Messenger Photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond’s Hunter Horn blocks a shot against Madrid in the Class 1A state semi-finals at Des Moines on Thursday. For more photos, please visit cu.messengernews.net
Des Moines – Several times over the past few days I have been asked about the incredibly bright future for the boys of St. Edmond.
With four starters and all but one on the roster expected to return from teams that have reached the semi-finals of Class 1A state, there are plenty of reasons to be excited to move forward.
But quickly turn the page into the 2025-26 season without a complete evaluation of what this current group has achieved.
Consistently winning 20 matches, qualifying for the state and making strong runs in the title was a common era for Gael under head coach Adolf Kochendoraffer. St. Edmond won it all in 2000 and reached the final four years later, starting his fourth place finish in the next eight years.
From the 2006-07 season until 2013-14, the Gaels won at least 20 games five times, holding a record of victory each year. They followed that, after 10-12 in 2014-15, they won four consecutive winning seasons.
However, in the next four seasons, St. Edmond didn’t win more than eight games in one campaign from 2019 to 23.
Things began to change once Hunter Horn arrived at the program. Horn inspired the Gales with his first season in St. Edmond’s uniform last winter, and his 12-12 campaign.
And while the 2023-24 team didn’t generate many headlines at the statewide level, they laid the foundation for what’s to come. Leading by seniors Sam Merickle and JT Lauferweiler’s example, he established a team-first mentality that was always shining in the previous successful Kochenderfer group.
Underclassmen Horn, Jacob Coopman, Jack McElroy, Grant Gareth and Andrew Craby all witnessed it firsthand and have had that experience this season. With the addition of junior Carson Bargfredde and sophomore Timer Cerricle, the Gales gave the kind of rotation that produced the most wins of the season since the 2008-09 team that reached the semi-finals.
Therefore, the ’24-25 team moved the wall back upwards while the ’23-24 team placed the first brick in place.
Horn showed he has the ability to take over the game in the fourth quarter of the semifinals when he outscored, which averaged almost double doubles this winter.
Bargfrede led St. Edmond in a state scoring with 33 points, knocking down six three-pointers. McElroy demonstrated his ability to accurately execute attacks.
And it was very clear that without the healthy Koopman this wouldn’t be on the same team. The multisport standout was injured in Subgenci’s final victory over Bishop Garrigan.
Koopman has made the Gaels with 18 points in a quarter-final victory over Woodbine and did everything he can to fight through it. However, it ended his night after only six minutes of action when he came down vigorously in Madrid with an injured leg.
Even in that moment, it provided the opportunity for Bargfrede and Mericle to acquire valuable minutes for roles that will be there next year.
Gale will not be given anything in 2025-26. Like this year, they have to win it.
Almost at once, both Horn and Bergfredde, after Thursday’s loss, “We’re back.”
Remember the only senior: Cotchendlerfer didn’t want to finish our interview after the semi-finals without talking about Cravey, the only senior on the roster.
Clavey went from playing junior varsity in last season’s rotation to regular. He started all 26 games and scored a total of 236 points. He was 151 this year and finished second on the team with a 3-pointer.
“I miss Andrew” Kochendorfer said. “He’s a kid who can show others what’s working so hard and even if it gets difficult, he can stick it out. He’s worked over the past four years and has earned everything he’s got.
“I hope others see it and do exactly what Andrew did because it only makes our team and program better in the future.”
Dana Becker is a sports and feature writer for Messenger. Contact him by email at dbecker @messengernews.net or twitter @danabecker
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