Lots of photos at bottom of story -
Forty-nine cross country seasons ago, Bluffton High School boys’ track team qualified for the Class A state cross country meet. That state qualification was a first for the Pirates.

One of the runners on that team, Tim Boehr, set the school record of 10:09 in what was then a 2-mile event.

He finished as the 16th runner in the race at state in a time of 10:40, is a competition with only two divisions, A and AA. Bluffton was in Class A.

The 1971 team, coached by Dick Corbett, a BHS history teacher, compiled an impressive 15-2 record. The Icon does not have any additional results of the state meet from that year.

Persons who have more details on the 1971 team may contact the Icon at [email protected].

1971 team members
Members of the 1971 BHS team in addition to Tim Boehr were Bill Smith, Phil McCafferty, Jim Williams, Max McCafferty, Keith Laeufer, Larry  Huber, Dean Edwards, Larry Diller, Mark Burkholder. Mark Phillips, Lloyd Theis, Nelson Smith, Roger Triplett, Mike Samsal, Jim Brooks, Darrel Groman, Terry Huber, Jeff Boehr, Jack Huber, Ken Koontz and George Brooks.

Fast forward nearly one-half century
Fast forward almost one-half century. Erik Nygaard, grandson of Tim, will compete in the Division III state cross country meet as a sophomore.

His mother, Jamie, is the late Tim Boehr’s daughter. Erik’s great-grandparents in Bluffton are Dick and Corrine Boehr.

Nygaard’s personal best time in the 3.1-mile country course is 16:44. At the Northwest Conference meet he recorded a time of 16:49, at district a time of 16.46, and at regionals a time of 17.03.

Putting together all-time 
BHS cross country to state list
The Icon’s is gathering a list of all Bluffton High School cross country athletes who advanced to state meets. Our list is incomplete and we ask viewers to provide names, years, Division and times of athletes we’ve missed.

Here’s what we have:

Team
1971 – Bluffton High School boys
1982 – Bluffton High School boys, finished 4th in Class A 
1991 – Bluffton High School boys, 6th place
1993 – Bluffton High School boys, 6th place

Boys
1971 – Tim Boehr, 16th in Class A, 2-miles, 10:40 time
1982 – Paul Shelly
1983 – Paul Shelly
1984 – Paul Shelly
1990 – Josh Barhorst, 24th, 16:40
1992 – Brian Hilty, 35th
1993 – Brian Hilty, 14th, 16:24
1999 – Nick Kennedy
2010 – Matt Herron
2020 – Erik Nygaard

Girls
1991 or 1992 – Katie Chappell
1994 – Ann Stechschulte 
1995 – Ann Stechschulte 
1996 – Ann Stechschulte
2002 – Carrie Fett
2011 – Hannah Chappell-Dick, 44th of 150 runners