Both senior runners were state qualifiers and each led their respective teams to impressive seasons. For their 2005 campaigns Wildermuth has been named the Eagle-Gazette's Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year while Stalder has been named the Girls Runner of the Year. Meanwhile, for guiding the Indians' boys team to a stellar 2005 campaign, Canal Winchester coach John Bender was named the Coach of the Year.

BOYS RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Scott Wildermuth

Coming into the season, Wildermuth was the lone senior for a team with pretty high expectations. Not only was Wildermuth a leader off the course but he delivered an incredible performance as a competitor, winning four meets including the Mid-State League Buckeye Division title and the district crown.

"Our goal was to be one of the best, and we were," Wildermuth said. "It was a fantastic season."

Wildermuth may not have turned out to be a dominating runner if his coach had not tried to recruit him. Bender recalled seeing Wildermuth in middle school and thought he would be a good runner. Bender had witnessed the running tradition in the Wildermuth family as Scott's grandpa, Rodney, and great uncle, Earl, were strong runners in their days. Bender thought Scott could carry on the family tradition.

"The family has owned a farm in the area for years and was known for a good work ethic," he said. "Scott had that ethic and used it to help out his teammates."

Wildermuth knew when to push his teammates or deliver a joke to lighten up the mood.

"He always seemed confident and has matured," Bender said. "He expected to win and do well.

"Scott had the support from the boys and girls on the team, and they looked up to him."

Wildermuth improved tremendously over his career, beginning at about the 18-minute mark but leaving the Indians' with his best time at 15:22. He also finished as a two-time conference champ. Wildermuth admits his coach was the difference in making a big leap forward.

"(Coach Bender) is a great motivator," he said. "He pushed me through the tough times.

"It feels good to receive all this recognition," he said. "All the hard work is paying off with all the accolades."

GIRLS RUNNER OF THE YEAR: Janeen Stalder

Senior Janeen Stalder stepped into the lead runner role with big shoes to fill but left an even larger set of footprints on the Irish running program.

Stalder won eight events this season - including the Watkins Memorial, Lancaster and the Mid-State League Cardinal Division Invitational.

"I improved on my times and ran my best at the regional in Pickerington with a 20:23," she said. "I had some great races this year."

Coach Joanne Marcinko said she witnessed something special. Stalder made vast improvements over the years and stepped up to lead the Irish after Syd Hubbard graduated. It is Stalder's personality that has left an impression on her coach.

"She is an outstanding person," she said. "Janeen was mentally tough and was a hard worker.

"She led the team and helped the other girls out. They really respected and listened to her."

Despite all Stalder did for the Irish, it was what her teammates did for her that kept Stalder focused throughout the season.

"It kept me from slacking off because they looked up to me," she said. "The guys also helped me out because they were faster and that pushed me a lot."

Stalder is a standout off the course as well. She is on pace to finish in the top five of her class with a 3.94 GPA. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club, a community service organization. While those are some great organizations, but the community of the cross country team is something Stalder will miss.

"I loved cross country because it was fun and social," Stalder said. "It was my favorite sport by far."

COACH OF THE YEAR:

John Bender

The Indians started the season with high expectations after their 16th place finish at last year's state cross country meet.

Canal Winchester met and exceeded those expectations by winning all but two meets, which includes the Division II state meet - where the team set a school record with its seventh place finish.

"I started at this program 13 years ago with one runner who split time between cross country and football. It was a struggle to get the program going," Bender said. "It is fortunate to recruit the right people and to have really good kids. It has been a blessing to us."

Bender said Wildermuth was a big ingredient in the team's improvement over the past two seasons.

"Scott was a leader. He led by his running but also encouraged the others when it was needed," Bender said. "His work ethic was seen by the others and his teammates respected him."

The Indians also found help in other spots including another runner on the team. Junior Adam Wheeler, who will be a captain next year, gave up his spot for the state meet to Nate Meidl when Bender was not sure who to take to the state meet. Ian Smith and Andrew Ahlberg, runners from Ohio State, ran with the Indians and helped them improve their times. Bender said some of the biggest praise goes to the parents.

"They were out their supporting the kids and always gave encouraging words to the kids," Bender said.

Bender was not the only one who helped get the team ready for the season. Assistant coach Jeff Kline gave his input as well. The two of them worked on planning the whole season's workouts so the team would peak at the right time. They made sure that the correct adjustments were made when needed.

The impressive thing is the Indians lose only one of their top 10 runners, Wildermuth. Each of those runners' times is beneath the 19-minute mark, which will probably mean another year of high expectations in 2006.