NEWS CHRONICLE PHOTOS BY STEVE BRANT – STC sophomore Max Schirmer runs at the state qualifying meet in Independence, where he qualified for the 2026 state meet.

INDEPENDENCE — For the 9th straight season, and 11th out of the last 12, the STC cross country program is sending a runner to the state cross country meet in Fort Dodge. This fall, the honor belongs to sophomore Max Schirmer.

Schirmer earned his state birth after finishing in the top 15 runners in the boys race at the state qualifying meet in Independence on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Schirmer finished in 13th place with a time of 17:14.

“It was a really hard race,” an excited Schirmer said afterwards. “We went out a little quicker than I thought. Early on, I wasn’t in the position that I thought I would be. So, I just fought for positioning the whole time. Towards the end, I knew I could get a couple kids on that little hill, so I just used it to my advantage.”

The trip to state is especially sweet for Schirmer, who missed last year’s state qualifying meet, and all of the spring track season, due to injury.

“It feels great to have him qualify after the year he had last year,” said STC head cross country coach Edgar Tapia. “To see him come out here and qualify, it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to him.”

STC sophomore Max Schirmer sees his name on the official list of state qualifiers after his race in Independence. At right is Schirmer's older brother, and former Trojan state cross country qualifier, Holden.

Schirmer’s qualification keeps the 9-year streak going for the Trojan cross country program, which has included Barrett Jesina (2025 and 2024), the boys team qualification (2023), Tommy Tyynisma and James Brant (2022 and 2021), Tyynisma (2020), and Callie Frakes (2019 and 2018). Though no athlete went in 2017, Frakes also qualified in 2016. Belle Tyynisma and Blake Keller represented STC in 2015.

“To keep that tradition going means a lot,” said Tapia.

Schirmer is following in his older brother’s footsteps on the road to Fort Dodge. Holden Schirmer was part of the boys team in 2023 that became the first STC group of runners to qualify as a team. When asked to reflect on his brother, Max said ‘Without Holden, I don’t think I’d be doing this. It feels amazing to be a part of that tradition. I worked hard for it all season.’

Other runners for the STC boys in Independence included: sophomore Kyler Johnson-Whitefish (44th, 18:59); junior Henri Martinez-Alvarado (60th, 19:47); sophomore Nolan Arp (67th, 20:11); junior Brady Jesina (69th, 20:33); and sophomore Riley Stubbs (76th, 21:14). The Trojans finished 9th as a team (241 points) among 11 teams scoring.

The Trojan girls were led by 8th grader Addy Graff, who finished in 53rd place with a time of 23:44. Other finishers for the girls were: 8th grader Piper Sawyer (62nd, 24:53); 8th grader Anna Ahrens (72nd, 27:02); senior Livia Smith (73rd, 27:08); and freshman Katelynne Brant (76th, 28:01). The STC girls (336 points) finished 11th as a team among 12 teams.

STC sophomore Kyler Johnson-Whitefish runs at the state qualifying meet in Independence.

The meet in Independence represented the final cross country race for Smith, who has run for the program in all four of her high school years. An emotional Smith took a moment to reflect on her career after her run.

“I didn’t expect to be so sad at the end of the race today but I definitely am. I’ve grown to love how close everyone is on this team. And Coach Tapia believed in me; he believed in me even more than I believed in myself,” she said.

Tapia was pleased with the performance of the entire team in Independence.

“I thought all the kids ran wel l– girls and guys. I could see that today meant a little bit more to them all. To see them go out there and run with a lot of heart meant a lot to me as a coach,” he said.

Schirmer will run at the state cross country meet on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Class 3A boys race is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

STC junior Henri Martinez-Alvarado runs at the state qualifying meet in Independence.

STC 8th grader Addy Graff runs in Independence, where she was the first finisher for the STC girls.

STC 8th grader Piper Sawyer runs at the state qualifying meet in Independence.

STC 8th grader Anna Ahrens runs at the state qualifying meet in Independence.

STC senior Livia Smith (left) and freshman Katelynne Brant (right) run at the state qualifying meet in Independence.