GC boys, girls place second at conference cross country meet

DURAND — Injuries and illnesses have tested the resolve of the Glenwood City cross country teams this season, but when it mattered most neither could break their collective wills and effort.

Like they have all year, the Glenwood City boys and girls teams overcame their trials and tribulations and nearly every other Dunn-St. Croix team at the conference meet in Durand Thursday, October 15.

Running on the sun-splashed and hilly Rolling Greens Golf Course the Hilltoppers battled the competition and a cold and gusty wind to finish in second place in both the girls’ and boys’ 2015 races.

The GC boys tallied 89 points to grab the silver, finishing nine points ahead of third-place Spring Valley while the girls, defending conference champions, nipped Elmwood/Plum City by a mere point – 82 to 83 – for second.

Colfax easily won both team titles with a stable of quality runners. The Viking boys scored 38, outdone only by their female counterparts who scored a low of 29 points for the victory.

“I was very happy with the performances of our runners,” said Glenwood City head coach Matthew Schutz following the meet.

“We knew Colfax was going to be extremely tough,” added Schutz. “ Our goals were to have both our teams place second behind Colfax.”

“The boys ran a great race to accomplish that feat,” noted Schutz. “And with all the injuries on our girls’ team this season, I am happy with our placing in conference.”

“During the week, I told Jack (Kremer) and Riley (Schutz) that they should place around seventh and eighth.”

And that is exactly what the pair did to help lead the Glenwood City boys team to the runner-up finish.

Kremer, in the final conference meet of his high career, ran a 19:22.82 to finish seventh overall.

Schutz, a sophomore, was the next runner to cross the line, finishing in 19:29.27.

By virtue of their placements, both Kremer and Schutz earned all-conference honors. With the split right between them, Kremer was named to the first team while Schutz earned second team designation.

The top seven individual runners received first team honors; runners eight through 14 are second team.

It would be nearly another minute before Glenwood City’s number three runner finished. That was senior Andrew Bauman who crossed in 20:24.19 and in 20th place. Jacob Nadeau, the Toppers’ fourth runner to complete the 5,000 meter course, was 25th with a time of 20:33.37.

Owen Wagner and Matthew Bauman were next to finish. Wagner placed 29th in 20:44.92 with Bauman on his heels in 30th at 20:46.48.

Corey Klatt finished in 21:02.32 and the Toppers’ final runner, senior Nathan Hill, was clocked in 26:24.20 and was 65th.

A pair of Glenwood City girls also claimed all-conference awards.

As she had done for much of the season, senior Morgan Kadinger provided the Lady Hilltoppers’ team with its best finish.

In her final conference competition, Kadinger took eighth in a time of 22:15.64. Some 15 seconds later, junior Kaylie Scalze, who has showed dramatic improvement throughout the season, crossed the finish in 12th place and a time of 22:29.49.

Both garnered second-team honors with their finishes. It was Kadinger’s second straight year as an all-conference designee.

“It was great for Morgan to place on the all-conference team once again,” stated Schutz. “She has led our team all season.”

“And Kaylie’s finish really wasn’t a surprise,” noted Schutz. “We knew she (Kaylie) had it in her and she came through for the team.”

Sophomore Makayla O’Brien was the Toppers’ third girl to finish. She captured 18th in 23:10.19.

Taylor Drinkman, last year’s individual titlist, returned to running in just the past few weeks following surgery to repair a torn ACL she suffered during basketball last winter. Taylor showed the heart of a champion and finished with a 23:35.07 to take 21st.

Senior Maya Petersen and sophomore Elizabeth Wink were the next to finish. Petersen was 23rd in 23:54.96 and Wink was just one place back after running a 24:04.02.

Exchange student Mara Wenk was 29th in 24:39.64; followed by senior Macie Rasmussen at 34th in 24:52.01; Emma Scholler, 41st, 25:32.77; Hannah Strehlo, 44th, 26:31.26; Tia Carlson, 45th, 26:44.42; and Alexys Curvello, 46th, 27:17.94.

There were 67 runners in the boys’ field and 64 in the girls’ race.

Glenwood City also did well in the middle school races.

The girls came in first among the seven competing teams as it had the top two runners – Isabella Williams (1st) and Emily Bethel (2nd) – and saw all five of its top runners finish ninth or better. In fact, the girls’ middle school team had nine runners place 15th or better.

The boys’ team was the middle school runner-up as Elijah Simmons, Lane O’Meara and Thomas Moede placed 8th, 9th and 10th  respectively.

Glenwood City will compete in the WIAA Division 3 sectional meet slated for this Saturday morning, October 24 at Tiffany Creek Elementary in Boyceville. Racing will begin at 11 a.m.

TEAM RESULTS

BOYS: 1. Colfax, 38; 2. Glenwood City, 89; 3. Spring Valley, 98; 4. Durand, 109; 5. Boyceville, 111; 6. Elk Mound, 127; 7. Mondovi, 162; 8. Elmwood/Plum City, 179.

GIRLS: 1. Colfax, 29; 2. Glenwood City, 82; 3. Elmwood/Plum City, 83; 4. Elk Mound, 85; 5. Durand, 153; 6. Boyceville, 156; 7. Spring Valley, 158; 8. Mondovi, 163.