BLANCHARDVILLE – The Vikings will have to figure out how to replace two key runners this fall in order to compete for a SWAL title and a possible run at state.

Three-time team MVP Troy Nickels, and 2017 all-conference runner Payton Flannery graduated after last season, leaving 40% of the varsity scoring open.

Headlining the returning letterwinners for Pecatonica will be David Tisch, a senior.

“He was a 2019 state medalist in track and field, is a team leader and is ready to take over as the No. 1 guy for us this year,” said Jason Klocek, now in his fifth year at the helm. “He could be a college runner if he wanted to. He has all the necessary tools and the grades to run at the D3 level. A strong season could move him up even further.”

Nathan Nickels is a junior and hit the weight room hard in the offseason during the pandemic, Klocek said. Junior Brady Penniston and sophomores Ridge Toay and Caden Stoeger are all returning letterwinners, with Klocek noting that Stoeger is ready to build off a strong freshman campaign and that Toay has looked good so far in workouts.

“We want to continue the positive strides in conference and sectional performance we have made over the past four years and not let up on that,” Klocek said. “We know we compete in one of the toughest conference in the state for D3, and to do what we have been able to over the past few years, we don’t want to lose that momentum.”

Klocek said his squad isn’t as deep as it has been in recent years, so maintaining health will be key.

“We have to take care of ourselves, slow our pace down if we need to and stay healthy over the course of the season,” Klocek said.

On the girls side, seniors Allie Godfrey and Sydney Webster are back, as are junior Emily Zimmerman and sophomore Norah McCarthy.

Godfrey is the team’s reigning MVP, a valuable leader and overall contributor, Klocek said. Zimmerman has looked strong in early workouts as well.

“For the girls, it’s the return of the ‘Army of 4.’ We won’t score at meets, but we want to continue to improve and run together, work together, and climb the ladder,” Klocek said. “The ladies are mentally tough – you have to be to do what they do – and we don’t want to lose focus on individual improvement each week we compete.”

Klocek said that there are no newcomers to the program this year, but that just means all of his runners know what lies ahead of them and there will not be a learning curve.

“I think some of the adversity we have faced has just made this group stronger, tougher and ready to go no matter what,” Klocek said.