Monday, November 9th, 2015
Wildcats crowned state runners-up; Redskin girls earn highest state finish in school history
2015 State Cross Country Meet
By Colin Foster
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
The Minster girls' cross country team poses with the Division III state runner-up trophy during Saturday's state cross country meet at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
HEBRON - No Division III cross country team had beaten the Minster girls all season.
Saturday's state meet was the exception.
Minster's nemesis from the north, St. Thomas Aquinas, became the first team to accomplish the feat, defeating the top-ranked Wildcats, 69-87, to claim the team championship at National Trail Raceway.
It's the second time this year Aquinas defeated Minster at a state running competition to claim a team championship. At June's state track and field meet, Aquinas outdid a stellar showing by Minster to come away with gold.
"We got beat. It sucks, but you know what? Now we start fighting again for the spring," said Minster coach Jessie Magoto, whose squad defeated Aquinas at an earlier season meet at the Tiffin Running Carnival. "It's amazing how in the spring we can be second to them and be happy. The second time in a row, we're like 'No, that's not so good.' But we're all right. Once those tears dry, they'll realize they had an outstanding season."
It took a superb effort by the Knights at last year's state track meet to beat the Wildcats. The same was the case on Saturday.
Aquinas' senior Athena Welsch (17:58.6) and junior Kalee Soehnlen (18:10) went 1-2 in the race, and having those two front-runners made a huge difference in the final standings.
The Wildcats were led by junior All-Ohioan Morgan Pohl's 13th-place finish (19:08.4). It was Pohl's second time landing on the podium in Hebron.
"I gave it my all and that's all I could ask for," said Pohl, who placed 12th in 2014.
Seniors Maggie Meiring (25th, 19:21.1), Kaci Bornhorst (31st, 19:39.3) and Lisa Barlage (34th, 19:41.8) held the 2-4 spots for Minster. Madeline Magoto took 36th overall in 19:44. Sophomore Cassie Francis (48th, 19:58.4) and freshman Kaitlynn Albers (62nd, 20:16.6) rounded out the pack for the Wildcats, who improved two spots from their fourth-place finish last season.
"I'm just really proud of my team. They've all worked really hard this season and they did a great job. I couldn't be prouder," Pohl said.
Aquinas had an average team time of 19:04 compared with Minster's 19:32. Unofficially, Minster led 69-103 at the mile mark of the race. Aquinas held an 86-88 advantage by the two-mile mark and then its 2-5 runners climbed enough spots in the final mile to extend the lead even more.
Defending state champion McDonald was third with 127 points, Liberty Center finished fourth (176), Garaway fifth (181) and Russia sixth (186).
The St. Henry girls were also at the venue representing the MAC for a third straight season. The Redskins earned their highest place at state in school history in 12th with a total of 298 points.
"We ran pretty much as well as we could have," St. Henry coach Dan Hemmelgarn said. "At the state meet there's always that extra pressure. There's always that extra drama. You just never know how they're going to react and how other people are going to react, and we came through pretty strong today."
Freshman Erin Clune was the top runner for the Redskins in 69th with a time of 20:25.6. Senior Lindsey Schulze placed 75th in her final race with a result of 20:36.2. Makayla Hoying (85th, 20:53.6), Breanna Schulze (100th, 21:13.8) and Olivia Hemmelgarn (108th, 21:32.2) took up positions 2-5. Vannessa Goewert (114th, 21:59.5) and Riley Post (128th, 22:41) held the final two positions for St. Henry respectively.
The Minster boys team was making its first state appearance since 2012. The Wildcats were without one of its top five runners and finished 16th with a score of 362.
It wasn't the finish coach Larry Topp envisioned. However, Topp deemed it a successful season considering the strides the team had made during the season and accomplishments along the way.
"A lot of those guys are freshmen and sophomores," Topp explained. "They hadn't been to anything like this. It kind of overwhelmed them a little bit. But now they've got it under their belt."
Topp credited senior Ben Butler for Minster's successful run that included an MAC and district title.
"Ben Butler ran really well for me today. He was in the top 30. This whole year is because of him. He's been a great leader, and I'm going to miss him," an emotional Topp said.
Butler made his long awaited debut at the state meet and made the most of it, placing 29th in a time of 16:33.3.
"Getting here, especially as a team, was probably the greatest experience of my life," Butler said. "The sendoff with the entire school and the elementary school kids, coming here with the team and running here today after all the struggles our team went through over the season ... competing against the best in the state of Ohio, it was unlike anything else."
Carter Pohl was the second Minster runner in, placing 104th (17:48). Following him were Ethan Monnin (131st, 18:24.2), Ryan Cavanaugh (143rd, 18:48.9), Andrew Broering (146th, 19:06.9) and Jacob Enneking (151st, 20:10).
St. Marys' Kelly Wilker and New Bremen Cort Speckman, both competing as individuals, came up short in their bids to earn All-Ohio honors.
Wilker placed 84th in a time of 20:24.7. The junior will likely get another crack at it next season.
"It was a new experience, a growing experience," Wilker said. "There were a lot people. I want to come back next year and do better."
Speckman, running his final race as a senior, was competing at the meet for the second straight season and finished 81st in a time of 17:18.1.
"I had a really high goal of getting All-State," Speckman said, "but when I was in the back woods, I rolled my ankle on a tree stump and it just kind of killed me the rest of the way. The first two miles I felt good.
"It's a great accomplishment getting here. There are great athletes all around here and it was a great experience."
The Lexington boys and girls teams both edged Tippecanoe to win Division II titles. In Division I, the Centerville girls and St. Ignatius boys claimed titles. Maplewood was crowned Division III boys champion with a score of 61 compared with St. Thomas Aquinas' 87.
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
Minster junior Morgan Pohl earned Division III All-Ohio honors with a 13th-place finish at Saturday's state meet.
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
Minster senior Ben Butler finishes strong during the Division III boys race. Butler placed 29th.
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
The St. Henry girls team exits the finish area at Saturday's state cross country meet. The Redskins earned their highest placing at the meet in school history in 12th.
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
St. Marys' Kelly Wilker competed in the Division II race on Saturday.
Photo by Colin Foster/The Daily Standard
New Bremen's Cort Speckman ran in his second straight Division III state race.
