W-F’s Bartel wins girls’ race
By Greg Seubert
It looks like the Pacelli boys’ and Amherst girls’ cross country teams are ready to make some noise in the Central Wisconsin Conference this season.
Both teams returned home Aug. 31 after winning championships at the Thunderbird Invitational, which Iola-Scandinavia hosted at the Iola Winter Sports Club complex.
Pacelli used five top-10 places to win the boys’ title with 23 points, followed by Iola-Scandinavia (64), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (83), Weyauwega-Fremont (110), Bonduel (124), Amherst (133), Pittsville (165) and Manawa (228). Marion and Gresham/Bowler had incomplete teams.
Amherst had four top-five runners to win the girls’ championship with 22 points, followed by Bonduel (36), Wittenberg-Birnamwood (88) and Iola-Scandinavia (100).
Weyauwega-Fremont, Manawa, Marion, Tri-County, Pittsville and Gresham/Bowler had incomplete teams.
Iola-Scandinavia had three top-10 finishes in the boys’ race. Charlie Vater and Robert Vater placed third and fourth in 18:16.2 and 18:22.4, while Dylan Donovan placed eighth in 18:56.7.
Other finishes for the Thunderbirds included Jacob Lashua (25th, 20:46.1); Aaron Jones (26th, 20:58.9); Ian Koss (47th, 22:59); and Brock Opperman (51st, 23:14.9).
Carson Kester led Weyauwega-Fremont by placing 11th in 19:13.4. Other finishers for the Indians included Josh Halat (17th, 20:01.5); Logan Krause (18th, 20:06.3); Jakob Mills (31st, 21:19.8); Jaden Rice (35th, 21:28.3); Martin Leyva (44th, 22:14); Isiah Schuh (54th, 23:41.7); Luke Ehrenberg (61st, 24:44.3); Quinten Kempf (67th, 26:42.3); Braeden McIvor (77th, 28:57); and Victor Kiedrowski (82nd, 34:42.8).
Manawa’s finishers included Justin Buschke (36th, 21:33.6); Zach Schertz (42nd, 22:05.4); Ricky Pingel (57th, 24:00.8); Ted Emmert (69th, 27:00.9); and Noah Bortle (79th, 31:07).
Pacelli’s Gabe Hoerter won the race in 17:16.4.
Weyauwega-Fremont’s Abby Bartel edged Amherst’s Jennifer Omernik to win the girls’ race in 20:36.6. Other finishers for Weyauwega-Fremont included Emma Ziepke (15th, 24:42.1); and Melanie Jentsch (17th, 24:53.7).
Iola-Scandinavia’s finishers included Chloe Timdal (31st, 29:22.5); Alyssa Grant (33rd, 29:50.1); Tara Thompson (34th, 29:58.5); Kelly Jones (42nd, 33:08.3); Abby Isermann (46th, 34:19.1); Clara Koles (47th, 34:24.7); and Elizabeth Enoch (53rd, 39:48.2).
Manawa’s finishers included Marilyn Klatt (12th, 24:01.4); Andrea Weber (40th, 32:35.3); and Aspen Linjer (43rd, 33:17.3).