Colfax cross country prepares for new season
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by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
COLFAX — After a season where the Colfax cross country teams did not have enough runners for a team score, this year’s team may just be lucky enough to have full teams this season.
Five boys and five girls are listed on the team rosters including several with plenty of experience.
Senior Logan Swartz and junior Charlie Charbonneau both have competed at the varsity level along with senior Theo Hovde, while sophomore Grant Palewicz and freshman Isaiah Entzminger are expected to help the boy’s team. Charbonneau was second team all-Dunn-St. Croix Conference a year ago and is a letter winner along with Swartz. Hovde once again is a starter on the Colfax football team and will run when he is able to.
“Hovde is one of the school’s best athletes with a super character and work ethic,” head Colfax coach Joe Doucette said. “Palewicz is a very talented sophomore and if he stays with the program and improves, he could be very good. Entzminger has been one of our best middle school runners ever. If he stays healthy the sky’s the limit. He could be a four time all conference runner and possibly our next boys state medalist,” he added.
Leading the girls will be a trio of seniors. Kaysen Goodell is a three-time, all-conference runner and has competed in the WIAA state meet all three years. Hannah Peterson was a first team all-conference competitor a year ago and Lauren Becker is always working hard to improve. Sophomore Rosemary Loew will compete this season along with freshman Veronika Leavens who had a super middle school career, and according to Doucette could be an all-conference runner this year.
Strengths of the team are having experienced runners, but the weakness is team depth. Doucette hopes to gain a few runners as the season goes on.
“We have some great kids who will work hard,” Doucette said. “We feel we can be pretty good if everything goes well. We are excited about the year and we want to represent our school and community in a classy way,” he stated.
Doucette believes Boyceville and Durand will have strong teams for the girls this year and for the boys, Elk Mound, Mondovi and Glenwood City should be contenders for the conference crown.
As the first and only coach for the Viking cross country teams, Doucette begins his 32nd year leading the teams. His girls’ teams have won nine conference titles and have 11 state appearances and boast many individuals who have earned state medals. The Colfax boys have 11 conference titles and have made nine trips to the state meet with two runners earning medals.
2024 Roster
Boys: Logan Swartz (12), Theo Hovde (12), Charlie Charbonneau (11), Grant Palewicz (10) and Isaiah Entzminger (9).
Girls: Kaysen Goodell (12), Hannah Peterson (12), Lauren Becker (12), Rosemary Loew (10) and Veronika Leavens (9).