Oconto Falls cross-country teams hoping to build off returning runners

UPDATED: Sept. 1, 6 p.m.

The Oconto Falls High School cross-country team will try and blend returning talent with some new runners to turn in a successful fall season.

Each team, which are coached by Lon Ludemann, returns three starters from a season ago.

Back from the boys team is senior Braden Uelmen, junior Joe Adams and sophomore Landon Budz.

“As a team we hope to show plenty of integrity this year and continue to show improvement throughout this season,” said Adams, who was the top boys finisher at the 2019 North Eastern Conference Championships with a 16th-place finish.

Sophomore Grant Yuma is one of the runners that is expected to help fill out the boys roster this fall.

Returning girls starters are juniors Alexis Euclide and Jaden Reed and sophomore Sydney Bell. Euclide was the top finisher among the three at last year’s sectional meet.

Helping round out the girls team this season will be freshmen Hannah Ludemann and Maddy Przybylski.

Coach Ludemann didn’t have any overall expectations set for the fall, instead hoping to take things “one day at a time due to the situation.” The runners seem to have bought into that mindset.

“The season will indeed be like no other but we are glad to even have the opportunity to run this year,” said Adams. “With the help of coach, we will be ready for any challenges this season brings.”

The teams opened their fall season by competing in a NEC meet in Marinette on Aug. 28, with Adams and Hannah Ludemann leading the way.

Ludemann posted a time of 23 minutes, 5 seconds to place fourth in the girls race. Adams completed the course in 18:30 to take sixth in the boys race.

Bell (27:33) placed 29th for the girls, while Przybylski (28:00) was 30th. Reed (28:53) and Ellie Sager (29:35) took 34th and 36th, respectively.

On the boys side, Uelmen placed 13th in 20:43. Yuma was 22nd in 21:46. Aiden Stary (22:22) and Budz (25:34) rounded out the team, taking 31st and 42nd, respectively.

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