New coaches will guide cross country program as Hochstein steps aside

HARTINGTON — The Hartington cross country teams welcome in two new coaches this season.

Adam Elks qualified for state last season and the Hartington girls made it to State as a team and ran in Kearney last fall.

Mandy Hochstein has departed to allow her the time to watch her daughter play volleyball for the HNS Lady Cats this fall. That opens the door for Lisa Rolfes and Tanner Fischer to take control of the Hartington fortunes in the sport.

Rolfes ran cross country for Morningside College back in the day and Fischer participated in cross country at Hartington-Newcastle before landing his job with the program.

“I am really looking forward to getting back into coaching,” Rolfes said.

Rolfes took some time off while starting a family and was ready to get back into coaching.

Fischer, an adept basketball player for the Wildcats in his day, ran cross country and has coached the distance runners in track.

He has also been involved in endurance training for several years.

“This should be fun,” he said. Elks returns for the season along with letter winners, Aaron Wortmann, Alex Elks, Aiden Anderson, Braeden Kleinschmit and Isaac Hernadez-Santiago.

As for the Lady Wildcats, five qualified for state last season by virtue of a third-place showing in the district run.

Carmen Buschkamp, Claire Rolfes, Isabel Rolfes, Ryell Haug and Ava Noecker all ran in Kearney after the collective showing in the district meet.

Hartington will open the 2024 campaign by hosting its own invite on Aug. 29 at the Hartington Community Complex.

The season will continue with a meet at Wisner-Pilger on Sept. 5, a meet at Laurel on Sept. 12 and the Wayne Invitational on Sept. 16.

Hartington will remain on the road at the Bon Homme S.D. meet before going to the a meet in Crofton on Sept. 26.

The Wildcats will move on to the elite meet in Kearney at the Kearney Country Club on Sept. 30 and open October at Battle Creek.

Parent’s Night is set for Oct. 8 in the gym at Hartington High School with the Conference Meet set for Oct. 10.

Districts will follow on Oct. 17 and state is set back in Kearney on Oct. 25.