SIGNED - Senior Jacob Karl, an anchor of the NRHEG Cross Country team, signed on to join the CC team at Crown College, located at the southwestern edge of the Twin Cities metro area during a short ceremony the afternoon of Dec. 12.
Jacob Karl signs with Crown College
Thu, 12/18/2025 - 1:30am
NRHEG Senior Jacob Karl, son of Tony and Melissa Karl of rural Ellendale, signed on to run with the 2026-’27 Crown College cross country team during a brief ceremony held the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2025.
District athletic director Dan Stork described cross country (CC) as a “rugged” sport which is not for the faint of heart, then went on to call Karl a staple of the district’s CC team, which he joined already as a seventh-grader. Stork also complimented Karl’s dedication, saying he has earned numerous 100- and 200-mile medals.
Coach Larry Nydegger shared memories of seeing Karl socializing with fellow runners during meets, and commented that he shows the perfect combination of an outwardly relaxed demeanor and hardened determination for the sport, one which tends to have more competitors than observers because “watching people run for a long time” does not tend to build high excitement for fans.
Regarding his decision to join the Crown College Polars, Karl mentioned he had received persistent contacts over the past few years from the university’s CC coach, Grant DeWitt, and had eventually followed through on DeWitt’s invitations to visit the Christian college located at the southwest edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan complex in a town also called Crown College. “I took a tour and I liked it,” stated Karl. “So I decided to sign up.”
Karl says he intends to earn a business finance degree. He explains the CC “season” is essentially all year, with fall and spring seasons outdoors and winter competitions on indoor tracks. He mentions that he likes the clarity and relaxation that come from extended exertion.
Karl told the Star Eagle, “ I would like the thank my coach Larry for pushing me to become a better runner and a better person, my mother and father Tony and Melissa Karl for being supportive parents and showing up to all of my meets, my brother and sister Elizabeth and Graden for being there through all the tough times growing up, and my old and new teammates for supporting me and pushing me to grow mentally and physically throughout the years.”