By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – There was absolutely no confusion among team members or coaches about the goals for the Clear Creek Amana cross country team last season.

At the very top of that list was a return to the Class 3A state meet.

A year after making the second trip to state in program history the Clippers had no trouble readjusting their late-season goals.

“We want to place in the top 10 at state,” Sophomore Nick O’Connor said. “That’s the goal for us after last year.”

After missing a spot at state by a single point in 2015 the Clippers crossed that goal off the list last season.

In its first trip to state since 2013 Clear Creek Amana finished 14th in the 15-team field last fall.

This season the goals don’t end with a trip to state, they start with returning to Fort Dodge and moving up the ladder.

“We are aiming this year to finish in the top 10 at state,” Clear Creek Amana junior Cole Liebe said. “There’s no doubt we believe we are that type of team.”

The Clippers aren’t the only people who believe that last year’s state tournament finish was far more than a flash in the pan for the program.

Despite graduating five of its top seven runners the Clippers open the season No. 13 in Class 3A in the Iowa Association of Track Coaches rankings.

Liebe and O’Connor are the two returning varsity runners and they are good ones, both placing in the top 66 at state last season as underclassmen.

Third-year head coach Ben Robison expects big things from junior Kaden McAreavy and freshman Brandon Barker as the Clippers attempt to continue their ascent up the 3A ladder.

“We lost a lot but we gained two huge pieces with Kaden McAreavy and then we have a freshman that is going to be phenom,” Robison said. “I think if we can get our five, six guys all the way in I think we are going to be as competitive if not more competitive than last year.”

If the Clippers are to continue meeting goals and exceeding expectations they will need O’Connor and Liebe to lead the way.

The lone underclassmen on a varsity lineup with five seniors last season the duo is ready to take over as the team leaders.

“We have a group of them that really don’t like to lose to each other and it comes out most days in practice,” Robison said. “Our varsity guys had a really good offseason, they really busted their butts so it’s going to be fun to watch for sure.”

Liebe finished 66th at the state meet last season as a sophomore while O’Connor was 62nd in the 3A meet as a freshman.

A year older and stronger, O’Connor says he is more prepared for the rigors of the high school season.

“I was a lot more nervous last year going in to the season when I didn’t really know what to expect,” O’Connor said. “I’m definitely more comfortable this year and I think that will help a lot.”

Last season was a big stepping stone for the Clippers.

Robison is already planning the next step for his program.

“We’ve retooled stuff, we are going to put our peak off at state and really try to work to be a top 10 team now,” Clear Creek Amana coach Ben Robison said. “That’s kind of the next step in the process.”