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DULUTH — Stella Maris Academy’s largest cross country team is giving coach Elizabeth Nygaard reasons to look forward to October. With 37 runners, a promising group of young varsity competitors and three seniors representing the program’s growth, the Sentinels are preparing for their first Polar League conference meet and pursuing opportunities to advance to state.
Brothers Carson and Caleb Gilbertson have emerged as leading performers for the boys, while freshman Bryn Zallar has earned Nygaard’s praise on the girls team. Their development comes during a season in which increased participation has become a significant achievement of its own.
“We have the biggest team to date, with 37 kids going out for Cross Country,” Nygaard said. The roster includes runners competing at different levels, giving Stella Maris both a varsity presence and younger athletes working toward future opportunities.
Carson Gilbertson, an eighth-grader, and Caleb, a sophomore, delivered a particularly strong showing at the Paul Bauer Invitational on Sept. 15 in Grand Rapids. Carson won the boys varsity 5,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 39.50 seconds, while Caleb placed third in 16:51.20. Mesabi East’s Brady Forsberg finished between them in 16:45.80.
Nygaard described Carson as ranking highly among runners his age at the state and national levels and said Caleb also is performing exceptionally well. Her assessment of the brothers extends beyond their results.
“They are definitely outstanding student athletes, with their attitude, behavior and care for their community,” Nygaard said. The brothers give the Sentinels two young runners capable of competing near the front of varsity fields while continuing to develop.
At the Sept. 10 Dan Conway Classic, Carson finished fifth in 17:16.5 and Caleb 10th in 17:48.8, helping Stella Maris place fourth with 132 points. Peter Gerard, Benjamin Hartman, Jaxon Montgomery and Henry Hoberg also competed in the boys varsity race.
On the girls side, Nygaard singled out Zallar’s willingness to challenge herself. The freshman gives Stella Maris another developing runner whose contributions already are showing at the varsity level.
“For our girls, Bryn Zallar is having a great season as a freshman. She has pushed herself to dig deep and give her best,” Nygaard said.
Zallar placed 18th at Dan Conway in 22:46.0. Charlotte Gorghuber, Anna Gorghuber, Margaret Saftner, Hattie Gorghuber, Sarah Rose and Isla Erickson also ran varsity as Stella Maris finished ninth with 203 points.
The program’s participation extended through the other races. Benjamin Weertz, Albert Henry Nephew, Mateo Watson, Alexander Gatsche, Elliot Aronson and Sam Hassebrock competed in boys junior varsity; Asher Castaldo, Luke Moe and Nathan Byer ran the boys 2-mile race. Sophie Hendrickson finished sixth in the girls 2-mile race in 15:41.4, and Elsie Hoberg was 10th in 16:01.8.
For Nygaard, the presence of seniors Rose, Aronson and Luke Hoffman is another meaningful step. A program she described as having freshmen and sophomores for an extended period now has upperclassmen, reflecting the school’s growth and giving this season significance beyond individual times and team finishes.
The next stage brings a new conference opportunity. Stella Maris will compete in the Polar League meet in October for the first time, adding another benchmark before the section competition that determines advancement to state.
“This is the first year we are competing there and greatly looking forward to it,” Nygaard said. That conference debut will come with the Sentinels balancing immediate postseason goals and the continued development of their largest roster.
“We have much anticipation for sections and hope we can send some kids on to State,” Nygaard said. With the Gilbertson brothers producing strong varsity finishes, Zallar progressing on the girls side and participation reaching a program high, Stella Maris enters October with several ways to measure its next step.
