Racing to the finish

By Pete Watson/News Republic

A season’s worth of practice miles and competitive runs will be tested today as the Baraboo Thunderbirds boys and girls cross country teams take to the 5K and 4K trails at Waunakee’s Ripp Park for the Badger Conference meet.

With eight meets in the books this season that included a gold medal at the Reedsburg Invite, the boys team is eyeing an improvement over last year’s 5th place conference finish.

"I think Sauk and DeForest are the favorites," said BHS coach Peter Arndt. "We did beat those teams early on, but they have turned around and beat us. I think it will be very close and we hope to be in the mix for the title."

Baraboo’s fortunes, as they have all year, will rest on the performances of its top runners.

Junior Matt Rosene, who placed 8th a year ago, has been the T-Birds lead man all year. Rosene has only gotten faster since last October, and enters having recorded a career best time of 16:51 earlier this year.

Senior Brock Pfaff, a first-year runner who has burst onto the scene and has helped fill the void left when No. 2 runner Gerrit Bruni fell to injury last month, comes in with his top time of 17:32.

Pfaff never ran competitively before joining the T-Birds track team last spring. Joining the cross country squad this fall was a no-brainer for the senior.

"I decided to try track and I liked it," Pfaff said. "Since I liked running I thought I’d come out for cross country. I’m pretty surprised with how well I’m doing."

Pfaff’s immediate success and presence near the top doesn’t bother Rosene or the rest of the team.

"I think it’s awesome," Rosene said. "I like having people that can push me in workouts and on the course. It’s nice to see Brock come in and do well right off the bat. It’s really given our team that extra boost we need to compete in the conference."

There’s a chance that Bruni, who took 13th overall last season at Devils’ Head Resort in Merrimac, could run today. With eight runners allowed to compete for each team, Bruni’s addition would be welcomed according to Arndt.

"He hasn’t raced for about a month, and he is doing all he can to somehow be ready," Arndt said. "If he races he will give us a huge psychological boost."

If Bruni cannot take part, the T-Birds have plenty of depth to fall back on.

Seniors Jake Meiller and Jake Bachman operate with a pack mentality, and sophomores Austin Jackson and Jake Hackbarth have been consistent performers. Freshman Sam Trotter has made the most of his late season ascension on the varsity, placing 16th overall at the Reedsburg Invite and Thunderbird Challenge.

For the T-Birds girls contingent, the squad will simply be working towards the future.

Lacking experience this season and without a tight group of runners in the middle of its lineup, BHS is focusing on each individual taking advantage of the opportunity to run against the best and to get better.

"We’re fairly young," said BHS girls coach Dawn Leaver. "As I look at things it looks kind of tough for us. Waunakee and DeForest have really progressed with their five runners, and they have tighter packs.

"We always talk about improving our times and just doing our best as a team."

Junior Denise Leaver placed 5th at the meet a year ago, and after clocking her season-best time of 15:15 at the Stoughton Invite two weeks ago is easily one of the meet’s favorites.

"I have a feeling she’ll be right up near the top," said coach Leaver.

With the absence of up-and-coming freshman McKaela Christenson today, everyone behind Leaver moves up a spot in the lineup.

Junior Kassi Sprecher and sophomores Tara and Tiffany Nelson will likely to anchor the next three spots. Sophomore Mary Schoenoff hasn’t ran since Sept. 12 at the SPASH Invite, but could factor into Baraboo’s finish. Juniors Brooke Morely and Shelly Newgent and sophomore Olivia Schoenoff round out the T-Birds top eight runners.