FREEPORT - Without two of its top five runners, the Monroe boys cross country team showed its depth and ran to a second-place finish at the Freeport Pretzel Invitational Saturday at Highland College.
The Cheesemakers had five runners in the top 16 led by sophomore Dylan Scace who finished fifth with a time of 15 minutes, 37 seconds. Kaneland, Ill. edged the Cheesemakers for the team title at the 17-team invite.
The Cheesemakers ran without two of their top five runners in juniors Nick Baumann and Parker Ingold. The two are dealing with nagging injuries and some other runners are competing for varsity spots.
"If we add those two in, we win the title," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "That was satisfying for the guys."
Hirsbrunner said Scace looked like a front-runner Saturday.
"Dylan raced out with the leaders and stayed there until the end," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "He battled very hard against some tough competition. He's a tough racer and loves competition."
Monroe senior Thang Lu took ninth (16:10) and sophomore Drake Ingold was 10th (16:17). Sophomore teammate Jonah Tostrud finished 14th (16:29) and senior Derek Christiansen rounded out the top five for the Cheesemakers taking 14th (16:29).
"Drake continued being one of our most consistent guys," Hirsbrunner said. "He's solid and getting more and more confident in his ability every time he steps on the course."
Tostrud is battling a shin injury, but gutted out the race.
"Jonah is not at 100 percent with his shins," Hirsbrunner said. "He hammered his way around the course. He's only run a handful of races in his life so we wanted to give him one more race before conference. He will be a force to be reckoned with once he figures out the distance thing."
The Monroe girls ran to a fifth-place finish in the 17-team invite.
"With the course being slightly shorter than what we run in Wisconsin, we told all of our runners to get out harder and work the middle part of the race more," Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal was for everyone to run their fastest time ever. The finish was all downhill so that added some excitement."
Monroe sophomore Rachel Meier finished seventh (18:59).
"She's not at 100 percent right now, but ran a super race," Hirsbrunner said. "She's fine-tuning for a huge conference run in a couple of weeks. We like how she races and she's a great competitor."
Monroe junior Jordan Hirsbrunner took 20th (20:07) and junior Emma Peterson was 31st (20:44). Jordan Hirsbrunner had to finish strong over the final 800-meters and earned a medal.
Peterson battled an illness during the race.
"She ran a super race while coughing and wheezing," Hirsbrunner said of Peterson. "She fought hard and continued to show why she is always at the top of our pack."
Junior teammate Allyce Fahrney finished 37th (21:03) and sophomore Kati Symons was 45th (21:21).
Hirsbrunner said Fahrney and Symons both had solid and strong finishes.
The Cheesemakers had five runners in the top 16 led by sophomore Dylan Scace who finished fifth with a time of 15 minutes, 37 seconds. Kaneland, Ill. edged the Cheesemakers for the team title at the 17-team invite.
The Cheesemakers ran without two of their top five runners in juniors Nick Baumann and Parker Ingold. The two are dealing with nagging injuries and some other runners are competing for varsity spots.
"If we add those two in, we win the title," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "That was satisfying for the guys."
Hirsbrunner said Scace looked like a front-runner Saturday.
"Dylan raced out with the leaders and stayed there until the end," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "He battled very hard against some tough competition. He's a tough racer and loves competition."
Monroe senior Thang Lu took ninth (16:10) and sophomore Drake Ingold was 10th (16:17). Sophomore teammate Jonah Tostrud finished 14th (16:29) and senior Derek Christiansen rounded out the top five for the Cheesemakers taking 14th (16:29).
"Drake continued being one of our most consistent guys," Hirsbrunner said. "He's solid and getting more and more confident in his ability every time he steps on the course."
Tostrud is battling a shin injury, but gutted out the race.
"Jonah is not at 100 percent with his shins," Hirsbrunner said. "He hammered his way around the course. He's only run a handful of races in his life so we wanted to give him one more race before conference. He will be a force to be reckoned with once he figures out the distance thing."
The Monroe girls ran to a fifth-place finish in the 17-team invite.
"With the course being slightly shorter than what we run in Wisconsin, we told all of our runners to get out harder and work the middle part of the race more," Hirsbrunner said. "Our goal was for everyone to run their fastest time ever. The finish was all downhill so that added some excitement."
Monroe sophomore Rachel Meier finished seventh (18:59).
"She's not at 100 percent right now, but ran a super race," Hirsbrunner said. "She's fine-tuning for a huge conference run in a couple of weeks. We like how she races and she's a great competitor."
Monroe junior Jordan Hirsbrunner took 20th (20:07) and junior Emma Peterson was 31st (20:44). Jordan Hirsbrunner had to finish strong over the final 800-meters and earned a medal.
Peterson battled an illness during the race.
"She ran a super race while coughing and wheezing," Hirsbrunner said of Peterson. "She fought hard and continued to show why she is always at the top of our pack."
Junior teammate Allyce Fahrney finished 37th (21:03) and sophomore Kati Symons was 45th (21:21).
Hirsbrunner said Fahrney and Symons both had solid and strong finishes.
