Aug. 21—GRAND FORKS — Nicole Kopff has been coaching with the Grand Forks Red River girls cross country program for 11 years. After becoming the program's lone head coach in 2023, Kopff will guide her largest roster yet this season.
The Roughriders currently have 40 runners. It's the largest group since 2021, when the program had 42 athletes.
This year's number could grow after other fall sports cut their rosters.
"I really think we've found an identity," Kopff said. "We had two runner-up finishes at state (in 2021 and 2022), we were very, very close. ... I think that set our momentum, that we can have more girls. Girls want to work hard too, and I think the word got out.
"Because our atmosphere is so open and welcoming, we've had a lot of girls who have joined running late that have fallen in love with it and stayed. The reason we're built as big as we are is the foundation of our core values."
This season's growth was helped by the addition of six seventh-graders, the most the Riders have added in a single year over the last six seasons.
There are also plenty of returners. Senior Joce Hoefs has been a program mainstay for the previous five seasons. She was a member of both teams that finished as state runner-ups and has consistently been a contributor since joining as a seventh-grader.
Last year, Hoefs placed 28th (20:00.6) at the North Dakota Class A state meet.
"It's kind of surprising that I'm already a senior," Hoefs said. "Being on the team since a seventh-grader, I've always felt like the young one. I'm looking forward to one last season, and I'm hoping to finish out strong."
Like Kopff, Hoefs attributes this year's large roster to the atmosphere fostered within the program.
"Coach does a really good job of advertising our team online," Hoefs said. "She's very adamant that we can meet you where you are. Some girls come into the season with no running experience, and she really individualizes each workout to each person's needs.
"A girl who has never run, she's not going to come to the first day of practice and run five miles like some of the girls that might have been running all summer. Also, in track, the distance program is a very, very open place to be. Everyone is so welcoming, and we all train together. You're never going to run alone, and I think coach does a really good job putting that out there when talking to girls about joining cross country."
Hoefs is one example of Red River's ability to retain runners as they move through the program.
Eighth-grader Peyton Thompson is among the team's top underclassmen returning. She capped off a strong seventh-grade campaign by pacing the Riders at the state meet, finishing 22nd with a time of 19:42.4.
"We might lose one to two because of moving, or the sport is a bit too difficult," Kopff said. "It's hard to complete a season in cross country because of what it takes out of you. We have good turnaround from year to year, but this year we just kept on going."
Hoefs is joined by senior Mattea Green, senior Damila Collins and junior Emma Howard as the Riders' team captains.
The quartet of returning leaders have been invaluable to the coaching staff in instilling the program's culture in younger runners.
"They very much know that the reason our program has had success and has built bigger numbers each and every year is because it's centered around our core values," Kopff said. "Pride, optimism and persistence. They make sure that they model those each and every day."
Red River will open the season Saturday at the "Orr"iginals Invitational in Jamestown.
GF Red River girls
Coach: Nicole Kopff.
2025 finish: Seventh at state.
Key returners: Sr. Joce Hoefs (28th at state); sr. Mattea Green (43rd at state); jr. Emma Howard (73rd at state); eighth-grader Peyton Thompson (22nd at state).
Top newcomers/expanded roles: Fr. Cora Parks; fr. Julie Johnson; fr. Kennedy Schindler; fr. Mira Gamliel; eighth-grader Cora Parrill.
Coach Kopff says: "I have seen a drive and focus in a group that is just excited to put in the work that a difficult sport like cross country requires. They're motivated to do their best because, in turn, it will help our team do its best as well."
GF Red River boys
Coach: Richard Dafoe.
2025 finish: Ninth at state.
Key returners: Sr. Cohen Dunnigan (seventh at state); sr. Scott Johnson (20th at state); jr. Camrin Cook (93rd at state); jr. Kadyn Balkowitsch (114th at state); soph. Espenn Johnson (110th at state).
Top newcomers/expanded roles: Soph. William Halbritter; fr. Giovonni Casetta (139th at state); Fr. Eben Green (90th at state).
