Witt-Birn cross-country teams return talented runners this fall

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School cross-country teams are up for the challenge that competing in the tough Central Wisconsin Conference brings, even though the boys and girls teams each face their own issues as the season nears.

The boys team must replace three senior runners from last year’s team that placed second in the conference. The girls didn’t qualify for a team score at last year’s conference meet because they didn’t have enough runners — and they might face the same obstacle this fall.

The boys team still returns some talented runners, including senior Wyatt Dickman, who represented the team at the state meet. He also was the team’s top runner at the conference meet, placing third.

Also back for the boys team are seniors Ian Resch and Tommy Bruski, junior Simon Schairer and sophomores Craig Wendel and Mason Meverden. Bruski and Resch were honorable mention finishers at the conference meet.

Other options to fill out the team are freshmen Ian Salveson and Nash Wojnowiak.

Coach Cathy Easker hopes the team’s seniors and juniors can step into leadership roles this fall.

Like the boys team, there are three all-conference runners back from the girls team.

Leading the way for the girls will be junior Jenna Stone, a first-team all-conference finisher.

“My goal for this season is just to go out there and run my race, try my hardest and try and make everyone proud,” said Stone, who also hopes to be a leader for the team and a supportive teammate.

Junior Ruby Nowinsky and sophomore Annika Resch are also back after earning spots on the CWC second team.

Lauren Dombeck, a senior this coming fall, was the team’s other runner last season.

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