PLATTEVILLE - The New Glarus-Monticello cross country team may want to reserve two school buses or a charter for the WIAA Division 2 state cross country meet in Wisconsin Rapids on Halloween.
The Glarner Knights placed five runners in the top 24 to finish as the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional runner-up and outdistanced third place Monroe, 83-121, for a ticket to the state meet. The New Glarus-Monticello girls cross country team will join the boys on the road to Wisconsin Rapids.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet finished as the sectional runner-up with a time of 15 minutes, 51.46 seconds.
Bernet said it felt amazing to qualify for state for the fourth straight year. This time she will have a lot of company, as the Knights also qualified as a team.
"I'm glad I made it through my last year," Bernet said. "The weather conditions were good except the course was a little wet. That's just cross country."
Monroe senior Tess Seichter just missed qualifying for state for the second straight year. After missing state last year by one second, Seichter finished 11th Saturday with a time of 16:30.72, which was about 15 seconds away from qualifying for state.
"Whatever happened last year is in the past," Seichter said after finishing the 4,000-meter race. "Shannon Klein (of Brodhead-Juda) deserved it last year. I did everything I could this year."
Monroe coach Brian Jefferson wasn't heartbroken that the Cheesemakers were on the bubble for qualifying for state as a team with a third-place finish.
"It's not like a team snuck in front of us," Jefferson said. "We lost to quality teams."
Seichter didn't waste any time racing out to the front of the pack at the UW-Platteville Veterans Memorial Park.
"I may have gone out a little too fast," Seichter said. "Generally, going out faster puts you in a better position in the long run."
Bernet had plenty of help as the Knights ran their way to state. New Glarus-Monticello sophomore LouAnn Judd finished 17th (16:45.97) and freshman Madeline Brunner took 19th (16:50.30). Fellow freshman Brenna Sargent took 21st (16:53.50) and senior Rachel Miller was 24th (16:58.28).
New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley was excited with the position his young team is in after the race.
Three of the Knights' top four runners are freshmen or sophomores and are peaking at the right time. Wehrley gained confidence that this could be a special season after the Knights won the Platteville Invite.
"I think we had to step back and say, 'These gals are good.' "I think they did what they could do today. They put it all on the line."
For years, the Knights have been one of the larger Division 3 schools. Now New Glarus-Monticello is one of the smaller Division 2 teams.
"You expect to be good in Division 3," Wehrley said. "When you are a small Division 2 school, you have to prove yourself all over again."
The Cheesemakers proved they can run with the elite teams. Monroe had six of the top 38 runners. In addition to Seichter, freshmen Abby Rogerson finished 22nd (16:57.12) and Elizabeth Dale took 26th (17:04.42). Monroe sophomore Molly Hlubek finished 28th (17:07.16) and senior Tessa Frutiger was 34th (17:20.68). Monroe junior Rachel Rogerson took 38th with a time of 17:33.10.
Brodhead-Juda finished 14th out of 16 teams. Klein, who qualified for state last year and has battled back from hip surgery, took 36th with a time of 17:24.63 to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead-Juda senior Amanda Kopp finished 48th (17:49.80) in her final race.
Three of Monroe's top four runners were freshmen and sophomores and the Cheesemakers will have a strong core back next year despite losing three seniors.
"I hope it does serve as good motivation," Jefferson said.
The Glarner Knights placed five runners in the top 24 to finish as the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional runner-up and outdistanced third place Monroe, 83-121, for a ticket to the state meet. The New Glarus-Monticello girls cross country team will join the boys on the road to Wisconsin Rapids.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet finished as the sectional runner-up with a time of 15 minutes, 51.46 seconds.
Bernet said it felt amazing to qualify for state for the fourth straight year. This time she will have a lot of company, as the Knights also qualified as a team.
"I'm glad I made it through my last year," Bernet said. "The weather conditions were good except the course was a little wet. That's just cross country."
Monroe senior Tess Seichter just missed qualifying for state for the second straight year. After missing state last year by one second, Seichter finished 11th Saturday with a time of 16:30.72, which was about 15 seconds away from qualifying for state.
"Whatever happened last year is in the past," Seichter said after finishing the 4,000-meter race. "Shannon Klein (of Brodhead-Juda) deserved it last year. I did everything I could this year."
Monroe coach Brian Jefferson wasn't heartbroken that the Cheesemakers were on the bubble for qualifying for state as a team with a third-place finish.
"It's not like a team snuck in front of us," Jefferson said. "We lost to quality teams."
Seichter didn't waste any time racing out to the front of the pack at the UW-Platteville Veterans Memorial Park.
"I may have gone out a little too fast," Seichter said. "Generally, going out faster puts you in a better position in the long run."
Bernet had plenty of help as the Knights ran their way to state. New Glarus-Monticello sophomore LouAnn Judd finished 17th (16:45.97) and freshman Madeline Brunner took 19th (16:50.30). Fellow freshman Brenna Sargent took 21st (16:53.50) and senior Rachel Miller was 24th (16:58.28).
New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley was excited with the position his young team is in after the race.
Three of the Knights' top four runners are freshmen or sophomores and are peaking at the right time. Wehrley gained confidence that this could be a special season after the Knights won the Platteville Invite.
"I think we had to step back and say, 'These gals are good.' "I think they did what they could do today. They put it all on the line."
For years, the Knights have been one of the larger Division 3 schools. Now New Glarus-Monticello is one of the smaller Division 2 teams.
"You expect to be good in Division 3," Wehrley said. "When you are a small Division 2 school, you have to prove yourself all over again."
The Cheesemakers proved they can run with the elite teams. Monroe had six of the top 38 runners. In addition to Seichter, freshmen Abby Rogerson finished 22nd (16:57.12) and Elizabeth Dale took 26th (17:04.42). Monroe sophomore Molly Hlubek finished 28th (17:07.16) and senior Tessa Frutiger was 34th (17:20.68). Monroe junior Rachel Rogerson took 38th with a time of 17:33.10.
Brodhead-Juda finished 14th out of 16 teams. Klein, who qualified for state last year and has battled back from hip surgery, took 36th with a time of 17:24.63 to lead the Cardinals. Brodhead-Juda senior Amanda Kopp finished 48th (17:49.80) in her final race.
Three of Monroe's top four runners were freshmen and sophomores and the Cheesemakers will have a strong core back next year despite losing three seniors.
"I hope it does serve as good motivation," Jefferson said.
