#10 DeKalb Barons
Podium: 2003 (5)
State finalist: 2000 (13), 2001 (14), 2002 (9), 2005 (10), 2006 (10), 2007 (13), 2008 (16), 2009 (14)
Regional champion: 2000, 2001
Sectional champion: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
Fab five: Autumn Beachy (12), Leslee Getts (15), Rachel Hissong (15), Jamie Boswell (27), Emily Iddins (34)
DeKalb may not be the most well-known team outside the northeast, but the fact of the matter is that the Barons almost always find a way to the line at the state finals. Over the last ten years, DeKalb has been in attendance at nine state meets, including the last five. The Barons did make a podium appearance, that coming when a Leslee Getts-led team nipped Indianapolis Cathedral by three points for the final set of medals.
The Barons have not been known for a plethora of great frontrunners compared to many other teams in the state which is, in actuality, a testament to the program. Autumn Beachy’s 12th place finish at the state finals is the best of the decade. The next year, Beachy won the New Haven Semistate. Getts, who was known for running her best races in October, is perhaps the best DeKalb runner of the decade. She was twice an All-Stater, and finished 28th another time, just six seconds away from being a three-time All-Stater. Getts was a four-time individual state meet qualifier.
True to form, the Barons snuck into the state finals this year after very few expected them to do so. Six of seven return next year to lead the DeKalb charge into the new decade.