WIAA state cross country meet
When: Saturday
Where: Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids
Schedule: Division 3 girls, noon; Division 2 girls, 12:40 p.m.; Division 1 girls, 1:20 p.m.; Division 3 boys, 2 p.m.; Division 2 boys, 2:35 p.m.; Division 1 boys: 3:10 p.m.
Area qualifiers
Teams: Darlington boys, Albany girls
Individuals: Jordan Hirsbrunner, Monroe; Taylor Bluemel, Brodhead-Juda; Cora Purdue, Brodhead-Juda; Madee Harding, Brodhead-Juda; Nick Baumann, Monroe; Dylan Scace, Monroe; Erin Wolf, Darlington
ALBANY - One noticeable face won't be on the course running with the Albany girls cross country team at the WIAA Division 3 state meet Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Albany senior Sydnee Woyak's season was wiped out due to a stress fracture in her foot, but she will still play a role at the state meet by helping to coach her teammates.
"It's a huge accomplishment that we made it to state with her coaching," Albany junior Ciara Kaderly said of Woyak. "She won't be running with us. That is just not the case. We will be running for her."
Woyak was planning on returning to run in the conference and
sectional meets but she found out Oct. 2 that her stress fracture wasn't healing despite being on crutches and in a cast for more than a month. She rode a stationary bike to stay in shape for a return. It was devastating news for Woyak, a state qualifier last year, whose season was over before it even got started.
"It was just really hard," Woyak said. "I knew I wouldn't be able to go. All year I worked to be a good runner. Now we are going to state, and I won't be able to run."
She's excited and looks forward to coaching her teammates in Wisconsin Rapids Saturday.
"They deserve it," she said. "I'm really proud of my team."
Woyak was given the option of electro stimulation or surgery on her stress fracture. She opted for electro stimulation in hopes of a quicker recovery compared to surgery.
"I hope to heal faster," Woyak said. "I chose electro stimulation because I want to be back for basketball."
The Comets have made a big jump this season with the addition of freshmen Kirsten Oliver and Megan Anderson. Sophomore Emma Guenther will be running in her second straight state meet. Kaderly was a Division 2 state qualifier with Monroe last year, and she finished 18th.
Woyak has given Oliver and Anderson some advice about running in the state meet.
"I just told them to go out there and run as hard as they can and run 100 percent," Woyak said. "I know at state it will be a much faster pace, and I have to get them ready for that."
Belleville junior Noelle Marie, who finished fifth last year, will be contending for a state title this year along with defending state champion Delaney Greene-Gretzinger of Marion and La Crosse Aquinas sophomore Ryanne Schneider, who took fourth last year.
Albany coach Tony Brewer said the Comets will not set a goal of finishing in the top two or three teams.
"If you set a goal before state and don't get it than it feels like a disappointment," Brewer said. "We want to get everyone ready to run great and loose. Maybe that means we are top two."
Albany senior Sydnee Woyak's season was wiped out due to a stress fracture in her foot, but she will still play a role at the state meet by helping to coach her teammates.
"It's a huge accomplishment that we made it to state with her coaching," Albany junior Ciara Kaderly said of Woyak. "She won't be running with us. That is just not the case. We will be running for her."
Woyak was planning on returning to run in the conference and
sectional meets but she found out Oct. 2 that her stress fracture wasn't healing despite being on crutches and in a cast for more than a month. She rode a stationary bike to stay in shape for a return. It was devastating news for Woyak, a state qualifier last year, whose season was over before it even got started.
"It was just really hard," Woyak said. "I knew I wouldn't be able to go. All year I worked to be a good runner. Now we are going to state, and I won't be able to run."
She's excited and looks forward to coaching her teammates in Wisconsin Rapids Saturday.
"They deserve it," she said. "I'm really proud of my team."
Woyak was given the option of electro stimulation or surgery on her stress fracture. She opted for electro stimulation in hopes of a quicker recovery compared to surgery.
"I hope to heal faster," Woyak said. "I chose electro stimulation because I want to be back for basketball."
The Comets have made a big jump this season with the addition of freshmen Kirsten Oliver and Megan Anderson. Sophomore Emma Guenther will be running in her second straight state meet. Kaderly was a Division 2 state qualifier with Monroe last year, and she finished 18th.
Woyak has given Oliver and Anderson some advice about running in the state meet.
"I just told them to go out there and run as hard as they can and run 100 percent," Woyak said. "I know at state it will be a much faster pace, and I have to get them ready for that."
Belleville junior Noelle Marie, who finished fifth last year, will be contending for a state title this year along with defending state champion Delaney Greene-Gretzinger of Marion and La Crosse Aquinas sophomore Ryanne Schneider, who took fourth last year.
Albany coach Tony Brewer said the Comets will not set a goal of finishing in the top two or three teams.
"If you set a goal before state and don't get it than it feels like a disappointment," Brewer said. "We want to get everyone ready to run great and loose. Maybe that means we are top two."
