Bonduel cross-country teams hoping for more success

BONDUEL — Area cross-country teams are heading into the season hoping to achieve different things.

Bonduel expects another big season with a strong core of returning runners back in the mix, while Gresham/Bowler, Menominee Indian and Marion are all looking for runners to step up.

Bonduel

With almost all of last year’s runners back, Bonduel hopes to have both its boys and girls team qualify for state again. Both teams finished first at sectionals under coach Diane Schnell last year.

The girls team will return each of the six runners that competed at state.

Leading the way will be junior Kara Troxel, who took ninth as an individual at state. She was also a first team runner in the Central Wisconsin Conference.

“This year, one of our main goals of the girls team is to go to state again. Since we have a few freshman this year, it would be nice to get them the chance to go to state,” said Troxel.

“We expect each other to work together and encourage each other to do our best. In order to make it to state, we need to act like a team and help each other when we need it. We have a lot of upperclassmen this year which helps a lot because we have a lot of experience to answer any questions that they might have. We need to work hard during every practice to give us the best chance of making it back down to state.”

Helping fill out the team will be juniors Madison Kurey, Breanna Schnell and Erin Timler, senior Alexia Folkman and sophomore Jessica Ewing.

Kurey made the all-conference second team, while Schnell was an honorable mention.

The boys team has a bit more work to do after graduating a pair of its state runners.

Senior Carter Kurey will now lead the way for the boys. He was the team’s second-best finisher at state after earning a spot on the all-conference first team.

Juniors Jack Johnson and Alex Jasch and seniors Will Beaumier and Colen Klosterman are also back after running at state last year.

Sophomore Cooper Uelmen also spent time in the team’s starting lineup last fall.

Senior Kole Jashinsky, juniors Kaden Bergsbaken and Kalleigh Schroeder, sophomore Meghan Wondra and freshmen Ayden Dunst, Karter Schroeder and Kendra Troxel are all runners coach Schnell believes could make impacts for the varsity team this fall.

Bonduel will compete in the Division 3 Westfield Sectional.

Gresham/Bowler

Gresham/Bowler coach Chad Thorne says the co-op continues to grow in numbers as the team enters its fourth season of varsity action.

Seniors Levi Schick and Austin Slater will pace the boys, along with serving as leaders for the team.

Maya Thiex will serve a similar role for the girls team during her junior season.

“We look for our returning upperclassmen to take the younger kids under their wings and help them along,” said Thorne.

Menominee Indian

Menominee Indian enters the season under the direction of a new coach, Amanda Wervey.

Menominee Indian will have boys and girls running, but only the boys team will compete at sectionals due to WIAA rules. Next year, a girls team could run at sectionals for the Eagles.

The boys have several experienced runners back, led by senior Jason Komanekin.

Juniors Ashton Corn and Jamison Besaw also return, along with sophomore Josh Besaw.

Isaiah Moss and Emma Komanekin are runners that could fill big roles for the Eagles in their freshmen seasons.

Marion

Marion heads into the season with a young roster under coach John Krueger.

Sophomore Isaiah Gueths will serve as one of the top runners for the boys, while sophomores Hannah Krueger and Ashley Fischer lead the girls.

Coach Krueger says senior Ethan Pockat, juniors Claire Dow and Grayson Dow and freshmen Claire Brei, Gavin James, Haiyle Larson, Jaden Stuhr, Jack VanKooy, Nora Wiesman and Kelsey Zillmer will help fill out the teams.

Gresham/Bowler, Marion and Menominee Indian will all run at the Division 3 Athens Sectional.

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