The Bluejay cross country teams flew out of the box in their season-starting meets.
In last Tuesday’s opener, the four-team Lakeland Invite, the boys captured first place and the girls ran a strong second.
In Saturday’s 10-team Hodag Invite, the boys kept up their torrid pace with a 3rd-place finish, while the girls hit 6th.
Teamwork boosted the boys to just 40 points at Lakeland. Garrett Schmelling (5th, 19:16), Andrew Seaman (6th, 19:57), Jacob Jensen (7th, 20:03), Reese Byersdorf (9th, 20:07) and Dylan Schielke (13th, 20:22) scored and Andrew Koch (15th, 21:03) and Brady Schmelling (22nd, 21:41) backed them up.
The girls scored just 34 to trail Lakeland’s 26. Sydney Harris (2nd, 17:51), Ashley Berton (5th, 18:21), Kendra Andreska (6th, 19:01), Morgan Pettit (8th, 19:16) and Svetlana Heisinger (13th, 19:57) scored, and Christa Schleif (16th, 20:18) and Kate Williams (17th, 20:19) competed.
“What a way to start a cross country season with a win for the boys and a close second place for the girls team.” MHS coach Craig Hoffman said. “Recent and past memories can’t place the last time the boys CC team won a meet.
“Our individual efforts shown as bright as the sun this past Tuesday. The pack running of Garrett, Andrew Seaman, Jacob, Reese and first time runner Dylan Schielke helped our team beat a perennial strength, Lakeland High School.
“Sydney went out strong and finished strong. Her times will improve as the season progresses. Lakeland’s meet at Clear Lake Park is a strenuous course which defines ‘cross country.’ Ashley and Kendra ran great first season races as well. We couldn’t have been more pleased with these two runners.
“It’s a great start to a quick season. We don’t have benchwarmers, so we all need to compete in our ‘A’ game every meet.”
Team standings-Boys-Merrill 40, Medford 50, Wis. Rapids 65, Lakeland 77……..Girls-Lakeland 26, Merrill 34, Medford 67, Wis. Rapids 102.
Hodag Invite
The boys were paced by G. Schmelling (5th, 18:01), Schielke (13th, 19:00), Ethan Schneider (21st, 19:35), Jensen (27th, 20:02) and Seaman (29th, 20:11). Byersdorf (38th, 20:42) and B. Schmelling (39th, 20:46) trailed close behind.
“Our boys took third in a strong field of runners,” stated Hoffman. “I couldn’t be in a better position as a coach with a group of hard working boys who haven’t reached their potential in any of the first two races that we’ve run.
“This was a good shake out run to see how we can compete with our conference rivals, and by golly the boys came through. Our season will only get better if I can lay any bets on the table. I’m excited for some great things for this special group of young and earnest men.”
The girls were led out by Harris (9th, 16:48), Heisinger (31st, 18:32), Berton (32nd, 18:37), Andreska (34th, 18:48) and Pettit (35th, 18:56). Schleif (41st, 19:30) and Williams (48th, 20:03) capped it off.
“Our girls ran better than any results could show,” Hoffman said. “We had great efforts from behind as Brooke Arneson, Shelby Harris, Sarah Ponzer, Mickenna Comtock ran as a group and helped each other finish the race. Our mid-runners of Krista, Kate and Rachael Romanowski kept their pace, and our best efforts came from Sydney, Svetlana, Ashley, Kendra and Morgan. “If we could’ve had a couple of our harriers finish a wee bit faster into the chute, our team placing could’ve been in the top half. That’s what we’ll work on this coming week to flesh out our strategy for this season.
“Hey, we don’t mind being the underdog for the season, and then peak at the end. That’s a strategy we can define on our own terms. I’m impressed with the great practice attitude, the congeniality of team members and the work of my two assistant coaches. I’m a happy camper right now.”
Team standings-Boys-Wausau E. 33, D.C.E. 45, Merrill 95, Wausau W. 102, Rhinelander 130, Antigo 130, Crandon 213……Girls-W.W. 55, D.C.E. 68, Laona 117, W.E. 118, Rhinelander 134, Merrill 141, N. Pines 157, Three Lks. 192, Antigo 193, Crandon 316.