Apaches to make third-straight state appearance

By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

ATHENS — The Auburndale girls cross country team will be going back to the state meet for the third year in a row after capturing the title at the WIAA Division 3 Cross Country Sectional on Friday at Erbach Park.

The Apaches had their top five runners finish in the top 16 of the girls race to earn 49 points, easily outdistancing Rosholt (87) for the sectional title.

Isabelle Jewell topped Auburndale by finishing sixth in 20:40.7, and teammates Kali Karl (seventh, 20:52.1) and Vanessa Mitchell (eighth, 21:01.9) were right behind.

Errika Zenner took 12th (21:12.4) and Anna Kollross was 16th (21:43.8), rounding out Auburndale’s outstanding performance.

Stratford, Marshfield Columbus Catholic, and Spencer also competed at the sectional but will not have any representatives at the 2017 WIAA State Cross Country Meet, which will be Saturday, Oct. 28, at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

Stratford placed 10th, Spencer 11th, and Columbus Catholic 14th in the girls team standings.

Angelia Verdone led Stratford, taking 31st in 23:01.0; Kaitlin Kasch was Spencer’s top runner (40th, 23:33.0); and Marissa Immerfall led Columbus (55th, 24:13.4).

Marissa Ellenbecker of Edgar won the girls race for the second year in a row, finishing with a time of 19:29.0, 32 seconds ahead of second-place Kortnie Volk of Three Lakes.

Columbus Catholic was sixth, Auburndale eighth, Stratford ninth, and Spencer 13th in the boys standings.

Adam Rzentkowski of Rosholt won the boys race in 16:31.9, 30 seconds ahead of Jared Zwettler of Prentice/Rib Lake.

Rosholt (43) and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption (60) earned the two boys team spots at the state meet.

Peyton Nystrom led Columbus Catholic, finishing 14th in 18:04.6, missing out on the final individual qualifying spot by 27.5 seconds.

Isaac Thompson topped Stratford, taking 15th in 18:06.6; Carl Lundgren led Auburndale (22nd, 18:21.1); and Spencer’s top runner was Collin Nieman (43rd, 18:58.6).

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

WIAA Division 3 Cross Country Sectional

Oct. 20, at Erbach Park, Athens

*Top two teams and top five individuals not on those teams qualify for WIAA State Cross Country Meet, Oct. 28, at

Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids.

Boys

Team scores: *1. Rosholt 43; *2. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 60; 3. Marathon 117; 4. Stevens Point Pacelli 137; 5. Athens 139; 6. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 194; 7. Loyal 202; 8. Auburndale 214; 9. Stratford 251; 10. Prentice/Rib Lake 268; 11. Edgar 315; 12. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 327; 13. Spencer 332; 14. Crandon 362; 15. Three Lakes 410; 16. Goodman/Pembine 412; Florence, Owen-Withee, Pittsville, Wabeno/Laona incomplete.

