sesses a massive talent that could make him one of the best in 3A as well. “Seeing him this summer, there are certain workouts that he did last year that were really good, but now those same things just look a lot easier,” Thomas said of Tallman. “He’s primed to take that leap just like Logan.” Two front-runners would make any coach smile, and yet Gilbert has three of them with Squiers. He was just 10 seconds behind Tallman in the 12th position at state, and he could very well give the Tigers three runners that can break 16 minutes. “He doesn’t always say a lot, but when we’re doing workouts, he’s smart and quick to under- stand the goal and attacking it,” Thomas said of Squiers. “I kind of envision those three running together. There isn’t too much of a gap.” And now let’s talk about Em- mett Barber, a senior who was the surprise of the 2023 state meet. Regularly the team’s No. 5 or 6 a season ago, Barber put it all together over those 5,000 meters to devour his previous best time. His clocking of 16:18.50 put him in the top 15 and on the medal podium. Quite honestly, it was his performance that allowed the Tigers to get by Pella. Thomas says Barber wasn’t a
one-hit wonder either. He’s proven that in workouts leading up to the 2024 season. “At the state meet, something clicked for him and he’s all- state,” Thomas said. “For Em- mett, that unlocked what he can do and he’s taken a step up.” Also returning is junior Pres- ton Stensland, a varsity stalwart over each of the past two sea- sons who was 45th at state a season ago. And don’t forget Emrick Ryan, a junior who was on the Tigers’ roster that won the 2023 Raccoon River Con- ference championship by 18 points. Thomas thinks sophomore Liam Trampel and senior John Artz could push for varsity time as well. If you’re wondering what all of this means, it’s this — Gilbert is going to be good again. Very good. Very, very good. Hey, don’t believe us. Believe Thomas. “I think, potentially, we can be better than last year just from a standpoint of our top three last year were two freshmen and a sophomore,” he said. “From a physical maturation, they’re going to be better. There’s the potential to really put something special together.” Winning a second straight conference championship will
Seniors Aldo Schwartz, Nick Staudt, John Artz, An- drew Sou- pir, Emmett Barber, Tristan Limoges, Zeke Hatfield, and Charlie Mor- timer.
be a goal, but it’s a meet the Tigers have always looked at more from a strategic stand- point. It’s more about preparing for the postseason than it is to celebrate. But that takes us to the post- season. If healthy, Gilbert could very well be the team to beat in 3A. Led by Dunham, Pella brings back five of its seven runners from a season ago as well. However, the Dutch did lose 2023 third-place finisher to Nathan VanderWaal to gradu- ation. Thomas also sees Mount Ver- non-Lisbon as a team that could potentially make noise. It was eighth a season ago and re- turns its entire lineup. The coach also thinks Des Moines Christian will be formidable. The Lions bump up a class after winning back-to-back 2A
crowns in 2022 and 2023, but they saw three runners depart, two of whom were in the top 10 at state. Which brings us back to Gil- bert and Pella, Pella and Gil- bert. Will we see another showdown later this fall? “I know (Pella head coach) Doug (Cutler) well and have a ton of respect for him,” Thomas said. “I’m sure he’s looking at his group and trying to figure out where they can make up that gap and what they can do to get back to that top spot. So it should be fun.” Understated to perfection, Coach Thomas.
10 GAME ON | FALL 2024
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