Vikings XC Takes Major Wins Home at Oelwein Invitational

Shine a light on issues that matter—support local news with your gift today. OELWEIN —Decorah High School's cross country teams took spot after spot in the lead at the 2025 Oelwein Invitational, held Tuesday at Hickory Grove Golf Course in Oelwein. The Vikings' girls' team delivered a predictably strong performance, bringing heat to the crisp fall air and finishing first overall with 44 points, well ahead of Center Point-Urbana (88) and Sumner-Fredericksburg (93). Olivia Volkmann led Decorah with an eighth-place finish in 20:52, followed closely by Deborah Hougen (11th, 20:57), Ruth Kueny (12th, 21:05), and Riley Christopher (13th, 21:06). Simone Downing (20th) and Raelyn Newhouse (25th) completed the scoring, highlighting the team's depth. Coach Christy Nimrod praised the Vikings' cohesive run time and work ethic. "We are so proud of the way this team is coming together. They care for each other and challenge each other to be better every day. They continue to work hard and the work is paying off!" On the boys' side, the Vikings also claimed top honors with 39 points, finishing well ahead of Denver (70) and Vinton-Shellsburg (74). Garrett See led Decorah with a fourth-place finish in 16:56, while Oak Pasche (7th, 17:05), Bennett Coppola (8th, 17:08), and Mitchell Stemper (9th, 17:16) contributed to the winning effort. Clarence Nimrod (11th) and Derek Hrdlicka (15th) rounded out the team's scoring, culimating in a strong top-to-bottom performance. Both teams' victories can be simply put: early-season might. The Vikings will next compete at the All-American Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Luther College. Their homefield will certainly not be a hinderance to what already is a strong start out of the gate. Don't miss out on important updates! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and stay informed about local topics that matter most to you.