BRODHEAD — The Cardinals need to replace two key runners in their cross country lineup this fall — one of which was one of the school’s all-time best.

Kyle Braund graduated from the boys team after being the top runner on the squad during the 2020 Alternate Fall season held this past spring. On the girls side, Maddy McIntrye finished the final race of her career as the No. 4 overall runner at the Alt-Fall state meet in Janesville. McIntyre was a four-time state qualifier.

“Maddy McIntyre will be a very large hole to fill, she was one of the best and has been dominant in the area for most her career with four state appearances and winning conference twice,” said Curt Gratz, Brodhead-Juda’s cross country coach. “Kyle Braund will be missed on the guys side after improving a ton and becoming the No. 1 runner and leading the team last year.”

Back for the Cardinals on the boys side, seniors Sabian Blang, Brady Bruns, Josiah Engen, Jacob Lohmar, Mario Reyes and Syler Weeden all return, as does sophomore Gavin Pinnow.

“Our strength on our guys team will be our pack running. How close our pack ends up being to each other will determine where we end up as a team,” Gratz said. “The key to our success will be how well we run as a team. We have a good group of talent, and need to teach them to work together in races to have a strong team. They will need each other’s encouragement and motivation to get to the goals they have for themselves.”

On the girls side include seniors Presleigh Arnold and Kyleigh Raupp, juniors Lexie Lobeck and Gabi Ryser, and sophomore Kalena Riemer. 

“We have a strong group of core girls.  They will need to run as a close group to find success this year,” Gratz said. “Like the guys this year, with losing Maddy we will need to work hard to keep our pack tight and move it up the field to improve.”

Gratz said this fall will be interesting, given the shortened schedule, which could mean more opportunity to see success in conference and sectionals.

“I think the conference will be very wide open as to what teams end up on top,” Gratz said. “I hope we can place well in the conference again on both the boys and girls side, but most importantly that the individual athletes improve from last year.”