Notre Dame seniors put underclassmen on path to success

Notre Dame seniors Matt Pfau and Greg Kanneberg have helped to build the Bulldogs' boys cross country program into one of the top teams in the state.

In the past two years, the Bulldogs have finished second and fourth, bringing home the first two state cross country trophies for Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs will try to make it three straight top-four finishes today when they compete in the Class 2 state cross country meet at Oak Hills Golf Center in Jefferson City, Mo.

"You hate to say what's going to happen, but I have a sense something good will happen," Notre Dame coach Bill Davis said. "I've had this feeling before back in 1996 and 1997."

Davis coached Kelly's cross country team to a boys state title in 1996 and a girls state title in 1997.

For the Bulldogs' two seniors, this season has begun the process of passing the torch. Pfau and Kanneberg have acted as mentors to two freshmen and a sophomore who round out Notre Dame's top five runners. Included in that group are Logan Davis, the coach's son; sophomore Neil Kanneberg, Greg's younger brother; and freshman Dillon Klaffer. Jonathan Ramsey, a junior, ran in the No. 5 spot at the district meet.

"Our seniors have really been good leaders for all the meets," Neil Kanneberg said. "It's really the seniors jobs to lead the team, and they've done a good job at that."

Added Bill Davis: "That's the way every program should be. The older kids become teachers."

The veteran-youth combination has worked out to this point, as Notre Dame captured the Class 2 District 1 title last week. The Bulldogs placed five runners in the top 15 to edge Ste. Genevieve and Herculaneum.

"We believe we are the best team we've had here," Pfau said. "Probably in two years, when those guys get older, they'll be really good."

Greg Kanneberg paced Notre Dame at the district meet with a third-place finish, and Pfau was fifth. Greg Kanneberg is also the Bulldogs' top returning runner from the state meet after finishing 23rd last year.

"We kind of run our races totally different, but we always end up right with each other in the end," Pfau said. "He goes out quick and I start slow, but we always end up within two or three places of each other."

The seniors know in time the Bulldogs' younger runners will do even bigger things for the program.

"It kind of stinks, Logan's going to break all the records we set this year," Greg Kanneberg said with a laugh.

Priory is the defending state champion in Class 2, finishing 50 points ahead of fourth-place Notre Dame last year. Bowling Green was second last year, followed by Herculaneum.

"I think we can be right in the mix," Bill Davis said. "It could go to the fifth guy. I think it will and it should. If it goes to the fifth guy, I think we could be in good shape."

Jessica Banda, a sophomore, and freshman Victoria Pfau are Notre Dame's lone girls qualifiers. Banda finished eighth at the district meet.

"The Banda girl, she could very well get all-state if she can run with the Ste. Genevieve girls like she did [on Saturday]," Bill Davis said.

Kelly sophomore Sarah Ruff will also run in the Class 2 girls race.

Perryville seeks trophy

Stuck in a district with Class 3 favorite Potosi, Perryville's boys took care of business by placing second to earn a second straight state berth.

Jesse Kueker and Kyle Bert finished seventh and eighth, respectively, for the Pirates at the district meet. Montana Giesler placed 10th.

The Pirates finished 14th at the state meet last year. Along with Kueker and Bert, junior William Benline and senior Andrew Thieret also ran at last year's state meet.

Class 4 individuals

No area Class 4 teams will compete in the state meet today, but three freshmen and a sophomore are among the state qualifiers from Central and Jackson.

Central freshmen Brittany Moreland and Veronica Schabbing will represent the Tigers' girls.

Central's John Kipper, the lone senior among the area Class 4 qualifiers, is making his third straight trip to the state meet. Central junior Tyler Yeargain will make his first trip.

Sophomore Amy Sterling and freshman Greg Gibson will represent Jackson at the state meet. This is the first time at state for both runners.