Bonduel, Gillett cross-country teams earn academic honors

The Bonduel and Gillett boys and girls cross-country teams received Academic All-State honors from the Wisconsin Cross-Country Coaches Association after averaging over 3.6 grade-point averages and qualifying for the 2019 state cross-country meet.

The Bonduel girls earned a 4.0 GPA, tying with Cameron for first place among Division 3 schools. The boys came in eighth with a 3.66 GPA.

Also in Division 3, the Gillett boys took fifth with a GPA of 3.76, while the girls took sixth with a 3.92 GPA.

To be in contention for the honors, a team must have qualified for the state meet and also have an average GPA of at least 3.4. The average takes into account the top five GPAs from a team.

The 2019 Bonduel girls state-qualifying team included senior Alexia Folkman, juniors Kara Troxel, Madison Kurey, Breanna Schnell and Kalleigh Schroeder, sophomore Jessica Ewing and freshman Kendra Troxel. The team placed 12th at state.

The Bonduel boys were represented by seniors Carter Kurey, William Beaumier and Colen Klosterman, junior Jack Johnson, sophomore Cooper Uelmen and freshmen Ayden Dunst and Karter Schroeder. The boys claimed 15th place at state.

“As a coach and teacher and parent, I personally think this award is more important than any running record, but that is most likely attributed to the fact that I know what qualities employers look for,” said Bonduel coach Diane Schnell.

“Successful students in sports and academics combined typically mean that they are good with time management, good work ethic and teamwork. Add to this the grit that cross-country runners have, and it is rather special. I am beyond proud of these 14 runners.”

All seven members of the Bonduel girls team also earned individual academic awards, along with Uelmen, Beaumier and Schroeder off the boys team.

The Gillett girls team was formed by junior Sylvia Hansen, sophomores Ryann Wagner, Angela Mosconi and Alaina Herzog and freshmen Cheyenne Krueger, Kasey Hansen and Megan Wagner. At state, the girls placed second, behind only Lourdes Academy.

Juniors Derek Hanson and Riley Engebretsen, sophomores Connor Hanson and Antonio Lizarraga and freshmen Alex Peterson and Evan Peterson formed the Gillett boys state team, which placed seventh.

“As a member of the Wisconsin Cross-Country Coaches Association, I’m very happy we recognize the hard work and accomplishments of these kids in the classroom,” said Gillett coach Bill DeJung. “Most of these kids are also involved in other school activities and apply the same diligence and persistence in those. I’m so proud of them.”

Nine Gillett runners earned individual academic honors — Krueger, Mosconi, Ryann Wagner, Kasey Hansen and Megan Wagner from the girls team and Engebretsen, Alex Peterson, Derek Hanson and Evan Peterson from the boys side.

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