The names and the faces are much the same as years past, and now the runners on the Aberdeen Roncalli cross country squads are a little older and more experienced.

“It’s kind of fun seeing them get to that role and watching them grow up,” said Roncalli coach Brady Lesnar of how his runners have transitioned from middle schoolers to leaders of the Cavaliers.

There is no shortage of varsity experience on either of the Roncalli teams.

“We’ve got a good group of guys this year. They’ve really started to grow up and they’re getting to their peak years as runners with Tyler (Berndt) and Garrett (Griffin) and Andrew (Lewno) as our seniors, Paul Gutenkauf and Beau Price as juniors, good hard workers,” Lesnar said. “I’m real excited to see what they can do as the season progresses.”

That unit will be joined by some up and coming talent to bolster the squad.

“You’ve got some good underclassmen with Isaac Price who’s had a few good seasons already and he’s only going into his freshman year,” Lesnar said, “Matthew Peterson and Kellyn Mount, they were varsity members last season as seventh-graders, and I’m excited to see what they can do.”

The girls’ team will once again be led by twin sisters Paige Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt. The two have been staples of the program for the past few seasons.

“They’re quiet leaders, but you know what you’re going to get from them,” Lesnar said. “They’re going to put everything they can on every race and really push themselves, which is a lot of fun to coach. They’re very coachable athletes.”

That duo will be joined by another pair of runners who are no strangers to the squad.

“Madisen Martin and Bella Martinez, also juniors, have been really solid runners for us. I’m really looking forward to what they can do,” Lesnar said. “We’ve got some seventh-grade girls that have been putting some mileage in over the summer.”

The Cavaliers open their season with a meet at Milbank on Aug. 29 followed by a meet at Redfield.

Lesnar said he will be able to tell where his troops are at following those opportunities to compete.

“Right now, it’s just what can we improve on, what can we get better at? Those are the main things that we’re going to focus on, just getting stronger and getting ourselves built up,” Lesnar said. “Then after our first week of meets where we go to Milbank on 29th and then Sept. 1 we go to Redfield, it’s a good place to gauge where we’re at and what we need to do from there.”

For sure, cross country features more than just lining up and running.

There is a strategic component when it comes to competing.

“We talk about that,” Lesnar said. “How do we attack a course, how do we want to start a race, how do we want to finish a race, and all of the pieces that go in between it.”

The Cavaliers have proven runners heading into the season. Now, it’s a matter of seeing what happens out on the course.

“I’m just looking forward to working with this group of athletes,” Lesnar said. “They’re tremendous young adults and just fun to be around.”