Legendary Mid-Prairie cross country coach Mark Hostetler has helped the Hawks put together another terrific season on the course this year and was honored as River Valley Conference Coach of the Year at last week’s RVC Championship meet. Hostetler, who is back after taking a season away from the program last year, has picked up right where he left off, helping guide the Golden Hawks to the boys and girls team River Valley Championships at last week’s meet in Iowa City. The Golden Hawk boys are ranked No. 1 in Class 2A and the girls are second in the 2A team poll according to the Iowa Association of Track Coaches. He spoke with KCII Sports at the meet about his team’s performance and winning the titles.

Hostetler said, “This makes me feel very confident. There’s pressure that comes with conference and districts and state and I thought both teams handled that. There are 20 on our girls team and 15 of them are freshman and sophomores. We got important races from our fourth and fifth runners on both the boys and girls teams and those helped us tremendously. It was so important how everyone, but especially those runners were able to move up. I was super happy with their performances.”

Hostetler is a multi-time winner of both Conference Coach of the Year and Class 2A State IATC Coach of the Year awards.

The Golden Hawks will next be on the course Thursday at Pella Christian for their Class 2A State Qualifier.