10/25/2026
ND State Championship — Runner-Up 🥈🦅
The points and times were disappointing to the boys immediately after the race. Just 12 points separated them from a state championship against a fast and talented Century team. They knew it would be close, and it was. Both teams placed six runners in the top 20, making for an incredible battle to the finish.
But what I saw through my camera lens throughout the race and at the finish line told a story that went far beyond points, places, and times.
I saw a team that was truly ALL IN. A team that supported and encouraged one another, as well as their competitors. As the boys crossed the finish line, they immediately turned to find their teammates, offering congratulations and support. Those who had finished just seconds earlier were already cheering on the boys still making their way to the line. And once they were together, one of the first questions they asked was,
“Where are the coaches?”
That moment said everything.
These boys are committed to more than just running. They are committed to each other, to their team, and to the people who lead them. They have become not only strong runners, but great teammates and genuinely good young men. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because of the leadership, example, and dedication of coaches who push them to be their best, both on and off the course.
Our coaches give so much of themselves to this team. They sacrifice time away from their own families, invest countless hours, and pour their hearts into these boys. They teach them that success is about more than a finish time or a championship trophy. It's about character, commitment, resilience, and showing up for the people beside you.
A state runner-up finish may not have been the outcome these boys hoped for, but the way they handled the moment showed just how much they have grown. The scoreboard may tell one story, but the character of this team tells an even greater one.
Congratulations to our ND State Runner-Up Eagles! 🦅 Be proud of what you accomplished, the way you represented your team, and the young men you are becoming.
And to the coaches — Coach Holland, Coach Ivesdal and Coach Paulik, thank you for investing in these boys, believing in them, and teaching them lessons that will last long after their running days are over. Your impact is bigger than you know.
The finish line may mark the end of a race, but the lessons learned along the way will stay with these boys for a lifetime.
1-Luka Rout 15:13.6-Champion, All State Honors and Meet and Course Record
7-Keagan Thomson 16:04.2-CB, All State Honors
12-Chance Johnson 16:12.6-PB, All State Honors
13-Kaj Naujokas 16:14.6-PB, All State Honors
14-Jack Anderson 16:16.5, PB, All State Honors
17-Jack Brachman 16:27.1, PB All State Honors
28- Grady Szczepanski 16:51.3, CB
68-Toby Henry 17:55.3, SB
96-Carson Huseby 18:16.1, SB
103-Kyler Eichman 18:23.5
