NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights’ boys team reached the state meet in 2019, but the team will look slightly different this season.

Top runner Adam Nelson graduated, as did others like Simon Blohowiak, Lucas Fink, Garrett Grossen, Ryan Winder and Eric Zielinski.

However, varsity runners Joe Quaglia, Ty Ready, Conor McCoy, Evan Guenther and Braylon Hoesly return, as does Desi Delforge, Dane Duerst and Brayden Ryan.

“The boys’ team needs to find a way to make up for the graduation of those talented seniors,” said Steve Wehrley, now in his 33rd season as coach. 

On the girls side, three varsity runners are gone — Molly Molencamp, Alexa Thayer and Dylan Noll.

“Devi Duerst, Melanie Fink, Emma Martinson, Ruth Marty, Lily Maynard and Lucy Melvin are freshmen girl runners with much potential.  They will be immediately tested in tough varsity races,” Wehrley said.

Whitney Disch is back this year, as is Tenley Faber, Dayna Karls and Annika Ziperski, the team’s top runner at the sectional meet, finishing 12th and less than 40 seconds away from qualifying for state.

“Both boys and girls (teams) show exceptional spirit, teamwork and work ethic,” Wehrley said. “If both teams work hard during this short season we should be in the run for a high finish at Sectionals.  We don’t know what other teams will be included in our Sectional as the teams in Division 1, 2 and 3 are not yet known much less the schools in each Sectional.”

Like all other teams in the other sports, Wehrley knows that keeping his team healthy and COVID-free through the end of the season will be a challenge. When it comes to competition in the Capitol Conference, Wehrley expects Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld to field a very good and explosive program. He also picks Belleville to be competitive. 

“Columbus is an unknown team at this point and cannot be taken for granted,” Wehrley said.