October 23, 2017 at 12:59 p.m.
Hodag harriers finish toward back of sectional field
Hodag harriers finish toward back of sectional field
The Hodag girls finished 10th out of 15 qualifying teams while the Hodag boys were last in a 14-team field.
"I think they learned what it means to compete," Hodag coach M.J. Laggis said following the race. "I think, above and beyond anything, if you want to be good at this, you've got to be able to compete. That's what we take away. There's a whole other level out there and that's what you've got to work for."
The top two teams qualified for the WIAA state meet this Saturday in Wisconsin Rapids. Lakeland advanced with runner-up finishes in both the boys' and girls' team standings. Freedom won the girls' sectional title while Medford upset Lakeland, snapping the T-Birds streak of three straight boys' sectional championships.
Senior Alayna Franson qualified for the state meet for the third time in her four-year career, with a fifth-place run in the girls' race (see related story, above), and the Hodags had a couple of other runners within earshot of the state meet.
On the girls' side, senior Anna Sturzl closed out her running career in strong fashion with a 17th-place finish. Sophomore Daniel Ritchie paced the Hodag boys, placing 25th. Both were within a minute of qualifying for the state meet.
For Sturzl, her time of 21 minute, 32.38 seconds missed the state-qualifying mark by eight positions and roughly 47 seconds. Peshtigo's Katrina Salmen (ninth, 20:45.20) was the final individual qualifier. But Sturzl was the seventh-fastest Great Northern Conference runner in the field, a big jump from the week before when she missed making the all-GNC team with a 16th-place run at the conference meet.
"Anna was just two (places) out of all-conference and now she's right there in the conversation (for qualifying for state)," Laggis said. "It caps off a really good career for Anna. She had a good time today and a good race. ... While Anna doesn't go on, I'm proud of her and which her nothing but success."
Ritchie ran the sectional race despite having to suit up a few hours later for the RHS boys' soccer team in a regional final match against Clintonville. His time of 18:40.09 missed the state-qualifying mark by roughly 55 seconds. Mosinee's Grayson Barrett (11th, 17:44.56) was the last individual qualifier.
"There's a guy that went both ways all year and that's hard to do," Laggis said, referencing Ritchie's dual soccer and cross country roles. "That's wear and tear on your body. Today he runs and then what does he do? He goes straight back (to Rhinelander) to play a playoff (soccer) game. Great run for Daniel."
Bridger Flory, in his second race back from a lower leg injury, ran 40th overall and was the third-fastest Hodag in the boys' race (19:01.88).
"He laid it down there and had a really good time," Laggis said. "I shudder to think what he could have done if he had run the whole year. I'm really proud of Bridger and he's got another big year in front of him."
Saturday's race ended the high school running careers of three Hodag seniors - Sturzl, Markus Johnson and Mathew Herman. Johnson was Rhinelander's No. 2 finisher on the boys' side in 38th overall (18:58.39). Herman finished 89th in the boys' race (22:08.89).
"I can't say enough about the seniors, not just their ability, but their stick-to-it-tiveness and their leadership that they brought to our team," Laggis said.
Abbie Henrichs (58th, 24:14.39), Jenna Younker (70th, 25:01.10), Valerie Dalka (76th, 25:40.06), Houston Mathwig (86th, 27:41.10) and Claire Bowman (94th, 27:56.75) rounded out the contingent for the Hodag girls.
JC Adams finished 73rd for the Hodag boys (20:10.26), Jacob Weddle was 85th (21:23.55) and Tristan Fuss was 88th (21:54.72).
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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