By Rich Winter

605 Sports

MITCHELL — After finishing sixth at the 2022 Class B state cross-country meet Mitchell Christian’s Silas Holdeman spent the majority of 2023 amongst the favorites to win the individual title. 

At the 2023 state meet, Holdeman surged over the race's final stages winning a state title (16:13), nearly nine seconds in front of his nearest competitor, Wakely Burns of Philip (16:22). 

“Last year I was pretty surprised to win it all,” Holdeman said. “I took off with about 800 meters left and didn’t realize I had that much left in the tank.”

At a school where distance running isn’t sport No. 1, Holdeman is changing a culture. 

Holdeman became Mitchell Christian’s first-ever cross-country state champion last fall and helped the Golden Eagles to a second-place finish in the 2023 Class B team race, also the best result in school history. At the 2024 Class B state track meet, Holdeman only added to his distance resume, winning the 1,600-meter run (4:29.36) And 3,200-meter run (9:55.62).

“Everyone in our church follows him and every chance they get to watch they are tuning in,” said Julie Holdeman, who is Mitchell Christian cross-country coach and Silas’ mom. “They are always texting encouragement and it just feels like so many people in the community are invested in him and the rest of our runners.”

Winning hasn’t always come easily for Holdeman and he said his freshman year of cross-country and track has him thinking big as the 2024 South Dakota high school cross-country season begins Friday.

“In the past I just wanted to win a race,” he said. “Winning the titles last year has me approaching this year with more confidence than I’ve ever had before.

Holdeman is the favorite to win this year’s Class B race but the Golden Eagles also return several valuable contributors from last year’s team. Sophomore Luke Mentele was 14th at the 2023 state meet and Sawyer Holdeman, now a ninth grader finished 30th a year ago. 

“Both of those guys have improved a lot,” Holdeman said. “Luke is running like I was last year and Sawyer is running where Luke was a year ago. I feel like it is going to be a tight team race this year between us and Philip.” 

Mitchell Christian began training for the 2024 cross country season on a voluntary basis on June 10. Assistant coach Jill Nydam says the boys team looks particularly strong, thanks in part to some newfound leadership from their top runner. 

“Silas is naturally reserved but has reached out to the younger runners and encourages their success,” Nydam said. “Silas is a talented runner who has learned to maximize his skill level by working hard and doing more than the required number of repetitions in practice.”

Mitchell Christian opens their season Sep. 6 at the Augustana Twilight cross country invitational. 

Class B boys — At the 2023 Class B state cross-country meet then-Mitchell Christian freshman Silas Holdeman pulled away late to win his first state title with a time of 16:13. Only one South Dakota boy has won four consecutive state cross-country titles (Kiko Mendoza, Takini 2005-2007 and Cheyenne-Eagle Butte 2008). 

Athletes to watch — Finley McConniel, Freeman Academy/Marion; Baylor Burns, Philip; Trey Larson, Philip; Gavin Hirsch, Herreid/Selby Area; Caden Schwader, Howard; Luke Mentele Mitchell Christian; Finn Adams, Gregory. 

Class B Boys Team Race — Philip and Mitchell Christian are expected to battle for the Class B team title.

The moment the Philip Scotties arrived home after winning a second-straight Class B boys team title the foundation was laid for the 2024 season. The three seniors had the team huddle up and told the underclassmen it was all up to them if they wanted to earn a third-straight title. Mitchell Christian was second a year ago and should be even better this season as their younger athletes continue to develop. 

Philip — Junior Baylor Burns was seventh at the state meet a year ago while senior Trey Larson was ninth. The Scotties always have great numbers so look for some new faces to step forward and continue the running tradition in Haakon County. Philip is looking to become the first school to 3-peat since Parker (2010-2012). 

Mitchell Christian — Holdeman won the Class B title as a freshman with classmate Luke Mentele finishing 14th. That tough Class B tandem are joined by Sawyer Holdeman, who finished 30th at the state meet as an eighth grader. 

Class B girls — Ella Boekelheide the favorite and Potter County and Kimball/White Lake renew Class B rivalry

Wth Emery Larson transfering to Pierre, Northwestern's Ella Boekelheide is the heavy favorite to win the Class B race. Boekelheide set the Class B state meet record in the 1,600-meter run (5:00.55) at the state track meet and won the Class B state championship in cross country in 2021. 

Athletes to Watch — Dannika Kaup, Potter County; Kaelyn Ulschmid, Arlington; Kennadee Wagner, Warner; Autumn Fallis, Highmore-Harrold; Hadash Olson, James Valley Christian; Emma Schlachter, Potter County; Karly Riley, Lemmon, Autumn Baker, Kimball/White Lake.

Class B Girls Team Race — For the past two seasons the Class B girls team race has been dominated by Potter County. Were it nor for a three-point deficit to Kimball/White Lake at the 2021 Class B state championships the Battlers would be going for their fourth consecutive title. The last Class B girls team with at least three consecutive state titles goes back to Ipswich who ripped off seven consecutive titles (2010-2016). 

Potter County — Juniors Dannika Kaup and Emma Schlachter are back after finishing third and ninth respectively a year ago and are joined by classmate Jadyn Ahlemeier, who finished 11th at the 2023 state meet will be joined by freshman Paige Ahlemeier and eighth-grader Jaycee Stevens who both ran, and finished in the top 35, at last year’s state meet. 

Kimball/White Lake - The move down to Class B means Kimball/White Lake will make a run for the Class B team title. Autumn Baker and Lily Baker finished ninth and 21st at the 2023 Class A state meet. Other returners include Alli McCord, Gentrie Blasius and Akane Metcalf who ran at the 2023 state meet and helped Kimball/White Lake to fifth place in the. Class A girls standings. 

Other teams to watch — Arlington, Lemmon and James Valley Christian.