Photo by Diane Schnell Bonduel High School girls cross-country team placed seventh at the WIAA Division 3 state meet at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday. Runners are, from left, Breanna Schnell, Kara Troxel, Ashlyn Schnell, Erin Timler, Katlin Thompson, Abby Owen and Madison Kurey.
Freshman Kara Troxel placed fifth overall out of 151 runners, the Bonduel High School girls cross-country team finished seventh and the boys placed 15th on Saturday at the WIAA Division 3 state meet at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Dodgeland won the girls title, followed by Lancaster and Marshall. Durand won the boys team title, with Darlington second and Rosholt third.
Troxel completed the 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 40.59 seconds.
“It felt really good inside to do so well at state,” Troxel said. “I was just really happy about being a freshman and going to state and I was shocked that we were going as a team. It was really cold this year and very hilly, but we all pushed through it. I’m so proud of all of the runners for how hard they ran.”
Freshman Madison Kurey (21:28.96) was the next across the finish line for the Bears in 59th. Ashlyn Schnell (21:35.25) placed 67th, Katlin Thompson (22:25.40) 96th, Abby Owen (22:41.85) 106th, Breanna Schnell (23:09.41) 114th and Erin Timler (23:19.02) 120th.
Marissa Ellenbecker, of Edgar, won the race in 18:56.33. Lydia Murphy (19:12.68), of Lancaster, was second, and Gillett freshman Sylvia Hansen (19:35.21) was third.
Troxel finished just six seconds behind third-place finisher Hansen. She’s using that for motivation next year.
“That’ll be what I work toward next season. Knowing that if I just shave off a little time I could move up a couple spots makes me really excited to work harder.”
“We knew she had it in her,” coach Diane Schnell said. “She’s been a contender from the start. She beat some of the people who finished in front of her earlier this season and they just had phenomenal runs at state. I was hoping for top 10 for her, so to get top five for her is wonderful. I’m not even sure Kara realizes how amazing it is to place fifth out of 152 runners, because she’s so focused on the team. That really shows her maturity and how much she deserved it.”
Junior Jared Wondra posted Bonduel’s best time in the boys race, completing the course in 17 minutes, 39.81 seconds, to finish 47th. Luther’s David Vannucchi placed first overall in 15:54.83.
Bonduel’s Colin Ewing (18:29.09) placed 95th, Jacob Moede (18:46.62) 106th, Carter Kurey (19:05.62) 119th, Charlie Mews (19:18.07) 125th, Craig Rusch (19:32.18) 135th and William Beaumier (20:15.54) 145th.
“We didn’t expect both teams to qualify for state this year,” Schnell said, “so it was just a wonderful feeling for our community and school. We really needed a positive influence and the kids gave the community that.”