Brinker, are expected to play crucial roles this season. They've also seen a lot of promise from several first-year runners, including first-time senior Killian Duncan and incoming freshman Oskar LaFave. Coach Boll remains focused on the development of his athletes, emphasizing the goal of helping each team member reach their fullest potential both as athletes and individuals. His commitment to building not just a competitive team but also fostering personal growth is a hallmark of his coaching philosophy. The season will wrap up with the WIAA State Meet on November 1, followed by a celebratory banquet on November 6.