By Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – When a new coach takes over a program the word change seems to come up frequently.

A change in leadership often brings with it a change in coaching philosophy or style, changes to practices, schedules and plans.

When Ryan and Lynn Ahlers took the reins of the City High girls cross country program from long-time coach Tom Mittman the husband and wife duo didn’t feel the need for sweeping changes.

“We didn’t want to change a whole bunch of things, that wasn’t our job to change everything,” Lynn Ahlers said. “The girls push each other, they are confident they are strong and our job is not to get in the way of that. Our job is not to hold anybody back from being tough focused and competitive and accomplishing all they can do.”

The Ahlers take over a program that ranks among the best in the state after 19 combined years as assistants at City High.

City High has quailed for the state meet 29 consecutive seasons, including each of the last 20 under Mittman winning five state titles and adding eight runner-up finishes over the last two decades.

The Little Hawks notched their 15th top-three finish under Mittman last season finishing third in Class 4A.  

With the past success, the Ahlers didn’t try to overhaul the program, instead making a few minor tweaks in their first season as head coaches.

“The girls have been really great to us and accepting of some minor changes in the program,” Ryan Ahlers said. “Tom did a heck of a job with the program and continuing some of the great traditions with putting a few of our own spins on it is what we have been achieving so far.”

Through preseason practices the adjustment to a new, albeit familiar, coaching staff has been seamless.

Mittman, who was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2015, has remained as an assistant coach further aiding the transition.

“It definitely feels the same, it’s all the same goals and values,” City High junior Anna Lindower said. “It’s wonderful to have them because we have had them as coaches the past couple of years and they are really awesome people and I couldn’t be happier to have them coaching us now.”

The Ahlers have added their own twists to summer training and the start of fall practice.

A few workouts have been changed, some training methods slightly altered but the core of what the program is about has remained the same.  

“It doesn’t feel that much different just because they have been here for a long time and the atmosphere is all the same and Tom is still here,” City High junior Annie Rummelhart said. “They do a few things a little bit differently but the way practices run is pretty much the same and we are used to it and there is not that much adjusting which is good.”  

Spending nearly a decade as assistant coaches has helped the Ahlers transition to head coaches.

So too has the wealth of experience that returns in the City High lineup this season.

Five of the Little Hawks’ top seven runners from a last year’s team that finished third at state behind 4A champion Johnston and Dubuque Hempstead return.

“I think if anything this year we are feeling more confident about the potential of this team,” City High sophomore Brady said. “Last year we got third at state but I think this year we are looking at possibly even exceeding that.”

Three of the City High returners, seniors Bridget Brown and Kinsee Brands and Rummelhart, finished in the top 50 at state last season.

Brady was 61st in her first trip to state and Lindower returns after running at state in each of the past two seasons.

City High must replace its top two runners from a season ago in departed seniors Mary Arch and Emily Bywater but there is experienced depth behind including senior Gabriel McCormick who was an alternate on last year’s state meet squad.

“Something that I think is really special about Ryan and Lynn and Tom is that they always believe in you,” Brady said. “There are still very dedicated to making us one of the best teams in the state and making us believe that we are one of the best teams in the state.”