Hatchet harriers kick off season with Bond Falls camp, Alumni Scrimmage

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For the Tomahawk Leader

BOND FALLS, MICH.  – The Tomahawk High School cross country team’s 2024 season is now underway.

Bond Falls camp

The Hatchet runners began the season once again up in Bond Falls, Mich., with the team’s cross country camp and Alumni Scrimmage.

Tomahawk had 33 high school student-athletes attend the season-starting cross country camp near Paulding, Mich. This is the 29th annual camp since 1995. Student-athletes exceeded a 30-mile week by running two times daily while bonding and enjoying a variety of camp team-building games and activities.

The Hatchet runners began their season with cross country camp in Bond Falls, Mich.

Alumni Scrimmage

On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Hatchet harriers hosted their 23rd annual Alumni Scrimmage at the entrance to Bradley Park, where the 2024 Hatchets competed against former alumni and local TARA (Tomahawk Area Runners Association) members. The race takes runners through the main loop of Bradley Park several times and once through the imposing “Hog’s Back” trail by Mirror Lake.

Leading the alumni in the 5,000-meter men’s event was third-year high school head coach Connor Ahrens in a time of 18:54 (class of 2012-2nd). Other alumni finishers were: middle school head coach Justin Lund (class of 2000-6th), Trey Miller (class of 2020-7th), co-high school assistant coach Jerett Flynn (class of 2019-15th), Owen Dickrell (class of 2024-20th), Anthony Ierulli (class of 2020-21st), Brad Montag (TARA-23rd) and Jacob Miller (class of 2018-24th).

The high school team was led by senior Sam Zastrow’s 18:39, first-place finish. Other high school finishers were Beau Stromberg (3rd-19:36), Dominic Boos (4th-20:01), Jeremiah Johnson (5th-20:01), Drew Voermans (8th-21:12), Nathan Rosenmeier (9th-21:30), Joe Zastrow (10th-22:23), Dawson Jones (11th-22:24), Luke Morrison (12th-23:05), Mason Riebe (13th-23:34), Will Boneck (14th-23:34), Bruce Peetz (16th-23:56), Karson Hanse (17th-24:02), Elliot O’Connor (18th-24:09), Ryan Montag (19th-24:14), Gerard Gorell (22nd-25:32) and Cayden Shepler (25th-28:15).

Making it through their first high-mileage week of training, the boys high school team handily won the scrimmage against the alumni with an unofficial score of 21 to the alumni’s 50.

The alumni women’s team was led by Charlee Lund (TARA), who took 5th overall with a time of 23:58. Other alumni finishers were Kate Reilly (class of 2022-7th), high school volunteer coach Carmi Pietila Cleary (class of 2003-8th), Meagan Berg (class of 2020-12th), co-assistant high school coach Stephanie Ahrens (class of 2013-17th), Amanda Koshak (class of 2012-18th), Elizabeth Lee (class of 2024-19th), Robin Schmidt (class of 2024-20th), Halle Derleth (class of 2024-21st), Kambyl Mattke (class of 2024-22nd) and Shirley Derleth (class of 1987-24th).

The high school girls were led by the first female finisher, senior Alli Palmer, who ran the hilly course in a time of 22:38. Other Hatchet finishers were Lydia Shaney (22:57-2nd), Norah Mann (23:38-3rd), Ellie Micke (23:46-4th), Faith Derleth (25:43-6th), Elizabeth Arnott (26:38-9th), Abbie Rosenmeier (26:41-10th), Reese Molitor (27:04-11th), Reagan Gorell (28:33-13th), Jennie Frederickson (28:50-14th), Aliyah Nelson (28:54-15th), Abi Micke (31:28-16th) and Summer Gaedtke (34:35-23rd).

The high school girls yet again dominated their alumni competitors with a score of 16 points, compared to the alumni’s 49, increasing the girls’ high school victories over the alumni to nine years in a row since 2016.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, the Hatchet harriers hosted their 23rd annual Alumni Scrimmage at Bradley Park.

Athletes of the Week

Norah Mann – “Drive and preparation are key ingredients to becoming a great athlete; these are two traits that encompass Norah Mann. The sophomore has worked extremely hard in the offseason to continue her push towards being a vital component of the girls’ varsity squad this fall. Clear evidence was occurring last track season, and even more so was running over two minutes faster this year in the annual Alumni Scrimmage than what she ran in 2023. Her intensity has also been an immense factor in her distance running progression, and the epitome of never being satisfied with where she is at has only continued this constant improvement. The coaching staff certainly believes Norah will be a key element of the Lady Hatchets this season.”
Sam Zastrow – “The quiet, stalwart senior captain kicked off his final season of cross country with a first-place finish at the Alumni Scrimmage in a time of 18:39. Sam went about his business this summer, completing the necessary mileage to establish another strong base coming into the fall. Leading the team by example through Bond Falls cross country camp and leading his teammates through the hilly Alumni course has given everyone a small preview of what this season may look like for him. A varsity runner since his freshman year, the coaching staff believes Sam is due for a massive breakout season. Sam has shown great mental and physical strength; now the season’s races will come down to execution and grit – two athletic aspects that Sam has the capability to master.”
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