ALBANY - New Glarus-Monticello cross country coach Steve Wehrley has been waiting for a breakout performance from his team.
He got it Saturday as the Glarner Knights had four of the top 11 runners en route to winning the small school division of the Baertschi Invitational. New Glarus-Monticello (49) finished ahead of runner-up Poynette (60) for the title.
"The girls have been hoping all season long that they could bring home a trophy," Wehrley said. "They didn't care if it was a first, second or third. They wanted to bring home some kind of trophy to put in front of the bus."
Monroe rested its top seven runners and finished 12th in the large school division.
"This is a good rest for their bodies so they are healthy for next week," Monroe coach Brian Jefferson said of the upcoming Badger South Conference meet. "They have earned some rest for next week."
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Kendra Sigg won the small schools race with a time of 16 minutes, 19 seconds. After running in snow flurries during the Baertschi Invite last year, Sigg welcomed the warm weather.
Sigg said she preferred running in the heat.
"I would rather be sweating than have a cold sweat," Sigg said. "I struggled in my first couple of races. I have to give credit to Pat (Hardyman). He's a great coach. I started out the season slow and at the end of the season I come on. I'm peaking."
New Glarus-Monticello junior Madeline Brunner finished third (16:40). New Glarus-Monticello senior LouAnn Judd finished ninth (17:31), sophomore Carly Duerst took 10th (17:40) and senior Amanda Kaiser was 11th (17:57).
"She just focused on her summer running," Wehrley said. "Now look at what she has done. I'm just so happy with how she is pulling the team along."
Albany, which doesn't have enough girls to score in the team standings, had some solid performances. Albany sophomore Bailey Hlavachek finished sixth (17:04) and senior Ciara Kubesh took 14th (18:00).
Pecatonica-Argyle took fifth out of nine teams in the small school division. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Emma Marion finished 28th (19:21), senior Katie Dammen took 29th (19:21) and freshman Hannah Saalsaa was 32nd (19:31).
In the large school division, Brookfield Central ran away with the title 49-87 over Platteville. Brodhead-Juda finished 11th (248), which was well ahead of the Cheesemakers (341). Brodhead-Juda sophomore Morganne Goecks took 32nd (17:25) to lead the Cardinals. Fellow sophomores Camilla Klar and Jacque Conway finished 47th and 48th respectively. Klar finished the race with a time of 18:53, which was five seconds ahead of Conway (18:58).
Monroe senior Molly Wyss finished 55th (19:39) and sophomore Dana Starck was 65th (20:39). Monroe sophomore Meghan Sampson finished 71st (21:43) and senior Chelsea Haffele was 74th (22:19).
"It was good to give some of the seniors a chance," Jefferson said. "They have all worked hard and earned it."
Wyss and Starck are vying for the No. 8 position heading into the Badger South Conference meet on Saturday.
"I was looking at Molly Wyss and Dana Starck to see how they would do because we can run eight at conference," Jefferson said. "They both ran strong races and came in where I thought they would."
He got it Saturday as the Glarner Knights had four of the top 11 runners en route to winning the small school division of the Baertschi Invitational. New Glarus-Monticello (49) finished ahead of runner-up Poynette (60) for the title.
"The girls have been hoping all season long that they could bring home a trophy," Wehrley said. "They didn't care if it was a first, second or third. They wanted to bring home some kind of trophy to put in front of the bus."
Monroe rested its top seven runners and finished 12th in the large school division.
"This is a good rest for their bodies so they are healthy for next week," Monroe coach Brian Jefferson said of the upcoming Badger South Conference meet. "They have earned some rest for next week."
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Kendra Sigg won the small schools race with a time of 16 minutes, 19 seconds. After running in snow flurries during the Baertschi Invite last year, Sigg welcomed the warm weather.
Sigg said she preferred running in the heat.
"I would rather be sweating than have a cold sweat," Sigg said. "I struggled in my first couple of races. I have to give credit to Pat (Hardyman). He's a great coach. I started out the season slow and at the end of the season I come on. I'm peaking."
New Glarus-Monticello junior Madeline Brunner finished third (16:40). New Glarus-Monticello senior LouAnn Judd finished ninth (17:31), sophomore Carly Duerst took 10th (17:40) and senior Amanda Kaiser was 11th (17:57).
"She just focused on her summer running," Wehrley said. "Now look at what she has done. I'm just so happy with how she is pulling the team along."
Albany, which doesn't have enough girls to score in the team standings, had some solid performances. Albany sophomore Bailey Hlavachek finished sixth (17:04) and senior Ciara Kubesh took 14th (18:00).
Pecatonica-Argyle took fifth out of nine teams in the small school division. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Emma Marion finished 28th (19:21), senior Katie Dammen took 29th (19:21) and freshman Hannah Saalsaa was 32nd (19:31).
In the large school division, Brookfield Central ran away with the title 49-87 over Platteville. Brodhead-Juda finished 11th (248), which was well ahead of the Cheesemakers (341). Brodhead-Juda sophomore Morganne Goecks took 32nd (17:25) to lead the Cardinals. Fellow sophomores Camilla Klar and Jacque Conway finished 47th and 48th respectively. Klar finished the race with a time of 18:53, which was five seconds ahead of Conway (18:58).
Monroe senior Molly Wyss finished 55th (19:39) and sophomore Dana Starck was 65th (20:39). Monroe sophomore Meghan Sampson finished 71st (21:43) and senior Chelsea Haffele was 74th (22:19).
"It was good to give some of the seniors a chance," Jefferson said. "They have all worked hard and earned it."
Wyss and Starck are vying for the No. 8 position heading into the Badger South Conference meet on Saturday.
"I was looking at Molly Wyss and Dana Starck to see how they would do because we can run eight at conference," Jefferson said. "They both ran strong races and came in where I thought they would."
