Morgan Rode sports@newmedia-wi.com
Leader photo by Lee Pulaski Bonduel’s Jack Johnson, left, tries to hold off Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Evan Stanislawski during the Central Wisconsin Conference Meet on Thursday.
With cross-country sectionals closing in, Central Wisconsin Conference runners took part in the conference meet at the Navarino Nature Center on Thursday looking to build up confidence.
Both Bonduel teams enjoyed strong finishes, with the boys placing second with 67 points and the girls coming in third with 86 points.
“Our conference is packed with super teams that frequent the state meet. That strong competition only helps our runners,” said Bonduel coach Diane Schnell. “Our goal was met last night with every runner improving their time over the last time they ran the difficult hills in Navarino.”
True to season form, Kara Troxel again paced the girls team, finishing the course in 19 minutes, 59.59 seconds. Weyauwega-Fremont’s Abby Bartel won the race in 19:32.81 while Iola-Scandinavia’s Jada Beacom posted a time of 19:52.03.
Troxel was thrilled with her finish but remains determined to keep improving.
“Yesterday’s meet boosted my confidence and gave me motivation to beat the girls that finished in front of me because I was not that far behind them,” the sophomore said. “If I shave off about 10 seconds, I could beat one of the girls. They make me push myself in the races which is what I need in order to get better and get a good placing at sectionals.”
Jared Wondra led the Bonduel boys by taking fifth with a time of 17:42.6. Carter Kurey came in soon after with a time of 17:58.73. Colin Ewing (18:18.51), William Beaumier (19:29.32) and Jack Johnson (19:47.58) capped the team score. Alex Jasch (20:20.71), Colen Klosterman (20:49.01) and Cooper Uelmen (20:53.59) also competed for the Bears.
Madison Kurey (21:29.99) placed 10th for the Bonduel girls while Breanna Schnell (22:49.82) took 20th. Jessica Ewing (22:56) and Erin Timler (23:20.55) rounded out the team’s top-five runners while Kim Smith (24:47.94), Katlin Thompson (26:07.67) and Alexia Folkman (26:50.2) also ran.
The Wittenberg-Birnamwood boys scored 80 points to take third as a team. Cole Schairer (17:52.46) led the team by taking sixth.
“It feels good knowing that I am peaking at the end of the season so I can hopefully run my best race of the year next Saturday which could land me a spot at state,” the junior said.
Brendan Resch (18:54.01) took 15th for the Chargers while Wyatt Dickman (19:11.41) came in 18th. Ian Resch (19:24.91) and Simon Schairer (19:42.99) rounded out the team score. Evan Stanislawski (19:49.69), Chad Moegenburg (20:33.4) and Brian Nelson (21:42.18) also represented the Witt-Birn boys.
The Chargers girls team placed sixth with 115 points. Jenna Stone (21:01.65) led the team with a sixth-place finish while Ruby Nowinsky (21:49.08) took 14th. Chloe King (22:43.41) also finished in the top 20. Erica Wendler (23:55.59) and Lauren Dombeck (25:12.4) completed the team’s top-five runners while Molly Gretzlock finished the course in 25:50.93.
Competing with the minimum five runners, the Gresham/Bowler co-op scored 242 points to take ninth. Levi Schick (20:07.13) paced the co-op by taking 30th. Lane Schultz (21:32.7), Noah Bestul (23:02.23), Austin Slater (26:28.62) and Donnie Edwards (28:26.42) filled out the team. Maya Thiex (33:24.28) was the lone girl to compete for Gresham/Bowler
Marion’s Justin Wuske (19:09.43) placed 16th while teammates Reed Wiesman and Isaiah Gueths finished in 21:32.95 and 22:47.49, respectively. Hannah Krueger posted a time of 30:38.7 in the girls race.
Ashton Cox (19:26.69) paced Menominee Indian while Joshua Besaw (21:54.86), Sequoia Schlicting (21:57.34) and Jameson Besaw (22:09.05) also represented the Eagles.