Boyceville boys’ CC fares well at Bruce, sees improvement at SCC

By Cara L. Dempski

Bulldogs head cross country coach Corey Day is seeing some promising signs on his team of unknowns as it kicks off 2017.

The Boyceville boys’ put in a nice afternoon at the Bruce Cross Country Invitational August 29 to take seventh place out of 13 teams with a score of 125. The ladies finished the meet in eighth out of nine teams with 202 points.

The Bulldogs took a day off, but then traveled to Hammond August 31 to end the month at the St. Croix Central Invitational. The girls raced past the boys to finish eighth out of 11 teams after earning 248 points, while the boys’ team was 10th out of 11 with 256.

Day’s Bulldog boys and girls took the holiday weekend off, and will not run again until they head to Rice Lake September 12.

Bruce Invitational

If there is anyone Day is surprised by on this year’s Bulldog boys’ cross country team, it is freshman Nathan Corr.

“He is just getting better and better every time he races,” Day said. 

Corr finished 13th overall to help his team take seventh place out of 13 teams August 29 at Bruce by leading the team to the finish in 20:20.1. Corr’s older brother, Rian, is the team’s senior captain this year, and following his brother not quite a minute later to finish in 21:16.7 for 35th.

Steven Rasmussen Cade Klefstad were hot on Rian Corr’s heels, taking 36th and 38th with times of 21:23.8 and 21:29.7. Ryker Ferg followed up with a 22:00.7 race for 45th, Nathaniel Chich was 94th with a time of 25:20.8, and Samuel Chich was 95th after finishing in 25:21.4.

Brandon Kenefick, Emmett Kapsner and Justin Lombardo also ran for the Bulldogs in the boys’ race.

The boys’ team from Phillips took home the team trophy after accruing just 48 points, but it was Owen Dickenson of Solon Springs who won the individual race in 18:03.8.

The Boyceville girls’ team was eighth out of nine teams after scoring 202 at the meet, and Day said two runners, Naomi Hillman and Marissa Dormanen, showed terrific improvement from their August 24 outing at Tiffany Creek Elementary.

Senior Emily Voelker paved the way for the Lady Bulldogs, taking 24th for her 25:21.3 race. Naomi Hillman raced to the line in 26:33.5 for 35th, Lauryn Dominic took 56th for her 2808.5 race, and Dormanen finished in 28:48.1 to finish 65th. 

Sophomore Noelle Wheeldon rounded out the team with a time of 30:28.2 for 82nd. 

Ladysmith freshman Erica Loe won the individual race for the girls with a time of 21:33.2, and the Chequamegon girls’ took home top team honors after reeling in 75 points.

BOYS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:13. Nathan Corr 20:20.1, 35. Rian Corr 21:16.7, 26. Steven Rasmussen 21:23.8, 38. Cade Klefstad 21:29.7, 45. Ryker Ferg 22:00.7, 94. Nathaniel Chich 25:20.8, 95. Samuel Chich 25:21.4, 106. Brandon Kenefick 26:17.4, 108. Emmett Kapsner 26:21.2, 126. Justin Lombardo 31:18.8

BOYS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. Phillips 48, 2. Solon Springs 86, 3. Chequamegon 121, 4. Colfax 125, 5. Drummond 138, 6. Butternut 144, 7. Boyceville 158, 8. Cameron 167, 9. Hurley 208, 10. Cadott 260, 11. South Shore 306, 12. Bruce 328, 13. New Auburn 388.

GIRLS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 24. Emily Voelker 25:21.3, 25. Naomi Hillman 26:33.4, 56. Lauryn Dominic 28:08.5, 65. Marissa Dormanen 28:48.1, 82. Noelle Wheeldon 30:28.2.

GIRLS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. Chequamegon 75, 2. Phillips 77, 3. Colfax 84, 4. Cameron 98, 5. Shell Lake 104, 6. Ladysmith 126, 7. Hurley 147, 8. Boyceville 202, 9. Prairie Farm 229.

St. Croix Central Invitational

The Bulldog ladies bounded to an eighth-place finish at Hammond last Thursday to turn the tables on the boys’, who finished higher than they did earlier in the week. The boys’ team was 10th out of 11 at the St. Croix Central race.

Head coach Corey Day said. “It was a tough week with two meets in three days, but the athletes responded well with positive attitudes.”

It can tough to stay positive with just five female runners on your team, but senior Emily Voelker seemed game to compete as the Lady Bulldogs’ leading racer. Day said she had a strong start and finish at the SCC race, where she took 29th with a time of 23:52.57. Naomi Hillman and Lauryn Dominic were not far behind, placing 45th and 59th after runs of 25:07.62 and 26:17.41.

Marissa Dormanen and Noelle Wheeldon completed the team, finishing back-to-back at 83rd and 84th after finishing in 28:26.28 and 28:45.91 respectively.

Somerset’s Anya Swanson copped the race win after finishing in 20:09.90, but the New Richmond girls’ took the team win after scoring just 39 points.

On the boys’ side, Nathan Corr again led the Bulldogs to the line with a 20:09.25 race for 34th. Newcomer Steven Rasmussen, who Day said is showing great potential in workouts, gave the world a glimpse of his potential when he placed 51st after a 20:44.14 run.

Rian Corr was the third Boyceville runner in. He took 54th after racing to the line in 21:03.90. Ryker Ferg came in next, finishing in 21:36.36 to place 69th. Cade Klefstad and Samuel Chich finished in 72nd and 96th after finishing in 21:52.82 and 23:20.27. Emmett Kapsner completed the scored runners by taking 112th for his 24:44.83 run.

Brandon Kenefick, Justin Lombardo and Brennan Wheeldon also hit the course for the Bulldogs.

Durand junior Isaac Wegner won the individual race with a time of 17:29.10, but the New Richmond boys’ earned top team honors after the Tigers rounded up only 67 points.

GIRLS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 29. Emily Voelker 23:52.57, 45. Naomi Hillman 25:07.62, 59. Lauryn Dominic 26:17.41, 83. Marissa Dormanen 28:26.28, 84. Noelle Wheeldon 28:45.91.

GIRLS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. New Richmond 39, 2. St. Croix Central 48, 3. Prescott 88, 4. Glenwood City 92, 5. Elk Mound 137, 6. Durand 205, 7. Somerset 206, 8. Boyceville 248, 9. Baldwin-Woodville 254, 10. Spring Valley 259, 11. Mondovi 350.

BOYS’ INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 34. Nathan Corr 20:09.25, 51. Steven Rasmussen 20:44.14, 54. Rian Corr 21:03.90, 69. Ryker Ferg 21:36.36, 72. Cade Klefstad 21:52.82, 96. Samuel Chich 23:20.27, 112. Emmett Kapsner 24:44.83, 122. Brandon Kenefick 26:27.28, 126. Justin Lombardo 28:19.24, 131. Brennan Wheeldon 37:44.46.

BOYS’ TEAM RESULTS: 1. New Richmond 67, 2. Durand 82, 3. St. Croix Central 88, 4. Elk Mound 98, 5. Prescott 110, 6. Spring Valley 170, 7. Somerset 170, 8. Glenwood City 188, 9. Baldwin-Woodville 216, 10. Boyceville 256, 11. Mondovi 373.