The Aberdeen Christian cross country team may be small – the Knights have just six girls and one boy on the roster this season – but the expectations they have for themselves are not.

The Knights finished third in girls’ team points at last year’s state meet, putting all three scorers in the top 23. That, unofficially, has become the team’s baseline.

“We would like to place higher this year than we did last year,” said first-year head coach Livia Inches. “We’d like second. We’ll see.”

It’s a lofty goal, to be sure, but well within reason. All three of last year’s finishers – Rachel Beaner, Grace Steger and Kathryn Steger – return to anchor this year’s squad.

And, Inches said, early indications are promising.

“Everybody has gotten faster this year than they were last year at this time,” she said.

But just as important as the on-course accomplishments, Inches said she is just as invested in her team’s character.

“I’m equally as concerned with how we treat our teammates and how we treat other teams,” she said.

On the boys side, Lincoln Kaiser is back in a Knights uniform after taking last season off. Kaiser is a sophomore this season.

Inches, a recent graduate from Northern State where she was a member of the Wolves’ track and field and cross country programs, is in her first season as a coach, and said she put a lot of effort into preparing for the season.

“I actually called my old high school cross country coach and talked for about an hour,” Inches said. “I’m grateful for those I can learn from.”

In addition to workouts, Inches said she also tries to incorporate nutrition and education into her coaching.

“There’s always some education you’ll have to do about that, especially with kids that are newer,” she said. “But for the most part at least with our team, they’re disciplined in practice and out of practice.”

The Knights will open the 2022 campaign at Mobridge on Aug. 27.