Edgar Tapia is the new cross country and boys track and field coach for South Tama. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

For the first time in nearly a decade, South Tama has a new cross country coach. After being led by head coach Robert Tyynismaa for the last nine seasons, the school district announced on May 27 that Edgar Tapia had been hired to lead the program. Recently, the News Chronicle had the opportunity to interview Tapia and get to know the new head coach and hear his thoughts on his upcoming first season.

Tapia’s background

Tapia grew up in the small town of Harris, Iowa — population 139. Located 19 miles straight west of Okoboji, and a mere four miles south of the Minnesota border, Tapia was a part of a class of 19 students at nearby Harris-Lake Park High School. There, he learned to run competitively — in spite of some unique challenges.

“The high school I attended had no track. So, learning hurdles and basic track skills was really hard,” Tapia said. But the hard work paid off and Tapia ended his high school running career having qualified for the state track and field meet all four years, medaling three times. Following high school, Tapia attended Hawkeye Community College where he was a three-time National Junior College Athletic Association qualifier in the 400 hurdles and the 4×400 relay. Tapia then attended UNI, where he aspired to run for the Panthers.

“Ever since I was a junior in high school my dream was to run for UNI,” Tapia said. “I had to earn a tryout spot and I ended up making the team. I finished my career at UNI, running for that program for two years.”

Edgar Tapia starts out of the blocks when he ran track for UNI. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Tapia graduated from UNI this past spring, where he earned his degree in Physical Education with a minor in Health.

Coming to South Tama

Tapia was hired this spring as the new STC Middle School physical education teacher. He was also hired at the high school level to be both the head boys & girls cross country coach, and the head boys track and field coach. Tapia brings excitement for both sports at STC.

“I really enjoy the sport of track and field and to me it is a sport where everyone has the potential to shine if they put in the work and believe in themselves,” he said.

For cross country this fall, Tapia will once again be joined by assistant cross country coach Amanda Husak. Husak is entering her second season in the position.

South Tama senior Barrett Jesina will lead the boys cross country squad this upcoming season. Jesina will seek to qualify for the state cross country meet for the third time in his career. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

“I know (Amanda) is excited about this upcoming season,” Tapia said. “I am really looking forward to working with her and seeing what great ideas she has for this program.”

This year’s team

As we reach the halfway point of July, Tapia’s thoughts turn in earnest to the beginning of the 2025 cross country season. He has already met some of his returning runners and created a summer running plan for each of them to follow.

“We have a nine-week running program that details what type of workout they should be doing and how many miles they should be running a day,” Tapia said. “They start at around twenty miles a week and build up to fifty per week by the end of the nine weeks.”

Tapia’s summer program includes a mix of hard workouts, easy runs, long runs, and running hills. Tapia shared his excitement for this year’s squad.

“I think we have a solid crew this year that has some serious potential,” he said.

When describing his goals for the team, Tapia noted a return to state as a team.

“My top goal for our team is to make it to the state meet. But there is a process that goes with that and, if we buy into the process, we can make it happen,” he said.

Tapia also has a view for individual goals.

“I want each athlete to reach their goals. At the beginning of the year I will have them write down individual goals and I want to help them achieve those,” he said.

Program success

Tapia takes over a cross country program that has both historical and recent success. In the last three decades, the Trojans have produced a state champion (Joe Hughes, 1998) and the school’s first ever boys team qualification for the state meet (2023). In the last decade alone, the Trojans have had an individual or team state qualifier in every season except one (2017). This includes individual qualifications by: Blake Keller (2015), Belle Tyynismaa (2015), Callie Frakes (2016, 2018, 2019); Tommy Tyynismaa (2020, 2021, 2022), James Brant (2021, 2022), and Barrett Jesina (2024). The boys team qualification in 2023 had runners that included: Tommy Tyynismaa, Brant, Cade Rosenberger, Braxton Rohrs, Holden Schirmer, and Jesina. Jesina is now entering his senior campaign this fall for STC. Tapia has already begun to form a relationship with Jesina and is encouraged by what he sees.

“Barrett is a very self-motivated and hardworking kid. He wants to do everything he can to become a better runner,” Tapia said. “I know his goal will be to make it back to that state meet. The sky is the limit for him and I’m going to try my best to get him there.”

Character and community

Tapia also understands the impact he can have as a coach and the importance of community connection.

“Another goal I have for our athletes is that they become even better people off the course,” he said. “Becoming a role model for this community is huge because you have the younger generation looking up to these older kids. It is important that my athletes become great role models in our community.”

Valuable coaching lessons

As a new head coach, Tapia looks forward to using valuable coaching lessons that he has seen firsthand at the high school, junior college, and division one levels.

“Throughout my time I have seen good coaches,” he said. “I always knew that I wanted to coach, so I made sure to note the things they did and how they acted towards everyone. I’ll take everything I’ve learned from these amazing coaches into this new job.”

One specific lesson that Tapia gained from his coaches was to never give up.

“My coaches taught me to never give up on anything, though there were days where I questioned what I was doing. Their impact helped me achieve my dream of running for UNI,” he said.

Tapia also noted that his coaches taught him to enjoy the team environment. It’s part of the culture that he hopes to build at STC.

“I want to make sure that each athlete enjoys being a part of this team and that they feel valued,” he said. “I’m really excited to get to work with this year’s team.”

Tapia will lead the annual cross country camp from August 4-8. Official practice for the season begins, then, on Monday, Aug. 11.