Top 10 individuals, and Auburndale, Marshfield Columbus Catholic, Spencer and Stratford finishers: 1. Adam Rzentkowski (ROS) 16:31.9; *2. Jared Zwettler (TL) 17:01.3; 3. Sean Dolan (WRA) 17:97.4; 4. Garrett Dolan (WRA) 17:07.9; 5. Sawyer Fleming (ROS) 17:14.1; *6. Nick Rogaczewski (ATH) 17:18.2; 7. Dausen Anderson (ROS) 17:19.0; *8. Tamerat Kubista (LOY) 17:29.2; *9. Joe Kraimer (MAR) 17:32.6; *10. Adam Dums (PRL) 17:37.1; 14. Peyton Nystrom (MCC) 18:04.6; 15. Isaac Thompson (ST) 18:06.6; 22. Carl Lundgren (AUB) 18:21.1; 27. Josh Guyer (MCC) 18:34.8; 36. Jeremiah Giles (MCC) 18:47.2; 41. Lance Heidmann (ST) 18:55.3; 43. Collin Nieman (SP) 18:58.6; 44. Paul Kollross (AUB) 18:59.1; 46. Aaron Pankratz (SP) 19:03.8; 51. Matthew Leick (AUB) 19:14.5; 53. Carver Empey (AUB) 19:16.9; 54. Paul Peplinski (AUB) 19:16.9; 55. Mikhail Andreev (AUB) 19:17.9; 59. Flynn McQuillen (MCC) 19:30.1; 62. Derek Martin (ST) 19:40.1; 65. Tim Wenzel (ST) 19:45.7; 67. Jacob Dick (MCC) 19:49.6; 71. Bryce Fuerlinger (MCC) 20:00.9; 73. Darren Kieffer (AUB) 20:01.8; 82. Antonio Verdone (ST) 20:27.3; 83. Brenden Fecker (ST) 20:29.9; 84. Ashton Ackman (SP) 20:32.7; 85. Daniel Lopez (ST) 20:35.4; 89. Bryce Shaw (SP) 20:51.9; 92. Dominick Wichlacz (SP) 20:55.4; 93. Leo Rodriguez (SP) 20:57.8; 98. Brett Kasch (SP) 21:12.6; 113. Nate Knoeck (MCC) 22:44.9.

Girls

Team scores: *1. Auburndale 49; *2. Rosholt 87; 3. Wittenberg-Birnamwood 117; 4. Prentice/Rib Lake 142; 5. Marathon 157; 6. Stevens Point Pacelli 179; 7. Loyal 219; 8. Three Lakes 267; 9. Athens 272; 10. Stratford 276; 11. Spencer 277; 12. Edgar 294; 13. Wabeno/Laona 308; 14. Marshfield Columbus Catholic 310; 15. Owen-Withee 320; Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, Crandon, Florence, Goodman/Pembine, Pittsville incomplete.

Top 10 individuals, and Auburndale, Marshfield Columbus Catholic, Spencer and Stratford finishers: *1. Marissa Ellenbecker (ED) 19:29.0; *2. Kortnie Volk (TL) 20:01.4; *3. Anna Buchberger (MAR) 20:27.8; *4. Savannah Schley (LOY) 20:30.5; *5. Serena Moore (PRL) 20:31.8; 6. Isabella Jewell (AUB) 20:40.7; 7. Kali Karl (AUB) 20:52.1; 8. Vanessa Mitchell (AUB) 21:01.9; 12. Errika Zenner (AUB) 21:12.4; 16. Anna Kollross (AUB) 21:43.8; 23. Victoria Hasenohrl (AUB) 22:31.8; 28. Lily Kloos (AUB) 22:51.5; 31. Angelia Verdone (ST) 23:01.0; 37. Kaylee Hollatz (ST) 23:17.5; 40. Kaitlin Kasch (SP) 23:33.0; 51. Leah Nieman (SP) 23:56.0; 55. Marissa Immerfall (MCC) 24:13.4; 56. Kaylee Wehrman (SP) 24:33.3; 58. Morgan Albrecht (MCC) 24:39.4; 59. Hailey Roehl (MCC) 24:40.8; 62. Leigh Anne Sieracki (SP) 25:00.8; 66. Melanie Lang (MCC) 25:17.9; 71. Taya Nett (ST) 25:49.8; 74. Maddy Pavloski (ST) 25:55.5; 79. Brenna Manecke (ST) 26:15.2; 83. Julia Schneider (ST) 26:40.3; 84. Hannah Zastrow (SP) 26:50.3; 86. Sabrina Vircks (SP) 26:59.6; 88. Sydney Boeger (ST) 27:22.2; 89. Holly Dean (MCC) 27:23.2; 90. Tiffany Meinders (SP) 27:25.2; 96. Ashley Dean (MCC) 27:40.5; 101. Fiona Gonzalez Pilsner (MCC) 28:12.6.