DARLINGTON - With greater success comes even bigger expectations. That has been the story for the Darlington boys cross country team.
Darlington enters the WIAA Division 3 state meet ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 state poll and looks to win a sixth straight state title.
"They are aware of it," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbirds' second-longest state championship streak in the history of the state. "Everyone has talked about it. They are just looking to run their best race on Saturday. That is what matters."
The Redbirds became just the fourth team last year in WIAA history to win five straight state titles. The record for the most consecutive state championships in cross country is owned by Milwaukee Riverside, which won eight straight from 1913-1920.
The top runner for the Redbirds is sophomore Payton Heinberg, who was the sectional champion in Fennimore. The Redbirds have a strong core that includes senior Conner Hackett, junior Tanner Evenstad and sophomore Tucker Lange.
Heinberg finished seventh last year at state, followed by Evenstad in 11th and Lange in 15th.
The top challengers looking to snap the Redbirds' state championship streak are La Crosse Aquinas, Chequamegon and Rosholt. Chequamegon returns five runners from a team last year that finished third. Aquinas has four runners back from a team that took fourth and Rosholt has its top five runners back after taking fifth last season.
"There are five or six teams that have a legit shot of winning it," Miehe said.
Miehe said the best part about the Redbirds is there are several runners who will challenge each other to finish as the team's fifth runner. Sophomore Trae Schilling and junior Paul King have had big races in the past two weeks.
Having depth on the team that runs seven or more deep gives the Redbirds an advantage.
"That takes the pressure off kids that they have to come through," Miehe said. "They can just take off and run. They know someone will come through."
"After we won our first state championship, the kids did a good job of saying that was last year and moving on," Miehe said. "Our guys want to go out together and be in a pack. We are trying to run as a group at the state meet as much as we can."
The Darlington girls cross country team, ranked second, enters the state meet on the heels of edging Albany for a sectional championship.
The top runners for the Redbirds are senior Paige Schilling, sophomore Ilse Mendez and junior Reghan Komprood.
Both Albany coach Tony Brewer and Miehe of the Redbirds said Lourdes Academy, the three-time state champion, is the favorite to win the Division 3 state title.
"They are head and shoulders above everybody," Miehe said. "No one is ever unbeatable."
Both Darlington and Albany are in the hunt for a silver trophy as the state runner-up. Albany, ranked third, finished fourth at the state last year.
"Hopefully, we can improve on that and get a trophy," Brewer said of the Comets fourth-place finish last year.
Belleville senior Noelle Marie could be in contention for an individual state title. Marie, the sectional champion in Fennimore, finished fifth at state the past two years.
The Comets have two top-35 runners from last year's state meet with senior Ciara Kaderly (ninth) and Emma Guenther (31st).
"The key is to have two front-runners up there to get you low points," Brewer said of Kaderly and Guenther. "Hopefully, they can carry the load and we get some other really good performances."
Marion senior Delaney Greene-Gretzinger finished fourth last year after winning the individual state title in 2014. The top returner from last year is Iola-Scandinavia junior Erika Kisting, who took third.
Other teams contending for a top-two finish are Chequamegon, La Crosse Aquinas and Phillips.
The Comets finished ahead of Chequamegon in an invitational earlier this season.
"Our times from our sectional may not be as good as some times from other sectionals because Fennimore is a hard course," Brewer said. "We don't need to go into the state meet and panic because we have run against them (Chequamegon) before."
Darlington enters the WIAA Division 3 state meet ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 state poll and looks to win a sixth straight state title.
"They are aware of it," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbirds' second-longest state championship streak in the history of the state. "Everyone has talked about it. They are just looking to run their best race on Saturday. That is what matters."
The Redbirds became just the fourth team last year in WIAA history to win five straight state titles. The record for the most consecutive state championships in cross country is owned by Milwaukee Riverside, which won eight straight from 1913-1920.
The top runner for the Redbirds is sophomore Payton Heinberg, who was the sectional champion in Fennimore. The Redbirds have a strong core that includes senior Conner Hackett, junior Tanner Evenstad and sophomore Tucker Lange.
Heinberg finished seventh last year at state, followed by Evenstad in 11th and Lange in 15th.
The top challengers looking to snap the Redbirds' state championship streak are La Crosse Aquinas, Chequamegon and Rosholt. Chequamegon returns five runners from a team last year that finished third. Aquinas has four runners back from a team that took fourth and Rosholt has its top five runners back after taking fifth last season.
"There are five or six teams that have a legit shot of winning it," Miehe said.
Miehe said the best part about the Redbirds is there are several runners who will challenge each other to finish as the team's fifth runner. Sophomore Trae Schilling and junior Paul King have had big races in the past two weeks.
Having depth on the team that runs seven or more deep gives the Redbirds an advantage.
"That takes the pressure off kids that they have to come through," Miehe said. "They can just take off and run. They know someone will come through."
"After we won our first state championship, the kids did a good job of saying that was last year and moving on," Miehe said. "Our guys want to go out together and be in a pack. We are trying to run as a group at the state meet as much as we can."
The Darlington girls cross country team, ranked second, enters the state meet on the heels of edging Albany for a sectional championship.
The top runners for the Redbirds are senior Paige Schilling, sophomore Ilse Mendez and junior Reghan Komprood.
Both Albany coach Tony Brewer and Miehe of the Redbirds said Lourdes Academy, the three-time state champion, is the favorite to win the Division 3 state title.
"They are head and shoulders above everybody," Miehe said. "No one is ever unbeatable."
Both Darlington and Albany are in the hunt for a silver trophy as the state runner-up. Albany, ranked third, finished fourth at the state last year.
"Hopefully, we can improve on that and get a trophy," Brewer said of the Comets fourth-place finish last year.
Belleville senior Noelle Marie could be in contention for an individual state title. Marie, the sectional champion in Fennimore, finished fifth at state the past two years.
The Comets have two top-35 runners from last year's state meet with senior Ciara Kaderly (ninth) and Emma Guenther (31st).
"The key is to have two front-runners up there to get you low points," Brewer said of Kaderly and Guenther. "Hopefully, they can carry the load and we get some other really good performances."
Marion senior Delaney Greene-Gretzinger finished fourth last year after winning the individual state title in 2014. The top returner from last year is Iola-Scandinavia junior Erika Kisting, who took third.
Other teams contending for a top-two finish are Chequamegon, La Crosse Aquinas and Phillips.
The Comets finished ahead of Chequamegon in an invitational earlier this season.
"Our times from our sectional may not be as good as some times from other sectionals because Fennimore is a hard course," Brewer said. "We don't need to go into the state meet and panic because we have run against them (Chequamegon) before."
