By Eric Erickson,
Sports analysis
As the calendar turns to October, student athletes competing in fall sports find themselves entering the eighth week of their season. Some emerging storylines for Cougar athletic teams are highlighted here:
Elite cross-country team: The varsity runners in the boys cross country program have grown accustomed to the recognition they receive.
But nothing has changed in their preparation, focus or humility. They still strive for personal records. If those keep coming, a team trophy in the state meet is possible.
In 2024, the Cougars won their second straight St. Paul City Conference title and appeared in their fourth consecutive state meet, finishing just shy of the podium and trophy for a top three finish.
In 2025, the Cougars began the season ranked No. 2 in state for class AA. While they downplay rankings, the boys know their hard work and dedication could lead to historic results and aim to take full advantage of the opportunity.
Seniors Hazel Small and Ben Clark, juniors Charlie Loth and Arthur Anderson, and sophomore Logan Small are leading the way, consistently filling the top five spots that count in varsity scoring.
The depth of the program is evident, with senior Colin Johnson being a top 15 runner in the city and the Cougars not able to use his time in the total team scoring.
The Como girls have strengthened their roster over the last couple of years and are fielding a consistent third place team in city competition, led by junior Lilly Coyle and freshman Lu Beckman, who both qualified as individuals for the state meet in 2024. Sophomores Addie Power-Theisen and Paloma Dashevsky bolster the lineup and serve as captains along with Coyle.
If you see a pack of 30 students running through the neighborhoods after school while wearing black and gold, you’re likely seeing a Como cross country practice. The boys and girls train together and enjoy the camaraderie that comes with their exercise, as well as their traditional pre-meet pasta dinners.
Swimming star seeking state: Senior swim captain Aleia Lueck is working to peak at the state meet and earn a few more medals while pursuing personal bests. Lueck has represented Como at state every year during her high school career and she hopes a fourth trip to state will be the most satisfying.
As a junior in 2024, Lueck earned a fourth-place state medal in the 50-yard freestyle and a sixth-place medal in the 100-yard backstroke.
“My goals for this season are to drop time and place higher at state than last year,” Lueck said.
Volleyball energy: The Como girls volleyball matches are fan favorites. Enthusiastic supporters in the gymnasium roar in celebration of every Cougar point earned. The atmosphere is always positive around Como volleyball — whether it’s practice or competition.
The varsity squad is young and energetic. They were even younger last year with an average age of 14.6 according to head coach Madison Critchley. She said she appreciates how her varsity team is growing and improving, while also developing as leaders, supporting all the players on the junior varsity and c-team.
Collectively, it’s a big happy family, with goals of getting better at volleyball and showing excellence in the classroom. Senior co-captains Niko Solheid and Aletha Keizer consistently demonstrate how to do both.
Mayor’s Cup at Allianz Field: The tenth annual Mayor’s Cup matches between the Como and Humboldt soccer teams will take place on Friday, Oct. 3, at Allianz Field. The girls’ game will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with the boys to follow at 7:30 p.m..
There is always hype and anticipation when the Cougars and Hawks play for the traveling trophies. But the excitement of competing for the coveted prizes reaches an entirely new level when the high school kids get to shine on a perfect pitch in the professional stadium.
This will be the second time Minnesota United has hosted the Mayor’s Cup at Allianz, the first being in 2021. In between, the other St. Paul Public Schools have also had the chance to make memories on the pristine field by playing a city rival for the St. Paul Cup.
Eric Erickson is a social studies teacher at Como Park High School and a longtime coach of school and youth sports in St. Paul.
Photo cutline: The Cougar varsity volleyball team gathers to celebrate its victory in the Como gym Submitted photo.
