By Rich Winter

605 Sports

VOLGA — As we inch toward this weekend’s Howard Wood Dakota Relays the Sioux Valley boys appear ready to make a statement. 

Already this season the Cossacks quartet of Donovan Rose, Jakob Guthmiller, Carson Wosje and Mitchell Guthmiller rewrote the 400-meter relay record to (:43.77). The same quartet set a new Sioux Valley record in the 800-meter relay (1:31.78). 

Head coach Bill VIncent points to a strong returning cast that has state meet experience.

“Seniors Donovan Rose, Jakob Guthmiller and Brock Christopherson are our team leaders for this season and last,” Vincent said. “They have been contributing at the varsity level since eighth grade as state meet participants. This group took their early success at the varsity level and have used it to be great work-out leaders as seniors.” 

The 400-meter relay and 800-meter relay are both top times in Class A as the week of April 28 began. 

Jakob Guthmiller has been part of the varsity track team since eighth grade and said he feels a particular closeness on this year’s team. 

“Since coming into the program as an eighth-grader, the Sioux Valley track program has meant much more than just practices and competitions,” Guthmiller said. “This season, our team has grown especially close, and I believe that connection is tied to our early success on the track. Our relay teams have been particularly strong, laying the groundwork for what’s been an exciting and rewarding start to the year.”

The relay success doesn’t stop at just the sprint relays. The Cossacks have the top Class A time in the 1,600-meter relay (3:27.58), the third fastest time in the 3,200-meter relay (8:28.72) and the fifth fastest time in the sprint medley relay (3:44.28). 

Vincent has some relay guys that he can plug in wherever needed on any given day. 

“Juniors Mitchell Guthmiller (brother to Jakob) and Carson Wosje are a great mix of do everything guys to go with our upper classmen,” Vincent said. “Both of these Guys are middle distance guys that can range down or up on the track allowing us to blend sprint relays with distance relays.”

Vincent adds that sophomore Brady Hitunen has been outstanding this year giving the relay teams much needed depth. 

Brock Christopherson is the mainstay on those distance relays.

“Being part of this team has always felt like being part of a second family,” he said.  “I still remember being a wide-eyed eighth grader at the state meet, just amazed to even be there let alone actually competing. I looked around at the older guys and knew I wanted to be where they were one day. And now, just a few years later, I’m proud to be running with some of the top relay teams in the state. These guys have been with me through it all. The pride I have in my teammates and everything we’ve built together is something I’ll always carry with me. What keeps us going is the motivation to not just compete, but to leave a legacy and to be the team that others remember.” 

The current members of the Sioux Valley boys track team has experienced enormous success outside of track. Vincent points to the basketball team winning consolation championships in 2023 and 2024, and having runner-up finishes in 2021 and 22, and finishing as runner-ups in the Class 11B state football championships in 2024. 

“Being good in other sports tells you how much these guys love to compete,” Vincent said. 

“Last year at this time we had only been to one outdoor meet heading into the Howard Wood weekend,” Vincent said.  “My Coaches:  We are surrounded by many great coaches, Long Time track & field coach Don Sutera pours into our distance kids and horizontal jumps, while Coach Taylor Ash contributes to our sprinters and hurdlers.  Chad Guthmiller has our young throwers ready to burst onto the scene as well.” 

Donovan Rose has the fifth fastest Class A time in the 100-meter dash (:11.22), the sixth fastest time in the 200-meter dash (:22.90), Carson Wosje has the eighth fastest time in the 400-meter dash (:51.59). Junior Braden Danzeisen has the second best Class A mark in the triple jump and the eighth best mark in the javelin.