Susan Herr and her Nodaway Valley cross country teammates took some bad midseason news last year and turned it into postseason glory.

Herr, a three-time state qualifier, played a role in the Wolverines’ run to their first Class 1-A state title last fall with a sixth-place time of 15 minutes, 38 seconds.

That capped an impressive end-of-the-year push from the Wolverines. At the beginning of last October, the Iowa Association of Track Coaches had dropped Nodaway Valley from the 1-A rankings. Instead of getting bitter about the rankings, the Wolverines used the dropout as motivation for the postseason.

“We weren’t mad, but we were surprised and kind of shocked,” Herr said. “It really pushed us because we wanted to get back in the rankings and prove them wrong.”

The Wolverines finished second as a team at the regional meet to qualify for state, and Herr finished seventh individually.

But those fortunes changed in Fort Dodge. Herr beat the six runners who had defeated her at regionals, and her teammates turned in a strong enough showing to give Nodaway Valley the team title.

The late-season surge from Herr didn’t surprise her coach, Darrell Burmeister.

“When it’s the big competition, she’s usually there,” Burmeister said. “She puts a lot of time in during the offseason and is really a hard worker. She’ll come on at the end of the season for us.”

Burmeister will rely heavily on Herr this season as his lone senior runner, along with four junior returners, Bethni Johnson, Paige Jones, Robyn Kincaide and Kaitlyn Buckner. Johnson finished 32nd at last year’s state meet, and Jones and Kincaide finished 45th and 63rd, respectively.

“I think we have a lot of potential on our team,” Herr said. “We have a lot of girls who can get better and grow throughout the year.”

Burmeister also mentioned some new names that could add depth to the Wolverines: sophomores Julie Bricker and Joanna Schweitzer, along with freshmen Alyssa Jensen and Shelby Nupp.

“Our depth we’ll have to develop as the season goes on,” Burmeister said. “Some individuals that ran junior varsity last year will move up and be tested this season.”

Burmeister added that his squad could again be competing among the elite in 1-A this fall after a good summer of training.

“They’re dedicated,” Burmeister said. “We usually have a good work ethic. Once the season starts, we’re going at it good.”

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