Colfax cross country aiming to get back to state

By Cara L. Dempski

COLFAX — Last year was an unusual one for Joe Doucette’s Colfax Vikings boys’ and girls’ cross country teams.

While both groups did reasonably well over the course of the season, only one runner made the trip to the state meet at Wisconsin Rapids last October.

That is out of character for a program that has earned a total of 18 state berths and 19 Dunn-St. Croix titles between the boys’ and girls’ teams during Doucette’s 26-year tenure at Colfax.

Incoming junior Erica Kallstrom was the lone Viking runner to qualify for the Division 3 girls’ race at the Ridges Golf Course last October 29. She picked up Colfax’s ninth state medal when she finished ninth overall, but sixth as an individual with her 19:45.53 run.

The Vikings are facing the 2017 season without two cross country athletes who Doucette says are some of the best athletes he’s known. Ally Heidorn and Jacob Larson departed the team after graduation, and left some big shoes to fill.

Thankfully, Colfax returns a group of letter winners with plenty of varsity leadership.

There is just one senior apiece on the boys’ and girls’ teams this year, Jacob and Mackenzie Jensen.

Jacob Jensen returns to run his final season with the Vikings, and Mackenzie not only competed as part of last year’s cross country team, but was part of Colfax’s long-distance squad during the track and field season.

Mackenzie Jensen will provide leadership on a team that includes juniors Kallstrom and Hailey Prince.

In addition to being the lone Viking in Wisconsin Rapids last fall, Kallstrom was also the Dunn-St. Croix girls’ individual champion for 2017, and took top individual honors at the sectional race. Prince put in consistently strong performances in 2016, and is looking to improve during her junior season.

Sophomores Juelia Berger and Jayna Bowe impressed Doucette and his coaching staff enough last year as freshmen that they earned varsity letters. The duo’s return to the team will provide experience for the lone freshman runner.

Doucette watched incoming freshman Addisyn Olson throughout her middle school career and the Vikings’ coach liked what he saw.

On the boys’ side, Luke Heidorn and Trevor Rothbauer are back as junior letter winners to serve as the Vikings’ elder statesmen. Heidorn was one of two Colfax runners to earn second-team all-conference honors in his sophomore season, and Rothbauer will contribute where he can this season.

Sophomores Trey Hovde, Brady Lawrence, Cole Seehaver and Sawyer Best return as sophomores after winning letters as freshmen. Hovde picked up second-team all-conference honors, while the Colfax coaches are expecting a big contribution from Lawrence this season.

Freshmen Noah Heidorn and Mitchell Reisdorf will be a pair to keep an eye on this season as they adjust to the longer distance and more intense competition of high school races.

Doucette said this year’s cross country squad is full of good kids who get along well and are not afraid to work hard.

“Both teams are full of good kids, we will work hard and improve,” he noted.

The Vikings are not without weaknesses.

The lack of depth on the girls’ team could prove difficult if any of the ladies get injured, and the boys lack a definite front runner heading into the season.

Colfax’s main goal will be a season of continuous improvement while representing the community in a hard-working, classy manner.

Joe Doucette is in his 26th year at the helm of Colfax’s cross country program. He is assisted by daughter Courtney Doucette and Chuck Brown.

The Vikings ran their first races of the season August 24 at Boyceville’s Cross Country Alumni Invitational. The girls’ team came away with a third-place finish out of 11, and the boys’ took fifth out of 14.

The team ran at Bruce on August 29, and are scheduled to appear at Marshfield’s Wildwood Park this Saturday, September 2.

2017 Roster

Seniors: Mackenzie Jensen and Jacob Jensen.

Juniors: Hailey Prince, Erica Kallstrom, Luke Heidorn and Trevor Rothbauer.

Sophomores: Juelia Berger, Jayna Bowe, Cole Seehaver, Sawyer Best, Trey Hovde and Brady Lawrence.

Freshmen: Addisyn Olson, Noah Heidorn, Dennis Sonnentag and Mitchell Reisdorf.