Bonduel girls, Gillett boys qualify for state cross-country championships

UPDATED: Oct. 24, 10:15 a.m.

The Bonduel girls and Gillett boys cross-country teams each qualified for state after placing first or second at the Division 3 Athens Sectional on Oct. 21 at Erbach Park in Athens.

The Bonduel girls won the sectional title with a team score of 49. The Gillett boys came in second with a mark of 70, edging Marathon by a single point.

The sectional also produced three area individual state qualifiers. Bonduel’s Ben O’Brien advanced in the boys race, while Gillett’s Carleigh Kaczmarek and Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Rory Salvesen came out of the girls race.

The state-qualifying teams and individuals will next compete at the state championships on Oct. 29 at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. The Division 3 girls race kicks off the day at noon, with the D3 boys race at 2 p.m.

Bonduel

The Bonduel girls had four runners place in the top 12 to come out as sectional champs.

Teagan Engel led the way with a sixth-place finish in 21 minutes, 0.7 seconds.

The next three finishers occupied spots 10-12. Mariah Wondra (21:17.1) was 10th, Kendra Troxel (21:17.4) was 11th and Ashlyn Kurey (21:17.6) was 12th.

Joselyn Bohm capped the team score with a 23rd-place finish in 22:28.9.

“It’s feels very special to make it to state again as a team especially back-to-back years,” said Troxel. “Our team has worked so hard this year, so finishing first as a team at sectionals is a big accomplishment.”

“This trip to state is so special because we were so short in numbers compared to our previous state-qualifying teams, and every person had to step up for us to make it, and everybody did,” said Wondra. “Our team has been supporting, believing and pushing each other each all season, which prepared us well for the sectional meet.”

Cierra Schnell (22:53.7) and Anna Beaumier (26:14.6) also ran for the Bears at the sectional meet.

The state appearance will be the Bonduel girls fifth in its history, with each one coming since 2017. The team’s top finish at state was seventh back in 2017, with 11th- and 12th-place finishes since.

“Next weekend, I would like our team to place since this is the first year we are projected to place at state,” said Troxel. “It would be a great way to end the year, and it’s even more exciting because I know we have the potential. Since this is my last race, I would like to enjoy it and take it all in, but I would also like to get a PR (personal record) and end my season strong.”

“My goal for our team is to pull a major upset and take home the title, but even if that doesn’t happen, I hope that everyone has an amazing and fun experience at state,” said Wondra.

O’Brien placed fifth with a time of 17:19.6 to punch an individual ticket to state.

“Today at sectionals I pushed as hard as I could and tried to stick with and pace myself with the runner in front of me,” said O’Brien. “I stayed in fifth the whole race and ended up placing fifth and qualifying as the second individual.”

It will be the junior's first chance to race at state.

“Qualifying for state means a lot to me because it is what I set as my goal for this season,” said O’Brien. “I had the goal of making state since last year after sectionals so it meant a lot to me when I got my goal today. My goals for state are to get in the top 50 and try to get a PR.”

The Bonduel boys placed fifth at the sectional as a team with a score of 149.

Race Anvelink (18:36.1) placed 19th, while Ayden Dunst (18:58) was 27th. Ben Reisner (20:35.7) and Griffin Uelmen (21:11.2) capped the team score, finishing 56th and 64th, respectively. Keaton Bahr (25:17.9) and Dillon Delcore (37:05.3) also ran for the Bears.

Gillett

The Gillett boys team was powered by the Peterson brothers, but had all five scoring runners in the top 35.

Alex Peterson won the boys race in 16:18.6, about 12 seconds faster than any other runner.

“Every year being able to qualify for state is a blessing,” said Alex Peterson, who hopes to place first individually at state. “But this year, as a senior, is extra special since I get to run in the biggest meet of the year one more time.

“The guys really came through today. We know nothing is given to us, and we must work to earn everything. Everybody embraced that attitude and we ran well enough to run another week.”

Evan Peterson crossed the finish line in 17:15.5 to claim fourth place. Bradyn Wendorff took eighth in 17:31.3.

Scott Herroux (19:35.8) and Chase Anderson (19:49.1) capped the team score, taking 33rd and 35th, respectively. Nash Stange (20:52.9) and Zander Davis (22:15.2) also ran for the Tigers.

“Our team definitely was prepared for this race and we all knew what had to be done to get all of us to the state meet. And we all definitely delivered on that goal by gritting it out through the whole race and passing everyone we could,” said Evan Peterson. “And that really mattered because it came down to one point if we made it or not, so every person that was passed counted and I’m really excited for how things turned out and for the young guys on our team to experience racing at state for the first time.”

