2025 Roy Griak Invite Preview - Boys

This spring, news broke that the historic Les Bolstad Golf Course—open for more than a century—will permanently close after the coming winter. For nearly 40 years, Bolstad has served as the host of the Roy Griak Invitational and, in recent seasons, the Minnesota State Cross Country Championships. Its closure leaves an uncertain future for both events in 2026 and beyond. But for now, 2025 offers one final year in which Minnesota’s two grandest cross country stages unfold on the nearly identical course, giving this year’s Griak an extra layer of meaning and nostalgia.

Since Bolstad became the state meet venue, the Griak has only grown in prestige. Teams see it not just as a chance to test themselves against regional powers but also as a dress rehearsal for November. Programs come to experience the historic meet not just around the state, but around the country, with 12 states being represented in the high school races. The expansion of the high school races reflects that growth: four separate boys’ races fill Saturday’s schedule, while the college races remain on Friday. The Championship races are the main attraction, but every race tells a story, and together they provide a snapshot of the Minnesota and entire Heartland cross country landscape.

Boys’ Championship Team Preview

With nearly every ranked Class AAA and AA team entered, the Boys’ Championship race looks and feels like a state meet preview. When the starter’s pistol fires on Saturday morning, the state meet will be just 42 days away. That may seem like a long time, but Griak has always been the race where contenders reveal themselves, where depth is tested, and where the top teams begin separating from the pack.

Wayzata once again takes center stage. The Trojans captured three straight state titles from 2021 to 2023 before finishing runner-up in 2024, and they look poised for another run at the top. At the Metro Invite in Eden Prairie, they showcased remarkable depth, piling up just 60 points against one of the strongest fields of the season. Their top four finished within an 11-second window between 16:14 and 16:25, while five more broke the 17-minute barrier. Rising sophomore Thomas Berndt leads the charge, with Connor Viera, Matthew Jenneke, and Will Chabot forming a tightly-knit pack behind him. With that combination of front-end talent and overwhelming depth, Wayzata holds the No. 1 spot in the coaches’ poll and remains the most consistently dominant program in Minnesota—and one of the biggest threats in the entire Heartland region.

Blaine provides one of the best “comeback” stories of the early season. Ranked No. 3 in the preseason, the Bengals stumbled out of the gate with a disappointing finish at the ABC Early Bird in August, which briefly dropped them from the rankings. But they rebounded at Metro, finishing just 24 points behind Wayzata with all five scorers under 16:50. Standouts Alaric Burroughs and David Meberg carried the charge. After finishing 18th at Griak a year ago, they return their entire varsity with designs on climbing the leaderboard.

Rosemount, the preseason No. 2, also remains in the hunt. The Irish placed third at the Irish Invite while missing a key scorer, then came back to win the Mayo Invite. With three returning top-25 state finishers including junior Channing Goodwin fronting the pack, Rosemount looks like a team built for the big stage. They were ninth at Griak last year, third among Minnesota squads, and should be well-positioned to improve.

Minnetonka has something to prove. After being last year’s state favorite but finishing third, the Skippers return with national-level star Sean Fries, one of the best distance runners in the country. Even without Fries, Minnetonka finished fifth at Metro. They were seventh at Griak in 2024 and second among Minnesota teams- a placing they would be thrilled to hit on Saturday.

Minneapolis Washburn is another team climbing the ladder. After finishing a disappointing 33rd at Griak last fall, the Millers have started off strong with a third place finish at the All-American Invite in Iowa this season. Ranked fifth in the coaches’ poll, they are led by front-runners Thomas McVay and Jameson Guertin. Depth remains their biggest question, but their top four are strong enough to contend with nearly anyone.

