When they began their high school athletic careers as freshmen, Noah Nelsen was a Guthrie Center Tiger and Clay Billheimer was an Adair-Casey Bomber. As seniors, both finished their cross country careers on the same course for the ACGC Chargers.

Nelsen, who finished 12th last year at the Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge, achieved a personal goal of being in the top-5 by placing 4th. Billheimer, who battled injuries and illness all season, finished in 59th. Both helped the Chargers to an 8th place finish as a team last year, the only time an ACGC boys team has qualified in the program’s short three-year history.

Nelsen summarizes his cross country career at ACGC. “It’s just been an amazing run since freshman year, placing not even in the top 40 at districts. Coming in sophomore year getting top three (at districts). Then last year making All-State, then this year again. It’s just a great feeling and I hope that people from around the area understand that ACGC’s willing to work hard and it’s just been an honor to run with my teammates and run under my coaches.”

Billheimer says his friendship with Nelsen has helped him in his career. “Had great teammates to run with. Noah Nelsen, my best friend, we run together all the time and joke around and stuff like that. Just fun time. (Colin)Shawgo pushes us every day. He’s probably the best coach I’ll ever have.”

Both Chargers will look to finish their running careers at ACGC on the track this upcoming spring. To hear full comments from Nelsen and Billheimer following their runs at the Iowa High School Cross Country Championships, listen to tonight’s Wahl McAtee Tire and Service Center Guthrie County PM Sports Page, beginning at 6pm on True Country K107.9.