It has been a dream ride the last couple years for the Columbus Community cross country program and a talented senior class has a lot to do with it. 

Seniors Freddy Vergara, Isaac Acosta, Mason Hills-Carrier, and Javier Panchillo have enjoyed a lot of success this time of year with two trips to Fort Dodge in as many seasons. Last fall, the Wildcats qualified for their first trip to the class 1A state meet since 2005 and they had an encore performance this year with a back-to-back showing. Saturday marked the eighth time in school history where the Wildcats competed at state and they finished 16th in the field. Vergara has been the leader all year coming off of a second place showing at the state qualifier and on Saturday he tallied 24th. Acosta put together a solid career capped off by an 87th place showing. Hills-Carrier was 130th and Panchillo rounded out the seniors in 152nd. 

Head Coach Steve Riley had nothing but positive words about the group. “Five or six years ago we had just two boys on our team. These seniors have been key to us turning things around and becoming one of the best programs in class 1A. It has been a great four years with them. To go to state two years in a row is a great accomplishment and I am so happy for them.”

Damian Vergara, Tim Hills-Carrier, and Tyler Humiston will lead a 2022 Wildcat squad seeking a third straight trip out west. That accomplishment has only happened once in the program’s 51 year history by qualifying in 2003, 2004, and 2005. 

Photo Courtesy of Mike Jay