One week after placing fourth in the seven-team Valley Meet under the favorable condition of running on their home field, the Merrill boys did it again, but this time on the road in Saturday’s 12-team WIAA Stevens Point Sectional.
“Chilly and breezy (weather) didn’t stop our boys from running a very, very fine race at Sectionals,” commented Coach Hoffman. “We surprised ourselves and most of the sectional teams as we finished fourth overall. This was our best overall finish for our boys program ever at Merrill High School. I was elated and pleased beyond words for our boys today. I consider ourselves fourth-place champions!
“I can’t say enough about the hard work the boys put in during the season that resulted in a nice showing at our very tough sectional meet.
“Junior Reese Beyersdorf ran a personal record at sectionals and was closely followed by junior Jacob Jenson and senior Ethan Schneider. I wish we had one more meet to run, to showcase the improvement of our boys program this year.”
Beyersdorf stepped up to 15th overall in 17:14, and Jensen and Schneider ranked 22-23 in 17:30 and 17:31. The next grouping of Andrew Koch (18:12), Brett Swan (18:14) and Brady Schmelling (18:16) closed out a 40, 42, 43 stretch. Tom Grund ran 65th in 19:18.
The state’s top-ranked SPASH was just three points away from a perfect score with an 18, leaving D.C. Everest (110) and Wausau West (113) to fight for second. The Bluejays tallied 142, well ahead of Antigo (169).
The Merrill girls ranked 10th with a group that finished from 53rd-71st. Leading the way was Christa Schleif (18:19), and Ashley Berton (55th, 18:29), Morgan Pettit (60th, 18:46), Lauren Case (63rd, 19:08) and Shelby Harris (65th, 19:09) capped off the scoring. Bailey Mogenstern (70th, 19:16) and Mickenna Comstock (71st, 19:20) capped it off.
“Our girls didn’t place as high in the sectional meet as we wanted, but clearly our girls showed that their training over the course of the year helped them run better as a pack. Our interest next year is to be better prepared coming into the season and improve on what we’ve built this year.”
Point edged Wausau East 57-58 for the girls title.
Team standings-Boys-SPASH 18, D.C. Everest 110, Wausau West 113, Merrill 142, Antigo 169, Wis. Rapids 177, Wausau East 186, Hortonville 190, Shawano 192, Marshfield 203, Rhinelander 259, Tomah 370………Girls-SPASH 57, W.E. 58, Hortonville 83, W.W. 85, D.C.E. 125, Marshfield 130, Shawano 163, W.R. 251, Rhinelander 273, Merrill 296, Tomah 298, Antigo inc.
The meet wrapped up the season for the Jays.
“Overall, the boys season was season showed regular team effort without any individual standouts,” Hoffman said. “Any week, the boys team could have or would have a new runner placing first for the Merrill team. If the boys continue their off season training and come in with a better base and in better physical shape, our season next year will be as strong as Merrill has ever had.”
“The leadership of seniors Brooke Arneson, Ashley Berton, Caylin McCarthy and Sarah Ponzer will be hard to replicate.”
“Looking back on their season, we could’ve probably ran smarter and better, but it’s their positive attitude and work ethic during practices that make the program a success if you end up winning or not.”