Elk Mound cross country has eye on Dunn-St. Croix titles

By Cara L. Dempski

ELK MOUND — If you ask Elk Mound cross country coach Jeremiah Fredrickson what his team is aiming for in 2017, you get a pretty direct answer.

“Statistically speaking, we hope to contend for conference for both boys’ and girls’,” he said. “The team’s main goal is to qualify for state and run well down in Rapids.”

That might not be such a far-fetched goal despite the program being in just its eighth year.

Fredrickson’s Lady Mounders went to Wisconsin Rapids last October as a team, and Cade Hanson accompanied them as an individual qualifier for the boys.

The girls’ team took a big hit losing Elizabeth Fasbender, a three-time state competitor, but returns much of last season’s state qualifiers.

The boys’ squad lost Matt McLaughlin to graduation. The 2017 graduate served as the emotional leader of the team.

Senior girls Mattea Linberg and Claudia Paul are back for their final season running as Mounders. They will compete for spots on a varsity team that is heavy on juniors this season.

Paul returns as the lone senior letter winner for the girls.

Jonas Kohls, Nathaniel Schreiber and Bowdrie Noller are back to finish out their high school careers. Schreiber is back as a letter winner, while Kohls and Noller will be looking to improve on last season’s finishes to form a more integral part of the boys’ team.

This season’s junior class includes Alana and Brook Plaszcz, Audrey Westcott, Paige Romanowski, Victoria Fasbender and Amanda Sahm on the girls’ side, and Nate Bechel on the boys’ team. The Plaszcz sisters, Fasbender and Romanowski all picked up varsity letters in previous seasons.

Alana and Brook spent much of last season leading the Mounder pack right behind graduate Elizabeth Fasbender, and Fredrickson is hoping for more of the same from the sisters this season.

Juniors Danielle Olson and Kayli Solberg will round out the Elk Mound Class of 2019 on the girls’ team.

Sophomore girls Taya Schaefer and Kristin Martinson earned letters as freshman and served as strong, efficient runners. The duo is joined by boys’ runner Cade Hanson, who was the only Elk Mound boy to make the trip to the Ridges at Wisconsin Rapids last year for state.

No freshmen girls joined the Mounders for the 2017 season, but the Class of 2021 boasts a quartet of boys that has the talent to provide plenty of depth for Elk Mound this year as they earn varsity experience. Brennan Zais, Avery Lauer, Mitchell Ruppelt and Keagan McRea all are hoping to find spots on the team in their first season of high school competition.

Fredrickson has a few newcomers to his team, and noted Olson shows promise with her long stride to add some team depth.

The Elk Mound coach called out Colfax, Glenwood City and Elmwood/Plum City as teams to watch again in 2017 for the girls’. The boys’ will have to contend with perennial cross country powerhouse, Durand.

This is Fredrickson’s eighth season as the head coach for Elk Mound’s cross country program. He will be joined this year by Kyle Hazen.

The Mounders opened their season with an invitational held at the Eau Claire City Wells August 26, and will put in an appearance at St. Croix Central August 31. They will then be at Cameron September 7.

2017 Roster

Seniors: Mattea Linberg, Nathaniel Schreiber, Jonas Kohls and Bowdrie Noller.

Juniors: Danielle Olson, Kayli Solberg, Alana Plaszcz, Brook Plaszcz, Audrey Westcott, Paige Romanowski, Victoria Fasbender and Amanda Sahm.

Sophomores: Cade Hanson, Kristin Martinson and Taya Schaefer.

Freshmen: Brennan Zais, Avery Lauer, Mitchell Ruppelt and Keagan McRea.