Sports Stars is an honor given out by the Idaho Press seasonally to recognize the top athletes in each sport. We continue our release of the winners for the fall sports with the Boys Cross Country Athlete of the Year.
A change in mindset allowed Meridian senior Nate Stadtlander to dominate the Idaho high school cross country scene the last two years. He became more thankful for the opportunities in front of him and began focusing more on the enjoyment of competing, rather than placing pressure on himself to perform well.
That led to him winning the 5A boys cross country individual title last year. With the same goals and attitude in 2024, he repeated as a state champion in the 6A race this past season.
For his performance this season, and for the second year in a row, Stadtlander was named the Idaho Press 2024-25 Boys Cross Country Sports Stars Athlete of the Year.
Stadtlander saved his best performance for last, breaking 15 minutes at the 2024 IHSAA state cross country meet at Eagle Island State Park. His time of 14 minutes and 55.53 seconds was just under two seconds ahead of Boise’s Jack Sheesley in second place. Max Cervi-Skinner of Coeur d’Alene finished third, a half second behind Sheesley.