The Cotter track teams made history – again.

For the first time, both the  boys’ and girls’ track teams  qualified for the True Team State Meet.  2025 appears to be a golden year for Cotter track. This is quite an accomplishment and shows the true depth and talent that the track program at Cotter currently exhibits. This comes after their 1-2 finish at the MSHSL State track meet in 2024. The hits keep coming.

The True Team layout, and ideals, were created by the Minnesota High School Coaches Association (MSHSCA), in 1987. The goal of True Team is to show off and emphasize overall team depth and strength instead of a typical individual achievement shown at meets. This meet is different then most, which have unlimited entries per event. True team only allows for two (2) entries per event, which puts pressure on individual athletes, relays, and the coaches who are constantly trying to help us improve, while trying to help Cotter bring home more victories. The two (2) entries also make sure that every athlete’s contribution is crucial to the team’s success. This layout or format of the meet ensures that the winning team will win because of majority events, not individual events, and it also ensures that the team with the most well-rounded and consistent performances across all events are seen and recognized.

“Not all athletes will participate, and those of you who don’t, still can jump further, higher, and better, can run faster, and with more stamina, and can throw further with better technique then the other people competing,” head coach Tom Reigstad said, when addressing the team’s depth and the true team format.

The boys team secured their spot at the True Team State Meet with a number of impressive and talent show of skills in every event. While True team is a team effort, some outstanding performances, including Erik Semling ,a freshman and world record holder, in the 1600 and 3200 events, along with his distance teammates, Ryan Littlefield and Kellen Groth. Cotter boys also have outstanding sprinters, including juniors , Brayden Novakoski and Ezra Burros. In the qualifying meet the boys team ended with 149 points and six overall first place wins.

The girls team was also very impressive, and coming up 4 points short of GMLOK in the qualifying meet.  They gained the wild card, for the second year in a row, and have advanced to True Team State event. Some outstanding performances included, Clarissa Sauer in the 100 and 200 meter dashes, and Sonja Semling who the 1600 and 3200 races .  The girls ended up with 218 points and had 10 first places at the True Team Section meet.

Their are some team habits that have led to this success. First, the coaches show up 20 minutes early to practice, and they always stay late to ensure that all the athletes’ needs are met and the work needed is put in.

Another crucial part of the success is the weight room and the tools the team has access to, which help them become faster and stronger. Cotter recently got a new weight room, and our trainer (Ryan) helps each athlete individually to gain muscle, get into shape, and achieve the goals for each event. Not only for track related, but for all sports.

Another contributing factor is the spiritual force of the team. Cotter is a Catholic school, and often brings prayer, reflection, and God into every day practices. Before each meet, on the girls bus, a coach will offer a moment of silence and ask if anybody is willing to pray over the team. Most of the time, it is Sonja Semling who is a  bold, charismatic, and faith filled person. She brings to light our issues, and prays over every event. She tries to pray for other athletes, and helps ground us all so we are ready to do our event to the best of our ability with the help of God.

With both teams qualifying for the true team state meet, Cotter’s track and field program has set a newer and higher standard of excellence, persistence, hard work, faith, and sportsmanship. All of the athlete’s dedication, teamwork, and perseverance have not only brought individual recognition, but they have also been united through achieving a collective goal. As they prepare for the state meet, the cotter track teams are creating a way to showcase and display their talents and specialties in a larger way.