Two Rivers has built a reputation as a gritty, senior-heavy squad, and 2025 is no different. After finishing seventh at state and 16th at Griak last year, they have climbed as high as No. 2 in the rankings this fall with wins at both the Irish and Bauman-Rovn Invites. Led by veteran George Dahlager, they already boast five sub-17 runners. Stillwater, a perennial contender, placed sixth at state and 11th at Griak last year. They’ve already won the Faribault Invite and finished third at Mayo, with senior George Nelson leading an otherwise young roster.

Mounds View is a fascinating story. They were fourth at state and 12th at Griak last year and are still an all-underclass lineup with no seniors in the top seven. Ranked ninth now, their greatest potential may lie in 2026, but they’ve already shown bite by finishing third at Metro. Eastview has been one of the state’s biggest surprises. Absent from last year’s Griak and only sixth in their section, the Lightning have finished second at both the Bauman-Rovn and Brave Like Gabe Invites this season, good for a No. 7 current ranking in the coaches polls. Roseville, despite losing Griak and state champion Robert Mechura, still fields a deep team and has hovered between fourth and eighth in the rankings. They placed fourth at Metro last week.

Woodbury has also forced its way into the conversation. After placing just fifth in their section last year, the Royals upset Minnetonka at the Augustana Twilight and finished second at the AppleJack Invite. Edina, last year’s state champion and the top Minnesota team at Griak, enters under the radar after graduating most of their varsity. Unranked in the polls, they proved they still belong by winning the AppleJack Invite. Senior leader Sander Ohe gives them the kind of anchor every young team needs.

Among Class AA programs, Perham stands tallest. The Yellowjackets finished second at state and 13th at Griak last fall, and they’ve been nearly untouchable this year with dominant performances at the Brave Like Gabe, DL Rotary, and Lucky Lindy Invites. With eight runners already under 17 minutes, their depth is unmatched at the Class AA level, and senior Matt Jorgenson gives them a reliable front-runner. Orono, ranked second in the latest coaches’ poll, is led by Gabe Hallen and finished seventh at Metro, while Blake, ranked third, has made noise with a head-to-head win over Orono at their home invite. The Bears, paced by junior Will Schwemm, will be racing at Griak for the first time. St. Paul Como Park, ranked No. 2 in the preseason, has underwhelmed so far but could use Griak to reignite their season with Charlie Loth leading their charge. Cotter/Hope Lutheran enters as one of two Class A schools in the Championship field. Sophomore Erik Semling, already a state champion, leads a strong top three that carried them to third place in Class A last year.

Boys’ Championship Individuals Preview

The race for the individual title is headlined by Minnetonka’s Sean Fries. Few, if any, runners in the country have been better this fall: Fries ran a nation-leading 14:22 at the Augustana Twilight and enters as the top returner after finishing second at Griak in 2024 and 16th in 2023. He is the individual favorite and hopes to capture Griak glory down that historic straight away.

Shakopee’s Owen Stuwe may be the breakout star of the season thus far. After placing 31st at Griak in 2024, Stuwe announced himself by breaking 15 minutes at Augustana (14:50) and winning Metro in 15:35. But his rise began on the track, where he ran 9:12 for 3200 last spring.

Marshall’s Sam Deutz, who placed 24th at Griak a year ago, has taken a big step forward this fall. He has already dipped under 15:45 in three different races, highlighted by wins at the Lucky Lindy and his hometown Marshall Invite. Deutz enters as the No. 1 ranked runner in Class AA and is one of the top Minnesota contenders in the field. Close behind him is Orono’s Gabe Hallen, the No. 2 ranked AA runner, who clocked 15:57 for third place at the Metro Invite. After a strong track season and a promising start to cross country, Hallen will look to rebound and make a statement following a disappointing Griak performance last year.

