With a preason ranking of fifth in the state and a squad that returns everyone from last year’s ninth-place state finish, excitement is brewing among the 37 members of the Lindbergh High School boys’ cross country team.

“We’ve won conference the last two years,” Lindbergh head coach Jim Peterson said. “We’ve won districts the last four years and we’re going for the fifth. We want to do something at state. Every-thing’s headed toward that. We’re excited.”

Why not? Three Flyers finished in the state’s top 20 last year. Three seniors — Danny Deposki, Taylor Kramer and Dustin Capehart — have been running at least three in the green and gold.

Each anticipates his third appearance in the state championships.

“We have 10 other guys pushing for our last four spots,” Peterson said.

Senior Matt Deposki is pushing for the fourth spot.

“He’s just behind those other guys,” Peterson said. “We have a lot of good guys out this year.”

Among the contenders for varsity positions are junior Bill Iverson, who was at state last year, and sophomores Kyle Pieper, Tyler Gloss, Jacob Luciani and Joey Dipaola Jr.

“We’re pushing 17 minutes,” he said. “We have 37 guys out this year, including some really good freshmen. Three are doing very well running with the sophomore, and junior varsity guys.”

Now in his 10th season at the boys’ varsity helm, Peterson sees years of hard work bearing fruit. A few decades ago, Lindbergh’s cross country program was among the most storied in Missouri.

“It took a long time,” Peterson said. “We’ve been to state three of the last four years. We want to compete there every year. We’re pretty deep and we have a good group of freshmen. They’re real hard workers with good talent.”

Peterson expects his team to compete against the best teams in the state this season.

“If you run against the best, you’re going to be the best,” he said.

The only difference this season will be Kirkwood’s absence from the Suburban West Conference. Kirkwood has been re-placed by Eureka, another of the area’s elite distance-running programs.

Marquette will continue to be a tough competitor.

“We were back and forth with them last year,” he said. “We beat them at conference, they beat us at sectional and we beat them at state. Lafayette will be good again this year.”

But it all boils down to hard work, Peterson said.

“Nothing substitutes for hard work in this sport.”

Lindbergh Boys’ Cross Country

Sept. 3 First Capitol Inv. A 4 p.m.

Sept. 9 Webster Invitational A 4 p.m.

Sept. 11 Forest Park Meet A 10 a.m.

Sept. 16 Parkway Central Inv. A 4 p.m.

Sept. 24 Fox Invitational A 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 Lakeshore Invitational A 10 a.m.

Oct. 9 Conference Tourney A TBA

Oct. 14 Patriot Classic A TBA

Oct. 23 Districts A TBA

Oct. 30 Sectionals A TBA

Nov. 6 State A TBA