The Gillett boys team qualified for state for the ninth time in school history. The top finish from a Tiger team was fourth in 2007.

Kaczmarek earned her spot at state after taking second in the girls race with a time of 20:25.5.

“I placed as well as I did by giving it my all, and just running my kind of race,” said Kaczmarek. “I knew what was at stake and I wasn’t willing to give it up.”

The senior will be competing at state for a third straight season.

“Qualifying for state as a senior means the world to me because I know how much time I put in and it’s so rewarding seeing it pay off,” said Kaczmarek. “I get an extra chance to run while many others don’t. My goals for the state meet are (to) enjoy my last time in a Gillett cross-country uniform, improving my time from last year on the course, and lastly hopefully making top 20.”

The Gillett girls took fifth at the sectional with a score of 127.

Sophia Limberg (22:40.9) came in 24th, while Cheyenne Krueger (23:46.7) took 42nd. Kasey Hansen (24:05.9) and Laney DeBauch (24:08) capped the team score, finishing 46th and 47th, respectively.

Lily Hansen (24:35.3) and Megan Wagner (41:33.7) also ran for the team.

Witt-Birn

Salvesen earned her individual spot at state after finishing third in 20:29.8.

“Going into the race I was not sure what to expect and I was nervous,” said Salvesen. “I knew it was going to be some great competition. I just had the goal of pacing myself to be in the top five.”

The freshman accomplished just that and now will get to end a brilliant first high school season on the state’s biggest stage.

“I am so excited to go to state as a freshman,” said Salvesen. “I am honored to be able to have a great team and coaches who support me. I can’t wait to compete against all of the other amazing athletes who love competing at that level of intensity as much as I do.”

Salvesen doesn’t have a specific place in mind for when she runs at state, hoping instead to “finish on a high note and run my hardest, give it everything I have and leave it all out on the course.”

Salvesen was one of four Witt-Birn girls to run at the sectional, so it didn’t earn a team score.

Annika Resch (27:15.7) placed 77th, Ava Hegewald (29:14.7) took 87th and Amelia Bessert (29:14.7) was 88th.

The Witt-Birn boys team placed ninth with a mark of 196.

Craig Wendel (19:52.4) took 36th to lead the Chargers. Mason Meverden (20:04.6) placed 40th, while Ian Salvesen (20:05.9) was 41st.

Jonas Bushman (20:16.3) and Owen Schultz (21:05.1) capped the team score, finishing 46th and 62nd, respectively. David Fons (21:13.6) and Hayden Miller (21:41.4) also ran for the team.

Other area teams

Gresham/Bowler, Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, Marion, Menominee Indian and Suring also sent runners to the sectional meet.

Marion had two boys and one girl race at the sectional. Tristan Herro (21:50.8) took 71st, while Jesse Trebus (24:47.4) was 85th in the boys race. Bridget Much (29:05.5) placed 86th in the girls race.

The Menominee Indian boys team placed sixth with a mark of 188. Two Eagles ran in the girls race.

Lloyd Reevis (19:19.6) led the boys team with a 30th-place finish, while Isaiah Moss (19:26.3) was 31st. Barron Waupoose (20:22.1) claimed 47th, Maech Corn (20:25.4) took 51st and Francis Delabrau (20:47.6) was 58th to cap the five-runner team.

Urijah Reevis (23:25) and Mariah Fish (25:51.7) ran in the girls race, taking 35th and 66th, respectively.

Suring had its girls team place eighth with a score of 187.

Georgia Gerndt led the team with a 16th-place finish in 21:48.4. Ginger Gerndt (23:23.2) placed 34th. Hailey Thomson (25:17.6), Allyson Seibert (25:52.6) and Morgan Suring (26:07.2) capped the team score placing 59th, 67th and 68th, respectively. Samantha Seibert (27:33.2) also ran for the Eagles.

Two Gresham/Bowler boys competed. Bryson Nelson (20:25.9) placed 52nd, while Kobe Miller (24:48.6) took 86th.

Four girls and one boy from the Lena/STAA co-op competed.

Haley Van Ark (26:16) placed 70th to lead the girls runners, while Eric Kosch (20:22.1) was 48th in the boys race. Miriam Alberts (27:50.6) placed 81st, Chaela Rabas (28:38.1) claimed 84th and Kali Fischer (31:47.8) was 90th in the girls race.

Full results from the sectional can be found at www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Fall/Boys-Cross-Country/Tournament.

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