Boys X-Country: Improvement all around

Justin Hyytinen: MVP, all-conference, state meet qualifier

 The Tigers improved in just about every area during the 2012 season.

Farmington's fourth place finish in the Missota Conference represented a three-spot move up in the league pecking order and it's sixth place showing at the Section 1AA meet was a three-place improvement from 2011.

In addition, Justin Hyytinen's appearance in the Class AA state meet was the first for a Tiger runner since Elliott Fenske made the field in 2010.

"When I compare the times and places from the previous two years to this year, our team continues to run faster and place higher," coach Lisa Lippold said. "This is great to see. I'm excited to see what the next couple of years hold for us."

Ten Tigers earned varsity letters for their efforts during the season just completed, including seven seniors: Adam Wallenta, Tyler Lerbakken, Caleb Eiffert, Clayton Webb, Alec Wilson, Charles Anderson and Zach Batta.

Sophomore Hyytinen, who finished third at the conference meet and 29th at state, junior Sean Dougherty amd freshman Alex Hart were the three underclassmen letterwinners.

A long list of 29 others, received certificates of participation at the team's post-season banquet, including nine underclassmen: seniors Tommy Weigel, Blake Ross and Jake Manning and juniors Joe Hoeve, Austin Long, Santana Perdomo, Hunter, Sevenich, Trent Kortenbusch and Myles Heetland

Underclassmen participants included sophomores Matthew Anderson, Nash Kirchoff, Peyton Woller, Zach Teiken, Zach Steffen, Michael Sasso, Dylan Pitzen, Jaylen Johnson, Ethan Hensch and Richard Halverson and freshmen Jackson Schneider, Alex Wurst, James Thompson, Ryan Newton, Luke Mikiska, Jake Herrera, Josh Grimm, Coleman Farthing, Joe Cardinal and Lucas Berg.

Alex Hart (left), Rookie of the Year; Adam Wallenta (right): Most Improved Runner

Hyytinen earned the team's Most Valuable Player award while Wallenta, who served as a co-captain with Lerbakken, was tabbed as the Most Improved Runner. Hart won the Rookie of the Year honors.

Lippold said the on-course highlights were obvious but she was also pleased with her team's running the homecoming game ball from Chaska as well as the team's first-ever trip to Duluth to run in the Swain Invitational.

"It was a fun season," she said. "We had many more runners do summer training and show up for Saturday practices. We're hoping that even more of them will do that this summer."

As for the near future, Lippold said she and her staff will be moving the expectations bar even higher for next season.

"Next year we want to be in the top three in the conference and section," she said, "and hopefully get more runners to state."