Boyceville cross country working hard to improve
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THE 2019 BOYCEVILLE Cross Country teams are looking to improve throughout the season. Front row (L to R): Naomi Hillman, Hailey Rasmussen, Emma Chich, Rachel Becker, Rachael Montgomery, Emma Gruenhagen, Shiloh Wheeldon and Noelle Wheeldon. Middle row (L to R): Brice Evenson, Dean Olson, Nathan Corr, Marcus Wagner, Jacob Nelson and Elijah Farrell. Back row (L to R): Kaiden Standaert, Steven Rasmussen, Cade Klefstad and Brian Johnson. —photo by Amber Hayden
By Missy Klatt, Sports Correspondent
BOYCEVILLE — Bulldogs’ head cross county coach, Corey Day, is hoping that the hard work his runners are putting into the preseason will result in great gains by the end of the season.
Last year, the Bulldogs had some success on the course when Nathan Corr, now a junior, qualified for the WIAA State Meet. On the way to state, Nathan also received second team all-conference honors. Day remarks that he has a bright future. Corr will be one to look for on the course this year as he attempts to make it back to state again.
Another runner that Day will be watching this year is Steven Rasmussen who just missed all-conference honors last year. Day thinks he is already improved from last year.
For the girls, Naomi Hillman will be running again after missing last season due to some foot surgery. Naomi was an all-conference runner in 2017.
Justin Lombardo was the lone senior last year on the boys’ team. Day states that they will miss his dedication.
The only other runner the Dawgs lost was Ade Harpil, a foreign exchange student from Indonesia, who Day states brought some culture to the team and will be missed.
As for the competition, Day predicts that Elk Mound, Durand and Spring Valley will be the teams to beat in the conference for the boys. For the girls, he’s expecting Elk Mound, Glenwood City and Durand to be at the top.
Day has a positive outlook for his teams. He comments “We have some hard working freshman joining the team and with that the transition to the 5k. It will take some time but when those kids adapt we will be competitive.”
Last year the team was plagued with injuries and they did not field a girls’ team for the first time since 2009. This year there are eight girls on the team and Day is looking forward to be able to post team scores.
The boys have 12 members and some very experienced runners to very novice. Day states that managing that gap will be the challenge. “If we stay healthy, I expect big gains every week. Having big gains is fun to be around and this group are already shown me they can work.”
Day concludes, “It should be an exciting season no matter what place we finish. I hope with that mentality at the end of the year we are team that others who have beat us do not want to race.”
This is Day’s eleventh year as head coach for the Bulldogs.
2019 Boy’s Roster:
Seniors: Cade Klefstad, Steven Rasmussen.
Juniors: Nathan Corr, Samuel Chich, Nathaniel Chich.
Sophomores: Brice Evenson, Elijah Farrell, Brian Johnson, Kaiden Standaert
Freshman: Dean Olson, Jacob Nelson, Marcus Wagner.
2019 Girl’s Roster:
Seniors: Rachel Becker, Naomi Hillman, Noelle Wheeldon.
Sophomore: Shiloh Wheeldon
Freshman: Emma Chich, Emma Gruenhagen, Haylie Rasmussen.