The 2012 Rugby cross country season saw a decrease of five in the total number of participants, with both the boys and girls fielding full teams. Twenty-three athletes in grades 7-12 participated. The breakdown was 16 girls (no change from 2011) and seven boys (a decrease of five from 2011). There were three senior girls (Jenna Fossum, Aubrey Hovland and Tashal Trottier) and one senior boy (Kyle Halvorson).

The teams participated in 11 meets. The varsity girls won three meets and finished in the top five as a team 10 times. The girls were Region Runner-Up for the fifth time in school history, second year in a row, and State Runner-Up for the first time in school history. This is the 13th time in school history they have finished in the top five at State. The varsity boys didn’t win any meets and finished in the top five as a team four times. The boys were fifth place at East Region and 12th at State. This was the fifth year in a row that either the girls or boys team has finished in the top 2 at state and eighth year in a row that we have had a top 5 team finisher. The girls team received the Team Scholar Award given by the North Dakota High School Activities Association.

The girls placed two runners on the All-Region team (Lauren Christenson – 9th – third year, Allison Foster – 20th – first year) and one runner on the All-State team (Lauren Christenson – 10th – third year). The boys had one All-Region runner (Tanner Bernhardt – 15th – second year) and no runners on the All-State team.

An elementary race was run at the 19th Annual Rugby Booster Club Invitational for the 14th straight year. 17 girls and 25 boys from Rugby participated in the elementary race of 1,600 meters which was open to all the schools that attended the meet. A total of 74 girls and 72 boys ran in the races. Mykell Heidlebaugh was the top Rugby elementary girl finishing in 23rd place. Dawson Schepp was the top Rugby elementary boy finishing in eighth place. Coach Schmaltz and Coach Meyer held elementary practices for about a month before our home meet.

The team’s head coach was Bill Jansen, who was assisted by Christine Schmaltz. Kellie Meyer was the elementary coach and varsity volunteer coach.

– Bill Jansen