PANORA — No one ever said sustaining success would be easy.
The Panorama cross country program, particularly the Panther girls, have earned plenty of accolades in recent years, but continuing to add to the school trophy case will prove more difficult this season as the school has been elevated to Class 2A, up from 1A.
The Panther girls were second at the state meet in 1A last year in Panorama’s 10th appearance at state — all of which have come in the past 12 years. The team scored 115 points, easily besting the 149 scored when placing third in 2009.
Sophomore Ella Waddle returns after placing sixth overall in 19 minutes, 32.7 seconds at the state event.
Talented seniors Devyn Kemble and Brianna Hoffman have departed, but up-and-coming sophomore sisters Gwen and Olivia Steffen are back from the state meet septet, as are junior Chloe Webster and senior Brooklyn Behrends.[wpedon id=”85410″ align=”left”]
Among those vying to earn varsity duties will be Payton Beckman, Abby Cobb, Leah Fett, Lydia Lindstrom, Angel Poldberg, Molly Simmons, Emily Smith, Bryn Steffen and Jaelyn Waddle.
The Panther boys will be a mixture of veterans and those hoping to make a name for themselves at the varsity level.
Emry Colby, Noah Kirtley, Kevin Cogil, Paul Hansen, Drew Hafner, Jordan Wehmeyer, Alec Mills, Levi Richey, Avery Norman, Kade Kemble and Declan McCarthy will be competing for Panther head coach Greg Thompson this season.
The season begins tonight in Ames, as the Panthers run on the Iowa State University course in the Gilbert Invitational. Panorama will return to action August 30 when they compete in the West Central Valley Invite, held in Menlo at the 5×80 Golf Course.
