This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
RIB MOUNTAIN – The Stratford girls cross country team will be making a return trip to the WIAA state cross country meet, and this time the boys team will join them.
Both Stratford teams finished second at the WIAA Division 3 sectional on Friday at Nine-Mile Forest to earn berths in next week’s WIAA State Cross Country Championships at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Auburndale won the girls team title to also earn a spot at the state meet, which is Saturday, Oct. 31. The Division 3 girls race is at noon, with the D-3 boys running at 2 p.m.
The top two teams and top five individuals not on those teams qualified for the state meet.
The Auburndale girls had a pair of top-10 finishes to edge Stratford by nine points for the team title. Isabella Jewell was fifth in 20:25 and Kali Karl took eighth in 20:50. Karl will be making a return trip to state after qualifying last year as a freshman.
Stratford senior Johnelle Miner was fourth in 20:04 and teammate Macie Schillinger was sixth in 20:27. The Tigers will go back to the state meet after making it last year for the first time since 1980.
Spencer’s Nadia King also earned an individual qualifying spot, taking seventh in 20:47, to make it back to state for the second year in a row.
The Stratford boys finished second with 78 points, beating Marathon by six points for the second team spot at the state meet. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption won the boys sectional title with 50 points.
John Geissinger led the Tigers by taking seventh in 17:27. Lucas Heidmann was 12th (17:42), Cade Lehman finished 15th (17:50), and Josh Guyer took 20th (18:01) to give Stratford four top-20 finishes.
The Columbus Catholic boys were fourth and the girls finished seventh.
Leonard Steinert was 18th for the Dons boys (17:54), while Melanie Lang led the girls by taking 19th (21:23).
The Auburndale boys were led by Carver Empey, who took 17th in 17:53 as they finished 11th. Spencer had four runners and didn’t qualify for a team score. Bobby Pilz led the Rockets, taking 55th in 19:32.
2015 WIAA Division 3 Cross Country Sectional
Oct. 23, at Nine-Mile Forest, Rib Mountain
*State qualifiers
Boys
Team scores: *1. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 50; *2. Stratford 78; 3. Marathon 84; 4. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 164; 5. Neillsville 168; 6. Prentice/Rib Lake 196; 7. Crandon 199; 8. Athens 205; 9. Wabeno/Laona 210; 10. Edgar 251; 11. Auburndale 310; 12. Stevens Point Pacelli 322; 13. Goodman-Pembine 326; 14. Pittsville 372; 15. Florence 404; Owen-Withee, Phelps, Spencer, Three Lakes incomplete.
Top 10 finishers: 1. Connor Dolan (WRA) 16:39; *2. Josh Langteau (ATH) 16:44; *3. Thomas Basala (SPP) 16:55; *4. Xavier Lechleitner (MAR) 17:14; *5. Jordan Balz (MAR) 17:24; *6. Tanner Moris (CR) 17:26; 7. John Geissinger (ST) 17:27; 8. Donald Dums (PRL) 17:31; 9. Anthony Keuntjes (WRA) 17:36; 10. Ty Heuer (WL) 17:37.
Other Stratford finishers: 12. Lucas Heidmann 17:42; 15. Cade Lehman 17:50; 20. Josh Guyer 18:01; 24. Christopher Zuelke 18:19; 27. Paul Huther 18:22; 43. Isaac Guyer19:11.
Auburndale finishers: 17. Carver Empey 17:53; 60. Matt Leick 19:39; 77. John Sebold 21:04; 81. Darren Kiefer 21:22; 83. Paul Peplinski 21:24; 86. Josh Peplinski 21:57; 87. Ben Hamill 21:57.
Columbus Catholic finishers: 18. Leonard Steinert 17:54; 29. Benny Frericks 18:26; 34. Peyton Nystrom 18:41; 37. Jeremiah Giles 18:48; 46. Leo Pittsley 19:16; 51. Zac Gotz 19:26; 62. Bryce Fuerlinger 19:53.
Spencer finishers: 55. Bobby Pilz 19:32; 85. Lukas Ellefson 21:42; 100. Luke Baehr 24:04; 101. Colten Post 24:05.
Girls
Team scores: *1. Auburndale 70; *2. Stratford 79; 3. Stevens Point Pacelli 81; 4. Marathon 84; 5. Neillsville 164; 6. Edgar 168; 7. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 176; 8. Prentice/Rib Lake 197; 9. Spencer 219; 10. Crandon 261; 11. Pittsville 277; 12. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 315; 13. Three Lakes 342; Athens, Owen-Withee, Wabeno/Laona incomplete.
Top 10 finishers: *1. Autumn Wickman (ATH) 19:51; *2. Anna Buchberger (MAR) 19:52; *3. Alysha Stieber (MAR) 19:55; 4. Johnelle Miner (ST) 20:04; 5. Isabella Jewell (AUB) 20:25; 6. Macie Schillinger (ST) 20:27; *7. Nadia King (SP) 20:47; 8. Kali Karl (AUB) 20:50; *9. Grace Engebretson (SPP) 20:56; 10. Jenna Grap (NE) 20:57.
Other Auburndale finishers: 13. Katie Leick 21:12; 23. Anna Kollross 21:43; 32. Jordyn Richardson 22:20; 50. Hunter Hilber 23:30; 69. Alyssa Kollross 24:55.
Other Stratford finishers: 11. Kaylee Hollatz 20:59; 33. Sammy Griesbach 22:31; 38. Heather Greenberg 22:42; 41. Courtney Krall 22:45; 64. Samantha Kaiser 24:29.
Columbus Catholic finishers: 19.Melanie Lang 21:23; 37. Hailey Roehl 22:41; 39. Hannah Grubofski 22:43; 46. Morgan Albrecht 22:59; 58. Marissa Immerfall 23:50.
Other Spencer finishers: 28. Kaitlin Kasch 22:05; 62. Leigh Anne Sieracki 24:13; 74. Lauren Faber 25:20; 75. Sabrina Vircks 25:24; 76. Sydney Johnson 25:24; 81. Cinnamin Harwood 26:01.