Big Lake Coach Todd Trunta will be managing 58 cross country runners from grades 7-12 for the 2020 season. He also noted that number could increase by five to 10 runners as the early season progresses.

Trunta is replacing long-time running coach John Bruns, who retired following the 2019 season. Trunta was Bruns’ assistant for 26 years and he will have help from varsity Assistant Coach Andy Noble and Middle School Coach Jean Hagberg as they try and wrangle a sport schedule filled with tricky potholes due to COVID-19.

“It has definitely been a different start to the season,” said Trunta.  “We received about six pages of guidance and information from the MSHSL on cross-country that cover practices and competitions.” 

Trunta says some things he has implemented including having athletes congreagting in pods of 25. 

“That pod serves as their main training partners.” he said.  “When runners come to practice, they come masked and have socially distanced spots to sit with their pod and set their gear.” 

Trunta says when the kids are heading out for their workouts, the runners can unmask and the coaches can send the runners out in waves so they are further spread out. 

“At competitions this year we can have a maximum of three teams and only 25 runners may be on the start line at a time,” he says.  “There are many other changes, but the runners have done a pretty good job of adapting and are happy to get the chance to compete.”

When asked why he continues to coach youths for so many years, Trunta had no problem answering the question.

“I grew up with coaching.  My father was a teacher and high school coach, so I was always at games and watching him work.” 

Trunta says he was involved in athletics throughout school and loved competition and striving to be better. 

“Cross-country is a wonderful sport.  It’s so objective and measurable.   The runners strive to become faster than they were, regardless of their place in the race.  In that way, cross-country allows everyone in the race the ability to be successful.” 

Trunta says to be there in the moment of accomplishment with athletes as they win a race, or record their fastest time, or meet their goals, it is an incredible feeling.

“That’s why I coach.”

As of this week, the MSHSL hasn’t devised a plan for sections and state playoffs.  Given the restrictions on meet size, Trunta is not sure those meets will happen this year. 

“I feel our boys’ varsity team can place in the top three of the conference.  We have a very strong top three with ninth grader, Owen Layton, 10th grader Kade Layton, and 11th grader, Christian Noble. We need two others to emerge from the next group of four-to-five runners.” 

Last year Owen Layton, as an eighth grader, finished second in the conference meet and qualified for the state championship. 

“Our girls’ team has vastly improved from last year.  Josephine Lentz, 12th grader, is our top runner on that side,” said Trunta.

“My job as the cross-country coach is to help make my runners as fast as they can be.  Not everyone on the team has the ability or drive to be a state competitor, but all have the ability to become faster.” 

Trunta says the runners and coaches celebrate when a runner completes their new longest run, and they take pride when an athlete finishes a race without walking. 

“We know that those runners pushed themselves, maybe even more than the runner that took first place in the race.  We celebrate the triumphs over our previous times and fitness levels.  We certainly enjoy and strive for wins and state berths, but it isn’t required to have a successful season.”

Trunta competed in both cross-country and track & field throughout his junior and senior high school years at Sauk Centre.  He also competed in both sports for his four years at St. Cloud State University. 

Following graduation at SCSU, he was hired in Big Lake and has coached distance runners ever since.

The boys cross country team includes: Devin Amundson, Vincent Anderson, Austin Barzee, Robert Benner, Lita Biers, Reed Bottema, Trenton Brown, Jacob Butkevicius, Isaac Carlson, Zach Carlson, Zachary Carlson, Joshua Childs, Adiel Cisneros, Tyler Dehmer, Zachary Dembinski, Matt Denzen, Austin Eccless, Michael Edlund, Richard Edlund, Kian Eisenschenk, Carter Erickson, Kyle Ginther, Tre Gordy, Blain Grover, David Guyse, Sam Hagberg, Jayden Hegdahl, Tristan Hegdahl, Luke Hugo, Jack Iverson, Tanon Jacobson, Brady Johnson, Gabe Juhl, Brandon Kneeland, Caleb Krebs, Alex Kuntz, Ethan Lamere, Kade Layton, Owen Layton, Jack Leuer, Spencer Lommel, Damien Mcintire, Jayden Mclearen, Chandler Nagorski, Niko Nau, Maceo Nelson, Christian Noble, Tyler Olson, Alexander Ombongi, Carter Oney, Jonah Overby, Drew Parks, Hunter Pawelski, Joseph Peters, Jacob Polacec, Isaiah Prom, Ahkeem Robinson, Julian Robles, Jadyn Rust, Evan Scales, Kyle Segner, Jace Shadden, Riley Siegrist, Collin Skaug, Avery Skypec, Ryker Stukenholz, Jeff Swanson, Hayden Thieke, Jaxyn Tschritter, Blake Turberville, Micoda Turner, Freddy Visci, Gavin Vold, Spencer Vold, Thomas Vrudney, Mason Wendlandt, Wyatt Windhorst.

The girls cross country team includes: Jazmin Acuna Diaz, Jenna Ages, Aliyah Agyekum, Jaden Anderson, Omnika Asher, Adriannah Aubuchon, Allison Bahe, Ella Beach, Lita Beirs, Josephina Bjorkedal, Alayna Boe, Mariah Bridgeman, Codi Bunting, Samantha Burton, Katelyn Chaffe, Tenley Cremers, Morgan Czech, Sommer Dahl, Chloe Danzl, Amelia Degen, Hailey Dickson, Emilee Doperalski, Taylor Edmonson, Kennadie Ell, Jade Flavin, Karsyn Forgey, Grace Gardner, Anika Garland, Bailey Goracke, Zarah Griner, Teagen Harmon, April Harrison, Grace Heider,Emma Hess, Erin Iaquinto, Grace Isaacson, Anna Jeffrey, Abigail Jensen, Karleigh Johnson, Gwen Keller, Erin Kjellberg, Grace Kluk, Addy Knick, Grace Knodle, Elain Kolova, Magbah Lahai, Payonnoh Lahai, Kayla Larson, Josephine Lentz, Xandra Lindman, Ariana Luan, Rachel Lueing, Josey Luettmer, Ashley Madison, Lisa Mcmullen, Mia Mielke, Jacqui Miller, Carter Monson, Georgia Morris, Maia Nelson, Allison Nguyen, Alice Ni, Ashlee Ogren, Stephanie Olson, Victoria Olson, Rylie Ostrom, Josie Parks, Paige Paumen, Morgan Pierce, Kylie Plattner, Olivia Potter, Nicole Rempel, Hannah Renslow, Hannah Roberston, Karina Rodriguez, Karla Rodriguez, Mya Rondo, Erin Rootes, Jessalyn Roussin, Jaydon Rust, Jessicah Schmidt, Miranda Segner, Campbell Slattery, Kaitlyn Smith, Taylor Squires, Olivia Stockham, Hannah Strom, Sierra Stromberg,Sophia Tienter, Hattie Trulock, Ashley Vongsaphay, Lydia Wang, Tennesee Wanhala, Elissa Wennblom, Erika Werner.