TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

The Merrill Varsity Cross Country Team traveled to Rhinelander High School Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, for a Varsity Invitational with 13 other schools to get their season off to a running start.
“It was a perfect day for a first meet, a little cloudy and rainy,” said Alyssa Swan, head Merrill High School Cross Country Coach.
Elliott Hanson led the Merrill Boys with a finish time of 21:01, followed closely by Ian Schuetze with a time of 21:15. Making up the rest of the Boys Team were: Logan Knospe (23:22), Caleb Norton (23:25), Parker Klebenow (23:35), Kaden Schwandt (23:52), and Brady Eggebrecht (25:12).
“The Boys overall team score, or a score made by adding up the places of the runners, was 139,” Swan said.
For the Merrill Girls, Bre Herdt finished with a time of 27:13., followed closely by Madi Crossman with a time of 27:27. Making up the rest of the Girls team were: Dani Schielke and Olivia Bares (29:09), Brooklyn Kraegenbrink (31:24), Robin Schmidt (32:15), and Allison Lange (32:46).
“The Girls Team, with a score of 174, almost beat Northland Pines, whose team score was 173,” Swan said.