“For Aiden to place 6th in the HOL meet is quite an accomplishment,” reported Head Coach Larry Lasch.  “The HOL is arguably the best conference in the state.  Aidan beat six kids who he had lost to earlier in the year.”  

Logan Mammenga and Luke Baumgardner placed 29th and 30th, while Gus Lasch, Shea Truesdel, and Francisco Perez placed 44th, 45th, and 46th, respectively.   The boys’ team placed 5th.

Rachel Gowin cracked the top 20 in the girls’ division with a time of 21:58.   “The HOL is loaded with quality girls’ teams,” said Lasch.  “Last year Rachel placed 20th at the HOL and then qualified for the state meet a couple weeks later, so her top 20 place is very impressive.”

Rachel showed her race savvy edging out Sylvia Pesch from Pelican Rapids in a photo finish to secure her place.   The BW girls’ team took a snapshot of the future as three 7th graders were top five runners on the team.  Emily Gowin placed 26th, Kiera Wiertzema finished 37th, and Adi Dodge placed 42nd.   “We had a youth movement today,” acknowledged Lasch.  “Emily has run a couple varsity races, but for Kiera and Adi it was their first time competing at the varsity level.”  Gabby Baumgardner placed 38th and Taylor Bommersbach placed 46th to round out the scoring runners for the BW team.   The girls placed 5th as team.

Next week the season concludes with the Section 6A races.  The boys’ compete on Tuesday at Long Prairie and the girls’ race on Thursday at New London-Spicer.

Boys’ Results
1. West Central Area 32, 2. Perham 54, 3. Frazee 100, 4. DGF 133, 5. Breckenridge-Wahpeton 154, 6. Thief River Falls 159, 7. Lake Park-Audubon 173, 8. Hawley 175, 9. Pelican Rapids 180

Top 10 individuals
1. Jakob McCleary (PER) 16:49.6, 2. Kyle Schill (WCA) 17:02.8, 3. Kade Runge (WCA) 17:05.1, 4. Carson Hespe (PER) 17:16.3, 5. Alex Salwasser (WCA) 17:24.1, 6. Aidan Ruddy (B-W) 17:27.1, 7. Charlie Larson (PR) 17:37.1, 8. Nathan Johannsen (FRA) 17L39.9, 9. Reubens Swanson (WCA) 17:51.6, 10. Christian Carlson (FRA)

Full results can be found here:
https://www.gsetiming.com/results/cc_rslts/cc_rslts.asp?meet_id=758&sport=Cross-Country&rslts_page=overall_rslts.asp

Girls’ Results
1. Perham 28, 2. Hawley 63, 3. West Central Area 79, 4. Lake Park-Audubon 88, 5. Breckenridge-Wahpeton 162, 6. Frazee 163,7. Pelican Rapids 182, 8. Thief River Falls 185

Top 10 individuals
1. Lexi Bright (WCA) 19:37.5, 2. Lily Olson (HAW) 20:11.9, 3. Gracie Morris (PER) 20:19.6, 4. Liz Birkeland (PER) 20:30.6, 5. Taytum Nelson (LPA) 20:35.4, 6. Kaia Starzl 20:35.7, 7. Mya Morris (PER) 20:51.6, 8. Aspen Rohde (PER) 20:52.0, 9. Ingrid Rustad (HAW) 20:57.0, 10. Lily Peterson (HAW) 20:58.6