ALBANY - The New Glarus-Monticello boys cross country team enters the championship point of the season with a full head of steam.
The Glarner Knights, ranked eighth in the Division 2 Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association state poll, won the large schools Baertschi Invitational Saturday, by edging McFarland, 47-54. New Glarus-Monticello had four of the top 15 runners. Freshman Ryan McCoy continued a banner season by finishing first with a time of 16 minutes, 55 seconds.
"It feels good to know that I'm in good form and our team is doing amazing," McCoy said. "It just comes down to one day at the sectional. It doesn't matter what we do now if we don't win the sectional. Our goal is to win the sectional and go to state."
New Glarus-Monticello senior Travis Beutler took second (17:04), senior Carl Pratt finished fourth (17:28) and Tyler Meier was 15th (18:19).
"Our goal was to stay ahead of McFarland," Beutler said. "We know it's going to be between us and them at sectionals."
Monroe, which ran without its three best runners in junior Dylan Starck and sophomores Joel Henry and Luke Peterson, finished fifth as a team. Starck didn't run due to a nagging hip injury.
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner held Henry and Peterson out of the invite so they could rest for the Badger South Conference meet Oct. 17 at Stoughton and the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional. The Cheesemakers' top seven runners have only raced together at the same meet once this year, but in separate races at the Badger Challenge.
"We haven't run everyone at the same time," Hirsbrunner said. "I would like to have a race where we can have our seven best guys in the same race. Hopefully he (Starck) can run next week at conference."
The Cheesemakers were led by freshman Payton Hoesly, who finished 17th with a time of 18:33. Even when it started snowing midway through the race, Hoesly remained focused.
"I didn't notice it right away," Hoesly said of the snow flurries. "I was so warm from running. I can't believe it's this cold already."
Hirsbrunner likes the way Hoesly has been surging late this season.
"He's a physically strong kid," he said. "Mentally, the kid doesn't give up. He is really gutty. I like the way he competes."
Monroe senior Brandon Mortimer took 23rd (18:38) and freshman Steve Christiansen finished 29th (18:50). The Cheesemakers received a big boost from Justin Helton and Jacob Gassman, who were both running their first varsity races. Helton, a sophomore, finished 32nd (19:06) and Gassman took 49th (19:35).
Brodhead-Juda finished last out of 12 teams in the large school race. The Cardinals were paced by junior Daniel Drewes, who took 45th (19:30). Sophomore Tate Harnack finished 58th (20:02) and junior Kyle Lockhart took 60th (20:05). Brodhead-Juda senior Josh Wilkins finished 62nd with a time of 20:11.
Most of the area cross country teams now turn their attentions to conference meets.
Hirsbrunner said several runners are competing for the last few varsity spots.
"A top-five finish is a great day considering we held out our top three runners," Hirsbrunner said. "There are some guys really fighting for those spots."
The Glarner Knights, ranked eighth in the Division 2 Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association state poll, won the large schools Baertschi Invitational Saturday, by edging McFarland, 47-54. New Glarus-Monticello had four of the top 15 runners. Freshman Ryan McCoy continued a banner season by finishing first with a time of 16 minutes, 55 seconds.
"It feels good to know that I'm in good form and our team is doing amazing," McCoy said. "It just comes down to one day at the sectional. It doesn't matter what we do now if we don't win the sectional. Our goal is to win the sectional and go to state."
New Glarus-Monticello senior Travis Beutler took second (17:04), senior Carl Pratt finished fourth (17:28) and Tyler Meier was 15th (18:19).
"Our goal was to stay ahead of McFarland," Beutler said. "We know it's going to be between us and them at sectionals."
Monroe, which ran without its three best runners in junior Dylan Starck and sophomores Joel Henry and Luke Peterson, finished fifth as a team. Starck didn't run due to a nagging hip injury.
Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner held Henry and Peterson out of the invite so they could rest for the Badger South Conference meet Oct. 17 at Stoughton and the WIAA Division 2 Platteville sectional. The Cheesemakers' top seven runners have only raced together at the same meet once this year, but in separate races at the Badger Challenge.
"We haven't run everyone at the same time," Hirsbrunner said. "I would like to have a race where we can have our seven best guys in the same race. Hopefully he (Starck) can run next week at conference."
The Cheesemakers were led by freshman Payton Hoesly, who finished 17th with a time of 18:33. Even when it started snowing midway through the race, Hoesly remained focused.
"I didn't notice it right away," Hoesly said of the snow flurries. "I was so warm from running. I can't believe it's this cold already."
Hirsbrunner likes the way Hoesly has been surging late this season.
"He's a physically strong kid," he said. "Mentally, the kid doesn't give up. He is really gutty. I like the way he competes."
Monroe senior Brandon Mortimer took 23rd (18:38) and freshman Steve Christiansen finished 29th (18:50). The Cheesemakers received a big boost from Justin Helton and Jacob Gassman, who were both running their first varsity races. Helton, a sophomore, finished 32nd (19:06) and Gassman took 49th (19:35).
Brodhead-Juda finished last out of 12 teams in the large school race. The Cardinals were paced by junior Daniel Drewes, who took 45th (19:30). Sophomore Tate Harnack finished 58th (20:02) and junior Kyle Lockhart took 60th (20:05). Brodhead-Juda senior Josh Wilkins finished 62nd with a time of 20:11.
Most of the area cross country teams now turn their attentions to conference meets.
Hirsbrunner said several runners are competing for the last few varsity spots.
"A top-five finish is a great day considering we held out our top three runners," Hirsbrunner said. "There are some guys really fighting for those spots."
