By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt boys’ and girls’ cross country teams celebrated their 2026 seasons Sunday evening, November 1, with their annual team banquet in the Humboldt High School cafeteria.
Head coach Joel Hoogland recognized athletes from both programs for their accomplishments throughout the season, including personal records, mileage milestones, varsity letters and team-voted awards.
The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize the seniors and look ahead to the future of Humboldt cross country.
The Humboldt girls finished the season with three runners qualifying for the Class 3A Iowa High School Cross Country State Championships.
Juniors Avery Fisher and Aubry Fisher and freshman Jade Malo all finished inside the top 50 at the October 31 state meet in Fort Dodge. Avery placed 30th in 19:30.5, Malo finished 43rd in 19:47.9 and Aubry placed 44th in 19:49.0.
Hoogland also recognized the team’s fourth-place finish at the district meet, a result he said had not been accomplished by the program in nearly a decade.
Several individual accomplishments stood out during the season.
Avery Fisher led the girls in mileage, running 450 miles. She qualified for state, earned all-conference recognition and recorded a season and lifetime personal record of 19:20 at the Pocahontas meet. She finished No. 1 on the team’s two-mile time trial record board and No. 2 all-time in season averages.
Aubry Fisher ran 434 miles and also qualified for state and earned all-conference honors. She recorded a 19:20 personal record at Pocahontas, ranking No. 2 on the team’s time trial list and No. 3 in all-time season averages.
Malo, a freshman, ran 286.25 miles and earned a varsity letter. In addition to qualifying for state and earning all-conference recognition, she set her lifetime personal record of 19:25 at the district meet. Hoogland noted that she established the No. 4 all-time season average and the No. 5 all-time two-mile time trial mark.
Malo’s state-meet performance was especially remarkable, as she completed the race with a broken fibula after falling during the opening portion of the race.
Other girls earning varsity letters included Maren Lindquist, who ran 208.25 miles and established a personal record of 22:32 at the conference meet, and Ashlyn Pettit, who ran 240 miles and set a personal record of 23:21.
Hoogland also praised the boys’ program for its steady improvement throughout the season.
Among the individual highlights, junior Henry Kramer ran 312 miles and established a season and lifetime personal record of 17:40 at the Ridge View meet. Kramer also recorded the fastest time on the team’s two-mile time trial record board.
Other notable accomplishments included Bentley Rodgers running 262 miles in his first year of cross country and earning a varsity letter. Rodgers set a personal record of 20:08 at Ridge View and finished No. 4 on the team’s two-mile time trial record board.
Sophomore Wade Carlson ran 247 miles and recorded a personal record of 21:26 at Iowa Falls. Freshman Callen Mathis ran 245 miles, earned a varsity letter and set a personal record of 20:11 at the district meet.
Senior Ike Fowler completed 218 miles and recorded a season personal record of 20:30 at Eagle Grove. He also finished No. 3 on the team’s all-time two-mile time trial board.
Hoogland said the boys showed improvement throughout the season, and he was encouraged by the direction of the program.
The teams also selected winners for four awards recognizing character, leadership, sportsmanship and contributions to the programs.
The Wildcat Spirit Award recognizes positivity, enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
- Boys: Wade Carlson
- Girls: Ellie Lemmenes and Laina Dettmann
The New Wildcat Award recognizes first-year runners who embraced the challenges of cross country with determination and energy.
- Boys: Axel Rhead
- Girls: Jade Malo
The Future Leader Award recognizes athletes demonstrating leadership, strong character and a commitment to the sport.
- Boys: Wade Carlson
- Girls: Aubry Fisher
The Wildcat Legacy Award recognizes seniors for their dedication, sportsmanship and positive impact on the team.
- Boys: Luke DeWinter
- Girls: Macey Rodgers
Hoogland also took time to recognize the senior athletes and their contributions to the program.
He noted that he has been with the Humboldt cross country program for four years, making the seniors who competed throughout all four years of high school particularly meaningful to him.
He praised the group for making practices enjoyable and helping create a positive atmosphere for the entire team.
The coach also thanked the parents, volunteer coach Nikki Rasmussen, strength coach Mr. Lewis and the families who supported the program throughout the season.
With a large group of returning underclassmen, Hoogland is optimistic about the future of both programs.
He said the team has plenty of young talent returning and another group of incoming freshmen eager to join the program.
“The sky’s really the limit on both sides,” Hoogland said. “We have a lot of youth coming back that we can be excited about to build around.”
The Wildcats will look to build on their 2026 accomplishments when the 2027 cross country season arrives.
2026 Humboldt Girls Cross Country Roster
- Laina Dettmann – Senior
- Avery Fisher – Junior
- Aubry Fisher – Junior
- Rosie Goodenow – Freshman
- Jozlyn Himrod – Freshman
- Alexis Hotovec – Junior
- Gracelyn Illg – Senior
- Olivia Illg – Sophomore
- Whitley Lash – Freshman
- Ellie Lemmenes – Junior
- Maren Lindquist – Freshman
- Jade Malo – Freshman
- Madison Parker – Junior
- Ashlyn Pettit – Freshman
- Macey Rodgers – Senior
- Kimberly Sanchez – Sophomore
- Mia Sorensen – Junior
2026 Humboldt Boys Cross Country Roster
- Johnatan Cabrera – Junior
- Wade Carlson – Sophomore
- Luke DeWinter – Senior
- Ike Fowler – Senior
- Mason Frideres – Junior
- Joe Frideres – Junior
- Colin Heider – Freshman
- Thomas Hermsen – Freshman
- Brooks Hinners – Senior
- Henry Kramer – Junior
- Brayden Lennon-Meyer – Senior
- Callen Mathis – Freshman
- Andrew Nedved – Senior
- Riley Olson – Sophomore
- Axel Rhead – Freshman
- Isaac Rieck – Freshman
- Bentley Rodgers – Sophomore
- Ayden Russell – Senior
- Yahel Sanchez – Senior
- Eli Spellmeyer – Sophomore
- Miles Zeman – Junior