Gillett's Hanson, girls team each place 4th at state cross-country meet

Updated: Nov. 1, 8:10 p.m.

Gillett Secondary School senior Derek Hanson placed fourth as an individual at the WIAA Division 3 State Cross-Country Championships on Saturday at Maple Grove Venues in West Salem.

The Gillett girls participated as a team, finishing in fourth place with a score of 132. Sylvia Hansen, Ryann Wagner, Carleigh Kaczmarek, Angela Mosconi, Megan Wagner, Alaina Herzog and Laney DeBauch formed the team.

Evan Peterson also competed as an individual on the boys side, claiming 41st.

Hanson claimed his fourth-place finish with a time of 16 minutes, 44.37 seconds. Peterson completed the course in 17:46.36.

For Hanson, the finish was a culmination of years of hard work.

“Getting a top-five finish at state this year means an unexplainable amount to me. I’ve been working for this moment for a very long time. To see my work finally pay off at such a high level really means a lot to me,” said Hanson.

Peterson’s finish was a promising one that gives the sophomore confidence heading into the next couple of seasons.

“This finish really gets me excited for the coming years, considering I jumped 50 places from last year,” said Peterson, who placed 95th at state as a freshman. “And knowing that we’ll have a different team next year makes me really motivated to step up and improve even more. I’m excited for what the future has in store for us. We’ll just have to run our hearts out. Run as one. Run as a team. Run as a family.”

Durand’s Parker Schneider won the Division 3 boys race in 16:05.78. Manitowoc Lutheran’s Brooklyn Luebke (18:55.53) was the top D3 girls runner.

Hansen, also a senior, placed 20th in 20:12.43 to pace the Gillett girls.

It was a happier feeling for Hansen at state this year after dealing with injuries in her previous two state runs. She competed at state all four years of her high school career.

“I lined up on the start with a mindset of, ‘Give it your all, because this is all you are going to get,’” said Hansen. “Every time I saw someone in front of me, I was bound and determined to chase them down. I knew I was running for something bigger than myself; I was running for a team. That was another thought that carried me along. I just felt so strong, and it’s something I haven’t felt in a long time.”

Ryann Wagner took 37th with a time of 20:52.05, while Kaczmarek was 47th in 21:13.86.

It was Wagner’s third appearance at state, although this year’s run was different as state was run in three different sessions before combining all the times together to determine final results. After competing in Wisconsin Rapids with all three divisions in the past, the three divisions were run at separate locations this year.

“It was quite different,” said Wagner, a junior. “It was probably harder since you didn’t have all of the teams there, and knowing about where the other team were running. But we did the best we could to all run as hard as we could.”

Kaczmarek made her first state run in her sophomore season.

“The thought of even getting a chance to compete for the state title was unbelievable, especially when you are doing it with your team,” said Kaczmarek.

“Today’s fourth-place finish definitely tells us how much more harder we have to practice for next season to come home with the state title. I have faith we will be back for more. We’re just getting started.”

Mosconi (22:22.98) and Megan Wagner (22:33.36) rounded out the team score after taking 74th and 79th overall.

Both runners were part of the state-qualifying team in 2019.

“We had a lot of great competition leading up to state, and it feels great that we were able to return again to state,” said Mosconi, a junior. “Given the competition this year, fourth isn’t second (like the team placed in 2019), but it is still something to be proud of.”

“Our whole team was just really excited to be able to compete for the state title,” said Wagner, a sophomore. “A fourth-place finish is amazing, but it gives us something to work for next year.”

Herzog posted a time of 23:38.14 to finish 98th. DeBauch was 104th with a time of 24:17.97.

Herzog, a junior, made her second run at state. DeBauch, a sophomore, made her first state run.

“It was very special to be at state again this year,” said Herzog. “Given the circumstances this year, making it this far just felt different and was more special because it showed how easily it can be taken away.”

“It was a great experience running in the state meet; not many have the opportunity to do this,” said DeBauch. “The teams fourth-place finish was a great accomplishment, especially considering this year and our team getting shut down for two weeks in the beginning of October (when the school went virtual because of the coronavirus).”

While Saturday was a memorable day for the state competitors, it also was a bittersweet day as Hanson and Hansen made their last cross-country runs as high schoolers. Both will be competing in the sport at the college level, with Hanson planning to run at Minnesota State University Moorhead and Hansen at Winona State University (Minnesota).

“I’m going to really miss cross-country at Gillett High,” said Hanson. “I’m going to miss my coach (William DeJung), my team, my town and our amazing group of supporters. I’ve had so many good memories with the team and am hoping to make some last few next track season. I’m so glad I was able to be a part of such a hard-working, successful and positive group of young people.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my accomplishments and I know that I worked hard to get them. Honestly though, they will not be the thing I carry out of this sport with me,” said Hansen. “It’s the lessons I’ve learned, the memories I’ve made and most importantly the people I have gotten the chance to work with. My teammates, coaches, community, competitors, family, friends, trainers and school gave running its purpose for me. I ran for them and, more importantly, God.”

“They made this sport so much more enjoyable, and I am truly going to miss it all. I don’t know who I would be or where I would be without their influence. It’s been an honor to run in a Gillett jersey for the past seven years, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

Lancaster (93) won the Division 3 girls team title. Ozaukee (103) and Kickapoo/La Farge (125) were the only other teams that placed higher than the Gillett girls.

Sheboygan Area Lutheran (56) won the boys title, well ahead of second-place finishing Brookwood (121).

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