By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

When coach Randy Stanley restarted the Victoria High School cross country program a couple of years ago, he had just four boys. Those numbers have increased, and after back-to-back state qualifications by the boys team, Stanley has his biggest team this fall.

"I kind of thought we would have good numbers this year, because kids had talked to me before about coming out," Stanley said.

Victoria has 11 boys and three girls and could qualify a boys' squad for the state meet again Saturday at the Class 1A Wheatland-Grinnell regional. The boys' race starts at 11 a.m. followed by the girls at 11:30 a.m. The top three teams and top 10 runners with the potential of additional individual qualifiers will earn a trip to state.

"The kids have really done a nice job," Stanley said. "Been a good year."

Last season, the Victoria boys took sixth at state after a 10th place showing in 2010.

Senior Jublain Wohler, who has qualified for state multiple times in cross country and track, has again been the Knights' top runner. Wohler also plays football and practices at different times.

When it's a speciality workout such as hills, sprints or mile repeats, Wohler meets Stanley in the morning before school. On long run days, Wohler runs on his own before school.

"It's worked out well," Stanley said.

Senior Issac Dreiling and junior Ryan Dreiling have ran second and third.

"He has been our No. 1 guy every meet, but we have just got some other kids that are running well," Stanley said.

At the Central Prairie League meet, Wohler finished sixth in 17 minutes, 34.51 seconds, while Isaac Dreiling took 14th in 18:30.95.

Ryan Dreiling finished in 19th with an 18:44.64, while junior Ryan Bleske was 31st in 19:24.90 and freshman Jacy Braun finished in 36th at 19:33.24.

The Knights took second as a team behind Ness City. Senior Lane Braun finished 41st at 19:45.

Dreiling and Braun have ran all four years. Stanley has seen improvement throughout the fall. Another strong day should lead to a state qualification

"Then for our No. 4, it's always been a toss up, whoever has a good day," Stanley said. "Because we have got a group of four other kids who are real close. One day one of them will win and the next day, another one of them will win. So that makes it good to be real competitive like that."

On the girls' side, Victoria has two freshmen in Ashley Lang and Kiley Schmidtberger who have an opportunity to qualify, too.

"There is a chance of our two girls making it, too, but they are going to have to run really well," Stanley said.