Cotter’s Erik Semling, the reigning Class A state champion in both cross country and track, remains one of the most dominant young runners in the state. His 15:16 win at the Heartland Preview came by a staggering 30-second margin. Edina’s Sander Ohe, who finished 36th at Griak last fall and 12th at state, has stepped into a leadership role and opened his season with a win at the AppleJack Invite. Sophomore Connor Heltemes of Chanhassen continues to impress, finishing fourth at Metro and winning Bauman-Rovn. Champlin Park senior Zakariya Mohamed, who placed 74th at Griak last year, is another one to watch after winning ABC Early Bird and has a PR of 15:52.

Other Minnesota names capable of breaking into the top tier include Burnsville’s Lilam Merrel, Annandale sophomore Emery Wirth—who has won both of his races this season—Kasson-Mantorville’s David Obst, last year’s top Class AA state returner, and Buffalo’s Tristian Lenton.

Despite this being primarily a Minnesota preview, a few of the out-of-state competitors are also worth noting. Brandon Valley’s Mikah Peters, 25th at Griak in 2024, has already posted a 14:26 at Augustana while finishing runner-up to Fries. He will be one to watch up top along with Sioux Falls Lincoln’s stars Miles Lechtenberg and Tyrus Needles- both who finished in the top five at Augustana. The Patriots look poised to improve on last year’s runner-up finish and enter as the team favorites. Lastly, we must mention Dowling Catholic of Iowa, being the reigning Griak team champion after edging Lincoln by 10 points last fall. They were also runners-up in 2023, establishing themselves as perennial contenders in the Heartland.

Other Boys’ Races

While the Championship race grabs most of the attention, the Maroon, Gold, and Gopher races should not be overlooked. They offer a broader look at Minnesota’s depth, showcase emerging programs, and often highlight individuals who will be stars of tomorrow.

The Maroon Race has the makings of a classic Minnesota showdown. Nova Classical, ranked fourth in Class A and led by standout Benaiah Mathews, will be a favorite for the team title. They’ll be tested by Waconia, with Mitchell Moyer leading the charge, and Lakeville North, guided by Carter Penney. Individually, Owatonna’s Dawson Levy and John Marshall’s Jaden Anderson bring experience and recent success. The race promises to highlight the strength of mid-level AAA schools alongside top-tier AA and A squads, making it one of the most balanced fields of the day.

The Gold Race should also be tightly contested. Brainerd, led by the one-two punch of Jonathan Cowell and Beckett Miller, enters as the on-paper favorite. But Robbinsdale Armstrong, with leader Benaiah Breker, and Osseo, powered by Ben Sanvik, are more than capable of challenging for the title. Beyond the team competition, the Gold Race offers a stage for individuals to shine, with Sartell’s Andrew Berndt, Bemidji’s William Ames, and Park Center’s Blake Beaver all capable of grabbing headlines. For schools outside the state’s top tiers, this race serves as both an opportunity for recognition and a proving ground for late-season momentum.

The Gopher Race is the most intriguing of all the non-Championship divisions. It features an unusually deep mix of Class A, AA, and AAA teams all hovering around the edge of the rankings. Heritage Christian, ranked fifth in Class A and led by senior Lev Dougherty, will look to make a statement. Mankato East, ranked 12th in Class AA and paced by senior Dayton Clobes, brings proven postseason experience. Maple Grove’s Lucas Capistrant has been one of the biggest breakout stars of the fall, finishing second at Metro in sub-15:50 form after placing just 154th at Griak a year ago. His rise will make Maple Grove a dangerous wild card.

Two more individuals will be extremely competitive in the Gopher race. Andover’s Tyler Flippen, 17th at state as a freshman before injuries sidelined him last fall, has steadily regained form and brings state track credentials with top-7 finishes in both the 1600 and 3200. White Bear Lake’s Max Popp, 23rd in AAA at last year’s state meet, should also be in contention as he has had a strong start to his season.

This year’s Roy Griak Invitational feels like more than just another stop on the calendar. With Les Bolstad’s future likely sealed at Les Bolstad, it becomes a farewell tour of sorts—a last chance for Minnesota runners to test themselves on the state’s most iconic course in the Griak setting.