Coach Dafoe says: "There's a new excitement. We went under a big gutting of the program where we had this giant senior group that graduated two years ago. They were super tight, good friends both on the team, off the team. They were hanging out all the time and were super committed to each other, to the team. We had unbelievable success while they were coming up through the ranks. ... We had this kind of vacuum that happened, and all of a sudden we're floundering a little bit, looking for an identity. I thought it would come together more last year than it did, and I think with how young the squad was and the lack of upperclassmen leadership there, that it didn't really happen. And now over this summer, I've watched the guys come together. I think the big thing this season that we're excited about is just a new identity as a team; that coming together, that commitment and then obviously a bunch of young guys developing. I think there's going to be a good amount of success this year, but I think right now, the focus is on building that sense of family and identity."
GF Central girls
Coach: Kyle Rosseau.
2025 finish: 14th at state.
Key returners: Soph. Emmi Ihry (20th at state); soph. Maddie Kuster (120th at state).
Coach Rosseau says: "I'm looking forward to (Saturday's meet in Jamestown). Everyone stacks up against some of the top competition in the state on the girls' side. There are some pretty good teams and individuals, so I'm really excited to see how our top five, six — the varsity group — really competes against them, and where they stack going into the first meet. But again, it's the first meet, it's kind of the rust-buster. ... It's nice to get a race in, see where you're at, but we're really racing for October. Overall this season, we're just looking to get better every meet."
GF Central boys
Coach: Sean Allan.
2025 finish: 10th at state.
Key returners: Sr. Grant Martin (30th at state); soph. Ben Sickler (33rd at state); sr. Jaded Halvorson (138th at state).
Top newcomers/expanded roles: Sr. Ty Uhlier (84th at state); fr. Ben Sapaugh (75th at state); eighth-grader Gage Selby (95th at state); soph. James Machart (176th at state).
Coach Allan says: "They're a very competitive group. They really love to run together, and I think that's going to really help them be successful as the year goes on. They've been very supportive of each other as a group."
EGF Senior High girls
Coach: Aislinn Hunter.
2025 finish: Did not score at Section 8AA meet.
Key returners: Sr. Aryanna Aro (59th at section); sr. Audrey Floden.
Coach Hunter says: I'm definitely seeing excitement. They saw what they could do last season, similar to the boys, and I think they're excited to do that again. Last year was my first year coaching, and getting to know them better and getting that trust between athlete and coach (was important). I'm really excited to see the girls, but similar to the boys, I would say there's confidence and excitement to PR."
EGF Senior High boys
Coach: Aislinn Hunter.
2025 finish: 11th at Section 8AA meet.
Key returners: Soph. Kylan Driscoll (45th at section); jr. Curtis Perdew (76th at section).
Top newcomers: Seventh-grader Gavin Quinn.
Coach Hunter says: "I see a lot more confidence coming into this season. I think there was so much growth on the boys' side last cross country season with PRs and getting more competitive. I think they saw that, and so they're coming into this season with much more confidence and more specific goals. ... I think they're really excited to get to work and do what they did last year, and they're just going to do even better."
Riverside Christian girls
Coach: Barbara Arntson.
2025 finish: Fourth at Section 8A meet.
Key returners: Sr. Ella Arntson (ninth at section); sr. Leah Sundby (56th at section); fr. Emelia Arntson (fourth at section); jr. Charlotte Robbins (36th at section); jr. Megan Weiss (41st at section); soph. Audrey Hamlin (28th at section).
Coach Arntson says: "Their goals are high. Last year at the section meet, we came in fourth, and it's the top two that make it to state. Our goal this year is to get second in the section. Looking at the competition, Barnesville is going to be first for sure, and then it's going to be between us and Hawley for that No. 2 spot. (The girls) had lots of summer miles, they got their training in. We've only had two days of practice, but they're looking good. That's our goal, is to get to state as a team."
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