One of the unofficial signs that fall is upon us is tonight when the Hillcrest Academy Ravens host their annual early bird cross country meet in Kalona. Hillcrest comes into the year off of a season that saw senior Leah Bontrager qualify for the state meet for the fourth consecutive year and put together a 39th place finish in Fort Dodge. The Raven boys were 10th at both the Southeast Iowa Superconference meet and Boys 1A State Qualifier a season ago. Running for the Raven boys this year are Jesse Blossom, Micah Gerber, and Kyle Neuschwander with Delaney Shaw competing for the girls.

The Highland Huskies will also run for the first time this season. Their girls team includes senior Katelyn Waters, junior Halle Hazelett, sophomores Olivia Edwards and Carsen Stransky with freshmen Siena Stanerson and Erika Thomann. The Highland boys feature senior Brendan Schnoebelen, junior Jackson Schneider and freshmen Chase Boshart, Chase Hickenbottom and Brayden Zywiec.

For Lone Tree, the Lady Lions return sophomore Vivian Zaruba and the boys will have seniors Jadin Grieser and Blake Honeycut to go with junior Joey Birtcher and sophomore Taylor Alberhasky.

The WACO girls will be in action for the first time in 2022 with seniors Hannah Dennis, McKenzie Vradenburg and Avery Waterhouse and sophomore Justine Lynn to go along with boys runners senior Mattias Luitjens, sophomores Deacon Bird, Tanner Egli, Kerrian Luitjens and Isaac Rich and freshman Tristan Luitjens.

Joining these teams tonight will be Cedar Rapids Jefferson, English Valleys, Iowa City High, and Wapello. The junior varsity race is scheduled for 4:15 with the varsity to follow on the campus of Hillcrest Academy in Kalona.