Bonduel High School senior Sam Falck finished 35th in his final high school cross-country race Saturday at the WIAA State Cross-Country Championships at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
Shawano Community High School junior Austin Lhotka, meanwhile, gained valuable experience for next year, finishing 173rd in the Division 1 race.
“It was really fast,” Lhotka said. “Seeing all those runners going out at that pace, I was put in the back right away. I told myself, ‘Just stay with them, do your best, just have fun today.’”
Shawano coach Steve Stomberg said the experience of going to state for Lhotka and the rest of the SCHS runners will be important in the future.
“The guys that I brought down here, they’re already talking about wouldn’t it be nice t0 whatever,” Stomberg said. “They’re planning on it. We’ve got guys that want to come down here.”
Stomberg said that as a junior state qualifier, it’ll be on Lhotka next year to lead his teammates to the state meet.
“You have to use your leadership to get people involved to get down here because it’s possible,” Stomberg said. “It’s possible.”
Lhotka is definitely planning on another trip.
“Hopefully next year, I feel more experienced with it, take it more seriously and do a lot better,” Lhotka said.
Though Falck had competed at state in Division 3 twice before, an hour delay due to frost on the course hampered his performance.
“We had the delay where we weren’t able to get on the course for an hour and a half,” Bonduel coach Jim Watry said. “We’d eaten based on when we thought we were going to run and all that. He had gone a while without eating, and it was cold, but I was happy with his performance.
“He was 35th out of a 150 best runners in the state, and he was the first runner from our conference to finish. I thought he had a decent day.”
Falck also was happy with his performance.
“It was definitely good for the last race,” Falck said. “Glad I was able to finish my career at state. … Good cross-country career. I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way.”
It wasn’t just Falck who was finishing up his high school cross-country career Saturday. It was the last race for Watry as the BHS coach.
“Great coach,” Falck said. “Fantastic coach. I’m sad to see him go. I’m glad I could spend my years in cross-country with him.”
Division 1
Boys
Team Scoring: 1. Madison West 77, 2. Stevens Point 157, 3. Arrowhead 178, 4. Madison La Follette 179, 5. Kimberly 193, 6. Middleton 213, 7. Muskego 218, 8. Marquette University 228, 9. Green Bay Preble 232, 10. West Bend West 235, 11. Janesville Craig 289, 12. Port Washington 289, 13. La Crosse Logan 293, 14. Wauwatosa East 317, 15. South Milwaukee 326, 16. Kenosha Bradford 346, 17. Westosha Central 361, 18. New Richmond 409, 19. Manitowoc Lincoln 445, 20. Wausau West 529
Shawano: 173. Austin Lhotka, 18:13
Division 3
Boys
Team Scoring: 1. Darlington 54, 2. Chequamegon 90, 3. Albany 90, 4. Aquinas 146, 5. Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 203, 6. Sheboygan Area Lutheran 207, 7. Brookwood 224, 8. McDonell Central 225, 9. Marathon 233, 10. Brillion 242, 11. Brookfield Academy 255, 12. Assumption 269, 13. Rosholt 280, 14. Columbus Catholic 305, 15. Webster 315, 16. Racine Saint Catherine 330
Bonduel: 35. Sam Falck, 17:23
Categories
