Hudson Cross Country Starts Strong with Early Wins and New Faces

By Jill Steele 

The 2025 cross country season has many new Pirates aboard the XC ship — with 13 new runners  and two new captains joining the crew. Led by head coach Joe Terrones and assistant coach Brad  Hansen, the high school program now includes 16 girls and nine boys. 

The third-ranked girls team in Class 1A is led by a strong group of seniors: Mollie Hansen, Ella  Steele, Megan Steele, and Desi Lang, who all have high hopes of returning to the state meet —  this time with the team goal of making the podium. 

The boys team, led by seniors Jacob Culham and Steven Dekutoski, brings plenty of experience  to build on last year’s success. 

Charles City Meet 

The season kicked off on a perfect summer day at the Charles City Invitational. This was a  brand-new course for the runners, as the meet had been canceled due to heat the last three years.  But this time, the Pirates brought the heat! 

• Mollie Hansen and Ella Steele placed 2nd and 4th, leading the girls. 

• On the boys side, Aaden Myhr finished 33rd, and Jacob Culham came in 35th. South Hardin/Eldora Meet 

On Sept. 4, the teams traveled to the infamous hills of Eldora, where they raced on the South  Hardin golf course. It’s known for its never-ending hills, but the Pirates attacked the course with  confidence and made it look easy — cruising up and down the terrain. 

• Girls placed 4th, 

• Boys placed 8th — solid showings on a tough course. 

Wartburg Meet: Dick Pollitt Classic 

The next meet brought fewer hills but more grit — with endurance and toughness needed to run  the prairie-grass trails of Waverly at the Wartburg-hosted Dick Pollitt Classic. 

This meet was extra special to the senior girls, who had won it every year of their high school  careers. And in true Pirate fashion — they did it again. 

Hudson’s girls kept their championship title, with many runners posting season-best times. 

Hudson High School Cross Country 2025 Pirate Roster 

Girls 

Seniors: Ella Steele, Megan Steele, Desi Lang, Mollie Hansen 

Juniors: Reese Hansen, Reagan Lewis, Kate Strayer, Rebecca Vidal

Freshmen: Ella Annis, Aidan Farwell, Avery Lewis, Abi Schlafer, Cailin Stickfort, Addison  Strouth, Maci Rose, McKenna Woods 

Boys 

Seniors: Jacob Culham, Steven Dekutoski 

Juniors: Drake Griffen, Colten Jensen, Carter Swanson, Bowen Backes Sophomore: Aaden Myhr 

Freshmen: Zion Simmer, Isaac Slade 

Dick Pollitt Classic Meet Results – Wartburg College 

• Mollie Hansen – 19:29 

• Ella Steele – 20:48 

• Reese Hansen – 20:53 

• Reagan Lewis – 22:46 

• Desi Lang – 23:15 

• Rebecca Vidal – 23:37 

• Megan Steele – 23:46 

• Ella Annis – 24:14 

• Kate Strayer – 24:15 

• Cailin Stickfort – 25:10 

• Avery Lewis – 25:13 

• Maci Rose – 25:15 

• McKenna Woods – 26:16 

• Abi Schlafer – 27:27 

• Aidan Farwell – 28:12 

• Addison Strouth – 29:36 

• Jacob Culham – 19:10 

• Aaden Myhr – 21:03 

• Drake Griffen – 21:08 

• Colten Jensen – 21:14 

• Zion Simmer – 22:07 

• Isaac Slade – 24:23 

• Bowen Backes – 24:27 

• Steven Dekutoski – 25:14 

• Carter Swanson – 30:16