Dells runners blast off
By Jim den Hollander
It’s hard to imagine upstaging a team that boasts the top two finishers in a race.
But the Wisconsin Dells High School varsity boys cross country team may have done that at its opening event of the season.
Wisconsin Dells runners, coaches, parents and fans were certainly happy, but not overly surprised to see WDHS runners Taylor Hickey and Stacey Swatek finish 1-2 individually in the varsity girls cross country race at Westfield Thursday.
That helped the girls, on a quest to claim the South Central Conference championship this season open the season with a second place showing, behind only Reedsburg.
Following up the girls was the ‘New Improved’ Wisconsin Dells High School varsity boys team and did they ever make an awesome first impression.
Again, there was no real surprise seeing Max Mattei emerge from the course and cross the line third for the boys, or Dakota Grimsled finish close behind in eighth.
But seeing incoming freshman Jacob Synott sprinting to the line for a 21st place showing and David Biffert close behind along with an army of team members in the top half of the field seemed surprising – and perhaps season changing.
The boys, who finished fifth out of six conference teams last season served notice they have arrived as a unit despite a couple of its top runners watching from the sidelines.
Senior Jared Funmaker was resting a stress fracture in his leg, the result of a unique problem - over training. Looking too make his mark in his senior year, Funmaker, who’s running exploits are becoming legendary at the school, did some 1,200 miles worth of training since school let out in June. Another senior, Chad Marthaler who routinely is among the varsity points finishers is also on the sidelines early. Also, David Biffert’s, result was recorded as the second best junior varsity finish rather than a top 25 varsity showing.
Therefore, the 102 points, fifth place score is a tad misleading and nonetheless, a promising opener.
Mattei was pleased with his own result and excited about the team’s performance on the day.
"Yeah, we took third, eighth, 20th...good signs," said the runner afterward. "It really is exciting (to see the team results)."
Mattei said, despite the number of new faces, he used the pace of a couple of familiar faces in the race and was more than comfortable staying with them.
"There was a Wautoma runner (Logan Norlin) and a Reedsburg runner (Mikey Turner), said Mattei adding, "I know them both from last year."
Mattei figured he set his sights high, especially with the Wautoma runner. The Dells’ said he couldn’t stay with any Wautoma runners last season, but in edging out Norlin who finished fourth in the race, he finished in front of all of them this time around.
Rio/Fall River’s Derek Johnsrud took the tape comfortably with Turner of Reedsburg about 15 seconds behind and 6-10 seconds in front of Mattei. No times were available for the boys races in the results.
Other Dells runners included: Max Hocker, Dakota Haammerly, Bob Griep, Tony Mueller and Alex Whiteside.
Perfect start
For Swatek and Hickey, the Westfield race is always a nice place to start.
Swatek won this event as a freshman before even sitting in her first class at WDHS and last year, the pair finished 3-4 behind only the Goodman twins of Reedsburg who have since graduated.
They stayed together through much of the race, Hickey pulling away a bit on the final kilometer, ultimately crossing the line in 17 minutes, two seconds; exactly 20 seconds in front of Swatek who was a comfortable 19 seconds in front of third place Annaliese Cramer from Lodi.
Senior Kiersten Norgard made her cross country team debut with a solid 24th place finish, just over the 20 minute mark and leading a three-runner pack that included Theresa Madland and Jessica Sweet as well. Tesa Hebring was just under 21 minutes and freshman Abby Vandenlangenberg made her debut and rounded out the varsity team in the top half of the field in 21:38.
Perhaps the biggest and most pleasant surprise of the day came from Synott who not only finished in the top third of the field but may not have even shown his best.
Synott not only felt comfortable running in his position, he was charging at the finish line, moving up three spots in the final 100 yard sprint to the tape.
"I was very proud of all of them today," summed up a sweat soaked and thrilled Knetter moments after the boys race.
The Chiefs travel to perhaps the most spectator friendly race of the season Saturday, an event that sees 60 percent of the event in view from the school’s backfield.
Results for the Westfield meet are on page 12