Coach proud of SCHS runners

Shawano Community High School cross-country coach Steve Stomberg had plenty to be proud of in his teams’ showing at Saturday’s WIAA Division 1 sectional.

Junior Austin Lhotka’s 11th-place finish in the boys race at Standing Rocks Park in Stevens Point qualified him for Saturday’s state cross-country meet.

Fellow junior Teagan Monfils’ disqualification in the girls race was also a source of pride.

Monfils, who was a state-qualifier her freshman year, stopped to pick up D.C. Everest’s Jordan Ostrowski in the final stretch of the race. Ostrowski had fallen from exhaustion. Monfils struggled to get Ostrowski up and moving.

When it became clear Ostrowski could barely stand, Monfils committed to getting the distressed runner the final 60 yards of the race, at times dragging Ostrowski forward.

“She wasn’t looking too stable on her feet,” Monfils said. “I saw her fall ahead of me, and I know if it were me I’d want somebody to help me across. … It’s the last meet of our season; she just deserved to finish.”

Monfils, who missed time this season with an injury, could see the clock at the finish line and knew she wouldn’t have finished with a personal best time or have a chance to qualify for the state meet.

“Me taking a little bit of time out of my race wasn’t going to hurt me,” Monfils said.

Ostrowski received emergency assistance from trainers after crossing the finish line and was able to recover. Both runners were disqualified per WIAA rules against assisting a runner during a race.

Monfils’ coach could not have been more proud.

“That’s sportsmanship,” Stomberg said. “Yeah, you were disqualified, but that humanitarian part of you, that wonderful person that you are, came out. She wanted to help another person, and that’s what I like. It’s a credit to her.”

Stomberg also was impressed by Lhotka’s determination Saturday.

“Austin is one of those that came out and ran the race he needed to run,” Stomberg said. “To get that spot, to qualify for the state meet is absolutely incredible.”

Lhotka knew going in he’d have to push himself to get a qualifying spot.

“All I was thinking about was the conference race,” Lhotka said, “how I did good for the first mile, but I pretty much just stayed at that pace. Today, after the second mile, I told myself, ‘Just go.’”

That internal voice was the difference, according to Stomberg.

“He’s not this tall kid with long legs that is your ideal running body style,” Stomberg said, “but he just makes up for it with heart and determination.”

This is Lhotka’s first trip to state, but he did go watch the race when Monfils qualified two years ago.

“I went to cheer her on. It’s a really big meet,” Lhotka said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

The Shawano boys finished fifth at the sectional, won by Stevens Point. The SCHS girls placed 11th. Stevens Point also won the girls race.

Division 1 Results

Stevens Point Sectional

Boys

Team Scoring: 1. Stevens Point 20, 2. Wausau West 89, 3. D.C. Everest 111, 4. Merrill 112, 5. Shawano 125, 6. Wausau East 162, 7. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 182, 8. Hortonville 193, 9. Marshfield 270, 10. Pulaski 272, 11. Superior 273, 12. Rhinelander 328

Shawano: 11. Austin Lhotka, 17:25; 13. Jake Klister, 17:30; 29. Andrew Cardish, 18:12; 34. Chase Lhotka, 18:25; 38. Brandon Pagel, 18:36

Girls

Team Scoring: 1. Stevens Point 51, 2. Pulaski 52, 3. Wausau East 102, 4. Hortonville 114, 5. Wausau West 132, 6. D.C. Everest 136, 7. Superior 170, 8. Marshfield 179, 9. Rhinelander 254, 10. Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 309, 11. Shawano 333, 12. Merrill 345

Shawano: 52. Kristy Kurtz, 22:51; 64. Savannah Johnson, 23:38; 67. Sophia Holstrum, 24:00; 73. Mackenzie Boyles, 25:10; 77. Hannah Williams, 25:49