BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR
PHOTOS BY AMY DAHLIN
BY RICH PALZEWIC
SPORTS EDITOR
GREEN BAY – It was a good day for the De Pere cross country teams Oct. 19 at the WIAA D1 Ashwaubenon Sectional meet at Colburn Park in Green Bay.
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams are heading to the WIAA state meet Oct. 27 in Wisconsin Rapids.
With the top two teams advancing, the De Pere girls won the meet overall, while the boys finished second behind Preble.
“I really thought this was a possibility,” said De Pere head coach James Boyd. “We thought the boys were a little off at the conference meet, so they ran much better today. The girls have been running great all year. They won every meet but one this season and in that one, they tied but lost in a tiebreaker.”
The last trip to team state for the De Pere boys was way back in 1994, while the girls’ team made their only previous trip to Rapids in 2016.
Aisa Longnecker led the girls with a third-place time of 19:23, while Aaron Milkie and Andrew Lopez finished four-five in the boys’ race with times of 16:37 and 16:38, respectively.
“I went to state with the team as a freshman, but then last year I had anemia and other health complications,” said Longnecker. “It’s just a great feeling to be running at my best again and to be running with such a supportive team. It’s lonely to go to state by yourself, so it’ll be fun to go as a team.”
Bay Port finished third as a team in both races, but Ryan Thieme and Rachel Hoffman each advanced to Rapids based on their times. Thieme (16:21) finished second overall in his race, while Hoffman (19:29) placed fourth.
“It’s always disappointing when you just miss going to state,” said Bay Port head coach Mike Jameson. “I’ve had great kids this year and I think that’s what makes it a little harder to swallow – they’re great individuals and great teammates. I’m glad to see Ryan Thieme and Rachel Hoffman going as individuals – they ran great.”
WIAA D1 Ashwaubenon Sectional cross country team results Oct. 19 – Colburn Park
Boys: Green Bay Preble 61, De Pere 64, Bay Port 72, Kimberly 77, Appleton East 159, Pulaski, 167, Kaukauna 201, Ashwaubenon 219, Green Bay East 257, Green Bay West 268, West De Pere 290, Green Bay Southwest 329.
Girls: De Pere 65, Kimberly 80, Bay Port 107, Kaukauna 125, Pulaski 128, Green Bay Southwest 158, Ashwaubenon 168, Appleton East 176, Green Bay Preble 189, Green Bay West 262, Green Bay East 283.
Individual results – Bay Port, De Pere
Boys:
Bay Port – 2, Ryan Thieme (16:21); 10, Drew Dahlin (16:48); 13, Andrew Aderhold (16:56); 22, Andrew Abfall (17:28); 25, Anthony Adriansen (17:38); 35, Caleb Rentmeester (17:58); 36, Tyler Guetschow (18:00).
De Pere – 4, Aaron Milkie (16:37); 5, Andrew Lopez (16:38); 11, Max Streichert (16:56); 18, Daniel Ericksrud (17:17); 26, Wesley Ericksen (17:39); 30, Matthew Galler (17:46); 48, Tyler Blum (18:43).
Girls:
Bay Port – 4, Rachel Hoffman (19:29); 17, Lindsay Herber (20:43), 26, Paige Draak (21:18); 29, Natalie Shulstad (21:28); 31, Celeste North (21:31); 36, Hailey Magnin (21:46); 55, Tea Bruss (22:59).
De Pere – 3, Aisa Longnecker (19:23); 6, Jordan Meulemans (19:44); 9, Kylie Trousil (19:57); 23, Elena Miller (21:17); 24, Grace Sukowaty (21:17); 25, Ella Ericksen (21:18); 34, Alexis Trousil (21:45).
