On Saturday the Tomahawk Hatchet Cross-Country team hosted their 18th annual Alumni Scrimmage at Bradley Park. The 2019 Hatchets laced up their shoes and toed the line against alumni and local TARA (Tomahawk Area Runners Association) members at of one of the Hatchets’ first race sites in Bradley Park.

The top alumni finisher in the 5000 meter men’s event was Justin Lund (class of 2000) in a time of 18:19 as he placed 2nd overall. Other alumni finishers were: Parker Johnson (’18-11th), Bill Turgeon (’86-14th), Gary Buchanen (’75-17th), Matt Bartz (’19-18th), Kurt Reinke (TARA-21st), Guy Kiser (’94-23rd), Jacob Miller (’18-24th), Alan Rock (TARA-25th), Jerett Flynn (’19-26th), Jared Leverance (’19-29th), Cody Strassman (’12-30th), Pastor Mark Gass (TARA-31st), Josh Wick (’17-32nd) and Roger Martens (TARA).

Despite a heavy week of mileage, hills and hard training, the current Hatchets came ready to race and placed nine runners in the top 10, led by junior Drew Bolder’s 17:38 championship effort. Other top finishers were  Keaton Jed (3rd), Noah Buckwalter (4th), Trey Baalke (5th), Garron Albrent (6th), Alex Norman (7th), Jack Lacina (8th), Arden Ziert (9th), and Matt Johnson (10th). The remaining Hatchet finishers for the boys were: Hunter Borchardt (12th), Hunter VanRyen (13th), Reed Zedler (15th), Brady Tjugum (16th) Trey Miller (19th), Henry Calhoun (20th), Jacob Towle (22nd), Taje Casey (27th) and John Mark Hawley (28th). The top non-scoring Hatchet runners helped to inflate the “unofficial” alumni score to 62, while the locals finished “unofficially” with 19 points to claim their fourth straight victory over the alumni.

The alumni women were led by TARA member (and current TMS CC standout) Rachel Reilly as she placed 2nd covering the 5K distance in 20:47. Other alumni finishers were  Heather Leverence (’91-12th), Arianna Schreiner (’19-14th), Tally Schmit (’95-16th), JoAnne Lazore (TARA-18th), Shirley Derleth (’87-19th), Jackie Wick (’19-20th) and Corinn Genelin (’19-21st) rounded out the alumni finishers. Not to be outdone by their counter parts and duplicating their “unofficial” results, the 2019 lady Hatchets also had nine finishers in the top 10 and a winning 19-62 tally. Senior Haley Voermans-Dean topped the field with the 6th fastest time in Alumni Race History crossing the tape with a 1st place medalist effort of 20:38. A 19-second scoring split followed with runners 2-5 as teammates Macey Mann (3rd), Emily Lacina (4th), Meagan Berg (5th) and Kate Reilly (6th ) all cracked the 23-minute barrier on the hilly Bradley Park course. Helping keep the Hatchets streak of 13 straight victories intact were Geena Wanta (7th), Gillian Buckwalter (8th), Serena Reinke (9th), Tiana Gerstenberger (10th), Neenah Fuste (11th), Autumn Peissig (13th), Ava Dragosh (15th) and Greta Tjugum (17th).

The race was concluded with a brat fry near the finish line was enjoyed by all.

The Hatchets open the season this Thursday, Aug. 29 at the multi-team Ashland Invitational. The meet gets underway at 10:30 a.m. from Chequamegon Bay Golf Course on the west side of Ashland.

Full results of the 18th Annual Alumni Scrimmage can be found at the following team website at     http://www.tomahawkhatchetrunning.us/2012/08/18/2012-meetresultspress-release.