WARRIORS COMPETE AT MARSHALL INVITATIONAL AND WORTHINGTON TURKEY TROT

By Student Reporter Allie Paulzine Another week has come and gone with two more successful meets for the MCC/F Warriors cross country team. This past Tuesday, September 14th the Warriors competed at the Marshall Cross Country Invitational and on Thursday, September 16th they competed at the Worthington Turkey Trot. At the Marshall meet, the girls team placed second with 45 points beating Canby/Minneota by 36 points but losing to Marshall. Only two days later, the Warriors won the Worthington Turkey Trot with 28 points beating Pipestone Area by 45 points. Amanda Overgaauw once again dominated both of her races this week placing first at both of the meets. At the Marshall Invitational she ran a time of 17:37 and at the Turkey Trot she ran a personal best of 17:24. Amanda’s twin sister Ashley Overgaauw also ran two very impressive races this past week. On Tuesday she placed fourth with a time of 19:35 and on Thursday she placed third with a time of 18:28. Junior Brylei Schreier also contributed to the Warrior’s success this past week placing 11th at the Marshall Invitational with a time of 20:55. At the Turkey Trot she placed 5th running a 20:11. Shortly after Brylei finished, Sophia Nelson (22:15) came running down the home stretch 16th in Marshall and placing eighth in Worthington with a time of 21:20. Running close behind Sophia at both meets was Megan Bakke (22:34) who placed 18th on Tuesday and had a successful meet on Thursday placing 11th. Close behind Megan was junior Lindsey Hause (23:02) who placed 22nd at the Marshall Invitational. Hause then placed 16th in Worthington with a time of 22:41. Rounding out the girls’ varsity race was Lily Daniels who placed 29th in Marshall running a time of 23:51. She then went and ran an equally successful race on Thursday with a time of 24:25 and placing 33rd.

Other runners at the Marshall meet on girls varsity included: Allie Paulzine #45, Brealyn Damm #62, Emma Risacher #66.

The boys team had some fierce competition themselves this past week. At the Marshall Invitational the Worthington Trojans snagged first place. The Warrior boys placed fifth with 108 points. Worthington’s Mikele Walu (16:22) won the boys race with teammate Fanuel Wolday just three seconds behind him placing second. This duo also placed first and second at the Worthington Turkey Trot on Thursday. Walu ran a 15:38 in Worthington with Wolday just four seconds behind him. As for the Warriors, Evan Bumgardner has been leading the Warriors and he did it again at both meets this past week. In Marshall he placed 14th with a time of 17:55. In Worthington he ran exactly a minute faster and earned his seventh place spot. Behind Bumgardner in Marshall was freshman Mathew Stapek (18:19.3) who ran an impressive race beating teammate Caleb Appel (18:19.8) by only five tenths of a second. Three seconds behind Appel was Jon Olsem who ran 18:22 and placed 24th. In Worthington Jon Olsem placed 14th running 17:37. Mathew Stapek was just two seconds behind him running a 17:37.79 and placing 16th. Stapek battled down the homestretch with junior Jacob Friesen (17:37.46) from St. James Area. Friesen ended up sneaking in front of Stapek at the line. Five seconds behind Stapek was Caleb Appel who placed 17th. Just two places behind Appel was Silas Stapek who ran 17:44 in Worthington and in Marshall Stapek placed 25th with a time of 18:22. Two minutes behind Stapek was Caleb Ethridege who placed 49th in Marshall with a time of 20:43. At the Turkey Trot Ethridge ran a 19:02, placing 38th. Coming in 7th for the Warriors in Marshall was sophomore Blaine Braun who placed 59th running a time of 22:43. At the Turkey Trot eighth grader Wesley Hause came in 7th for the Warriors with a time of 19:43 and placing 47th.

Following the varsity races, the junior high runners were ready to run shortened versions of the two courses. At the Marshall Invitational, the junior high route was 2,750 meters. This week Holland Vogel was the only junior high runner for the girl’s team. Vogel took first in Marshall with a time of 12:36. The boys team did very well on Monday placing first with 20 points, beating Windom Area by 23 points. Bryce Green of Windom Area won the boys race with a time of 10:01. Behind Bryce, placing second from the Warriors team was Alex Betz (10:16). Behind Betz was Tristan Behrends (10:52) placing fourth. Eight seconds behind Behrends was Aiden Appel who placed fourth. Appel fought hard against Jaxon Reuther of Canby/Minneota. Appel ended up sneaking in front in front of Reuther who then placed sixth. Then came Dugan Kluis (11:20) who placed 7th. Three seconds behind Kluis was Beckett Stelter placing 8th. Placing 14th from the Warriors team was seventh grader Brett Pieske with at time of 12:17. Then came Tyler Reith (13:12) who placed 23rd at the Marshall Invitational. Fellow seventh grader Gary Plotz finished with a time of 15:23. Shortly after Plotz finished, came William Biren running a 15:47 and placing 36th. At the Turkey Trot the junior highers ran a race of 1,600 meters. Holland Vogel (7:55) then went and ran another impressive race placing first, again! Following the boys ran their 1,600-meter race. Alex Betz (6:21) placed 3rd just five seconds behind Windom’s Bryce Green (6:18). Two places behind Betz was Tristan Behrends running a 6:38. Nine seconds later came Beckett Stelter placing seventh. Right behind Stelter was Aiden Appel (6:54) placing 8th with Dugan Kluis just four seconds behind him placing ninth. Next came Brett Pieske (6:58) who was the fourth runner in a row for the Warriors. Then came Tyler Reith, running a 7:15 earning 14th place. In 36th place was Gary Plotz with a time of 8:55. Exactly a minute later came William Biren in 42nd with a time of 9:55.

This past week was a busy yet successful one for the Warriors. They are excited to compete at their next Meet on Tuesday September 20th in Madison!