For the Tomahawk Leader
ATHENS – The Tomahawk Hatchet cross country team made the trip to Erbach Park in Athens on Thursday, Sept. 30 and competed in their annual 15-team cross country Invitational.
Both teams brought home team championships during homecoming week. The girls finished 10 points ahead of Colby, while the boys came out on top of a closely contested event scoring 85 points, ahead of host Athens (87) and state-ranked Auburndale (90).
“We are in the ‘speeding up’ and ‘finishing’ phases of our season and so our training focus has been on leg speed, turnover, and our racing the last part of our race,” head coach John Zuelsdorf said after the meet. “Despite the heat today, the athletes are really responding.”
In the first high school race, the boys packed up early and despite having no finishers in the top ten, were able to hold four of their five scorers in the top 20. Finishing as medalists were Arden Ziert (11th- 18:40-SB) and Owen Dickrell (13th-18:46). Teammates Presley Gutbrod (17th-19:02), Sam Zastrow (20th- 19:11) and Brett Borchardt (29th-19:44) rounded out the scoring for the Hatchets.
Other finishers for Tomahawk were Ty Anthes (38th-20:12-SB), Taje Casey (41st-20:35-PR), Jacob Towle (49th), and John Mark Hawley (70th) in the 101-runner field.
The Lady Hatchets completed the Hatchet sweep and were led by the top finishers Rachael Reilly (4th- 21:15) and Macey Mann (5th-21:22-SB). Joining those two on the podium as medalists were Kate Reilly (10th-21:47) and Emily Lacina (13th-22:15). Teammates Geena Wanta (18th-22:35), Serena Reinke (20th-22:46-SB) and Ava Dragosh (25th-23:09) were instrumental in the Hatchet victory, inflating opponents’ scores as they finished ahead of opponents’ scoring runners.
Other finishers were Robin Schmidt (29th), Sophie Urmann (31st-SB), Allie Palmer (32nd-SB), Kambyl Mattke (41st), Marie Gorell (44th), Halle Derleth (47th), Izzy Lee (77th) and Arawen Alberg (86th). 110 athletes toed the line for the girls 5K race.
Varsity girls’ team scores: Tomahawk-37, Colby-49, WR Assumption-64, Marathon-81, Thorp-183, Loyal-194, Bloomer-215, Laona/Wabeno-226, Spencer-241, Rib Lake-243, Marshfield Columbus-Inc., Stanley/Boyd-Inc., Three Lakes-Inc., Athens-Inc., Auburndale-Inc.
Boys’ team scores: Tomahawk-85, Athens-87, Auburndale-90, Marathon-95, Bloomer-141, Loyal-171, Colby-177, Stanley/Boyd-178, Rib Lake-186, Marshfield Columbus-186, Thorp-270, Laona-Inc, Spencer-Inc, WR Assumption-Inc. , Three Lakes-Inc.
“Homecoming can be a challenging week for the athletes as they are pulled many directions with class activities and other commitments,” Zuelsdorf stated. “I was proud of how our athletes handled things this week and still were able to keep the focus on our meet when it was important. To come away, for the second straight week with top finishes for our program is a testament to how hard they have been working!”
Despite the late season high temperatures, the co-ed Hatchets were able to bring home seven seasonal or career best 5K efforts.
The next meet for Tomahawk is the Hatchet Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 9 at Edgewater Country Club. Racing gets underway at 10 a.m.
Athletes of the Week
