Anyone who has followed Indiana high school cross country over the past 15 years is aware of how the Fishers boys program has become very successful in a short period of time.
The Tigers won state in only their second year (2007) after the high school re-opened (2006). Fishers has been on a recent string of success, finishing in the top four in each of the past four years, including the state runner-up last season. And it looks as if the Tigers could do it again.
Fishers will be a young team this season. Out of 69 runners on the team, only eight are seniors. Coach Nathan Warnecke said that only two runners have experience in the state tournament.
“However, we are also as talented as we have ever been,” said Warnecke. That has gotten some notice. Indiana Runner has listed the Tigers as its pre-season No. 3 team, and “the first of our legitimate state contenders,” Indiana Runner said on its website.
Fishers has a state runner back in senior Drew Smith, who finished 32th at Terre Haute last year. Smith was the lone junior running for the Tigers at state in 2018 – the other six were seniors. Also returning is junior Max McCollum, who ran for Fishers at the regional and semi-state level.
The Tigers also have a couple runners back that had solid track and field seasons. Junior Jaylen Castillo emerged as a strong runner, as he and Smith were both part of the Fishers’ state champion 4×800 relay, and also won a sectional championship in the 800 run. Will Clark, another junior, ran in the state meet as a freshman and reached the regional in the 3200 run last season.
After that, the Tigers have a large group of underclassmen waiting to show what they can do.
“If we learn how to consistently perform up to that potential we could have another fantastic season,” said Warnecke.
ROSTER
Seniors: Spencer Anderson, Drew Bicknell, Charlie Foutty, Bentley Kane, Aathreya Murthy, Griffin Semona, Sean Simpson, Drew Smith.
Juniors: Josh Brown, Jaylen Castillo, Tommy Chesebrough, Will Clark, Joe Conde, Logan Cucuz, Kamryn Dean, Nathan Jordt, Ethan Lain, Matthew Leppert, John Martin, Max McCollum, Aidan Merante, Ali Mohamed, Matthew Roach, Jonathon Roth, Ethan Sosnowski, Bailey Wilson, Josh Zimmerman.
Sophomores: Nate Albin, Tiernan Bass, Louis Buonaiuto, Griffin Craig, Jack Douthit, Alec Foster, Mitchell Giesting, Carter Gordon, Ben Greiwe, Peyton Hagedorn, Drew Holland, Raj Kadakia, Jacob Maehler, Ian McClanahan, Truman Mohr, Jacob Pierce, Nick Pulos, Jake Schwanke, Zach Seifert, Colin Simons.
Freshmen: Logan Arive, Charlie Ballard, Grant Belush, Caden Carpenter, Andrew Davis, Elijah Gastineau, Luke Godleski, Wade Hillman-Strabbing, Austin Hosier-Hartman, Cooper Kane, Evan Landis, Robert Lyon, Tate Meaux, John Myers, Elza Niemeier, Ethan Nix, Carter Pritchett, Leander Quiroz, Tyler Schiesser, Glenn Taylor, Ethan Uribe, Austin Wilson.
The Fishers boys cross country team finished third in the state last season, its fourth consecutive top four finish. While the Tigers are young this year, they have enough talent to contend for another high finish. (Kent Graham/File photo)