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WAPELLO, Iowa – For the Mosers, running runs in the family.

Brothers Chase and Bennett are two of four running brothers Wapello has sent to the Class 1A state cross country meet at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in Fort Dodge.

The two will be competing for the Indians this Saturday – the second set of Moser brothers to qualify Wapello as a team for the meet. The first set of Moser brothers were Lane and Grant in 2004. The two now run at Coe and Wartburg College, respectively.

“It’s a big family thing,” Chase said Thursday afternoon before practice. “I have (run) since the sixth grade. My older brothers did and they got me into it, too.”

Bennett added, “Everyone runs in the family except my mom, and she rides a bike.”

While Bennett tried football in middle school, he said he made the switch to running in seventh grade.

Chase said he remembers going to see Lane and Grant run in 2004.

“We went and watched,” Chase said. “It was pretty fun.”

Now Chase and Bennett hope to have some fun of their own at state.

Lane and Grant won’t be able to watch Saturday’s state meet since they’ll be running in the Iowa Conference meet. Chase said the two come to as many meets as they can.

Since this is Chase’s third straight state berth, he is aiming for a top-five finish  after taking 15th as a sophomore.

“It’s pretty hard,” Chase said, “but I think I can do it.”

Bennett, meanwhile, thinks he can at least match Chase’s feat as a sophomore.

“Chase finished 15th last year and I want to get a faster time and a better place,” Bennett said. “As a team, I think we can finish ninth or under.”

Coach Lora Earnest said a ninth-place finish is realistic for the Indians.

“This is my first trip with them,” Earnest said, “Ninth or 10th would be nice.

“For Chase, he comes from a running family and they’ve been running since they were (knee) high. I think those are pretty realistic goals.”

Bennett said he plans to run with his brother.

“That’s usually my strategy,” Bennett said. “Stick to his shoulder as long as I can.”

Chase added, “It’s not what I like – it gets my nerves going. But I’m glad that he’s doing well.”

Ranked seventh in the state in Class 1A, Chase said he stopped looking at the ratings early on.

“I looked after the first race,” Chase said, “and that gave me a big head. I didn’t do as well ever since.”

Ben Polley, Ethan Wykert, Grant Schaeffer, Josh Lanz and Andrew Bates also are in Wapello’s lineup.

The Wapello girls are sending one participant in Lorin Fisher, who has a good chance to place in the top 25.

“Lorin will have several conference girls, familiar faces to pace herself with,” Earnest said.

Earnest is in her first season coaching at Wapello, taking over for Gary Pickering. Earnest ran for Pickering when the program started.

“It feels good to be taking over for him,” Earnest said. “I inherited a good team. He already had them going in the right direction.”

Garvin doesn’t set expectations for his Beavers at state

Wilton is sending both its boys and girls teams to the state meet in Class 2A. It will be the fourth straight trip for the boys while it will be third consecutive appearance for the girls.

Seniors Kyle Paulsen and Paul Searcy will be making their fourth consecutive trip to the state meet. On the girls’ side, juniors Paige Wheeler, Melanie Walde and Linsie Mairet are going for their third straight trip.

Beavers coach Cory Garvin, however, doesn’t have any expectations on how his team will perform.

“I want to go up, have them try their best and have fun,” Garvin said. “There are no expectations on placements or times. It puts unneeded pressure on them.

“As far as I’m concerned, they are creating memories.”

Garvin said he doesn’t set goals in case one or more of his runners have a bad day.

“They will be disappointed,” Garvin said, “and will think they let their coach down. I want them to look back 20 years from now and say, ‘I went to state and it was a pretty good time.’”

Area state qualifiers

Class 1A Boys

Wapello – Chase Moser, Bennett Moser, Ben Polley, Ethan Wykert, Grant Schaeffer, Josh Lanz, Andrew Bates.

Class 1A Girls

Wapello – Lorin Fisher.

Class 2A Boys

Wilton – Kyle Paulsen, Tyler Hartley, Paul Searcy, Kurt Paulsen, Grant Wakefield, Jered Williams, Nathan Wolf.

Columbus – Sam Chaney*, Jake Keller.

Durant – Deane Wichelt.

Class 2A Girls

Wilton – Paige Wheeler, Becca Bartell, MacKenzie Holladay, Amy Hurd, Melanie Walde, Linsie Mairet, Emily Hayes.