Class 3A

Where: Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge

When: Friday, 11:15 a.m.

Qualifying teams: *Gilbert; Sioux Center; MOC-Floyd Valley; *Grinnell; ADM; Carlisle; *Pella; Washington; Bondurant-Farrar; *Des Moines Christian; Central DeWitt; Davenport Assumption; *Mount Vernon-Lisbon; Decorah; Clear Creek Amana

*-state qualifying meet champions

Individual state qualifying meet champions: Carson Squiers, Jr., Gilbert; Cadel Conner, Jr., Grinnell; Canaan Dunham, Jr., Pella; Quentin Nauman, Jr., Western Dubuque; Austin Soldwisch, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock

2023 top five: 1. Gilbert; 2. Pella 63; 3. Council Bluffs Lewis Central; 4. Carlisle; 5. Washington

Last five team champions: 2023 – Gilbert; 2022 – Pella; 2021 – Dallas Center-Grimes; 2020 – Dallas Center-Grimes; 2019 – Dallas Center-Grimes

Returning state placewinners: 1. Canaan Dunham, Jr., Pella; 6. Quentin Nauman, Jr., Western Dubuque; 8. Logan Bleich, Soph., Gilbert; 9. Jacob Tallman, Soph., Gilbert; 11. Devon Browne, Sr., Pella; 12. Carson Squiers, Jr., Gilbert; 14. Grady Olberding, Sr., Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 15. Emmett Barber, Sr., Gilbert

Top ranked teams: 1. Gilbert; 2. Des Moines Christian; 3. Pella; 4. Mount Vernon-Lisbon; 5. Decorah

Ranked area teams: No. 7 Clear Creek Amana

Top ranked individuals: 1. Quentin Nauman, Jr., Western Dubuque; 2. Canaan Dunham, Jr., Pella; 3. Carson Squiers, Jr., Gilbert; 4. Logan Bleich, Soph., Gilbert; 5. Austin Soldwisch, Sr., Waverly-Shell Rock

Ranked area individuals: 28. Isaac Sorensen, Sr., Clear Creek Amana

Team title race: Gilbert edged Pella by six points for the title last season and returns five runners from that squad.

The Tigers were impressive while winning the state qualifying meet last week and enter as the favorite over Pella.

Last year’s 2A champion Des Moines Christian won the team title at the Solon state qualifier last week and will look to push its way into the trophy conversation in its first season in 3A.

Mount Vernon-Lisbon won the WAMAC title by six over Clear Creek Amana and finished 12 points in front of the Clippers while claiming the state qualifying meet title last week.

Individual title tracker: Other races could offer more overall intrigue but if you are looking for a down to the wire dual between two of the best around this is the race for you.

Defending champion Canaan Dunham of Pella and Western Dubuque standout Quentin Nauman should put on a show in what will likely be one of the best races of the weekend.

Dunham finished seven seconds clear of the field while winning the 3A title a year ago while Nauman was sixth.

Friday’s showdown should be much closer.

Gilbert’s Carson Squiers and Logan Bleich are both returning state medalists and should be toward the front of the pack on Friday along with Waverly-Shell Rock senior Austin Soldwisch.

Area breakdown: Clear Creek Amana returns to Fort Dodge for the third consecutive season and after placing 14^th and ninth the past two seasons the Clippers will be looking to do damage on Friday.

Led by seniors Brock Hilsman and Isaac Sorensen Clear Creek Amana is more than capable of pushing into the top-five.

Hilsman was 30^th at the state meet last season and will be looking for a strong finish in his third consecutive trip to the state meet.

Sorensen finished 100^th at the state meet and could be among the biggest risers at the meet this season as he looks to put the finishing touches on what has been a breakthrough season.

Keep an eye on freshman Carson Meskimen and Micah Johnson who have both had impressive debut seasons for Clear Creek Amana.

Speaking of debuts, Solon freshman Anders Holmes will make his debut at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge on Friday.

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