Cross Country

We Got The Prey
Boys Win, Girls Eighth at State Cross Country Meet

The Ord High School Cross Country teams came away from the state meet in Kearney last Friday with a pair of top ten finishes.  The girls finished 8th out of the 15 scoring teams while the boys brought home their first ever state championship.  "The motto of this team all year has been to run like a pack of wolves and get the prey and today we got it", exclaimed an excited head coach Derry Trampe.  "We went into the meet looking to finish as a top ten team with the girls and as state champions with the boys and we were able to accomplish both goals.  I could not be more excited or proud of our kids."  The boys won one of the closest team races of the day when they scored 73 points to defeat defending state champion Nebraska Christian (74) by a single point.  Paxton was a close third with 77 points and pre race favorite Stanton was fourth with 80 points.  "Any time you have a team race that close you look at how every runner did in the race and we got everything out of our guys that we could on Friday", Trampe said.  "All of them finished the last 700 meters of the race very strong and caught people in the last part of the race and that put us over the top.  It was a very exciting finish but it was tough waiting for the final scores because I knew it was very close."  Rounding out the team scoring in the meet were Malcom (96), Crofton (99), Tri County (129), Bloomfield (137), Gibbon (139), McCool Junction (140), Dundy County-Stratton (141), Yutan (157), Eustis-Farnam/Medicine Valley (180), Alma (203), and Pender (228).

The girls scored 141 points to bring home a top ten finish for the first time in several years.  "I am so proud of the way our girls ran in this meet because it was really a great team effort that helped them get into the top ten", Trampe stated.  "When Tori got hurt on Monday and we knew she wasn't going to be able to compete we talked all week about how much everybody else had to step it up if we were going to finish in the top ten.  These girls went out and ran the race of their lives and I could not be more proud of a group of people.  Their efforts were more than we could have asked for as coaches."  Crofton won the meet with 36 points while Lindsay Holy Family/Newman Grove was second with 52 points.  Rounding out the team scores were North Platte St. Patrick's (88), Aquinas Catholic (90), Bertrand/Loomis (101), Stanton (110), West Holt (122), Ord (141), Ravenna (144), Perkins County (149), Malcom (163), Weeping Water (192), Chambers/Wheeler Central (203), Kimball (213), and McCool Junction (240).  "One of the most gratifying things for me was how much these girls improved in the last three weeks of the season as we started to beat people and teams who had beaten us earlier in the season", Trampe noted.  "I think that says a lot about the character and competitiveness of our kids and how committed they are to the sport and each other."

Andrew Fields brought home the lone individual medal for either team as he finished 5th in a time of 17:05.1 over the 5,000-meter course.  This is the second year in a row that the talented sophomore has placed in the top ten individually at the state meet.  "Andrew is a very gifted runner who works hard as well", Coach Trampe said.  "When you have an athlete who does that, they are bound to be successful.  Andrew has been a very important part of our team and I look for him to only get better over the next two seasons."  Also scoring for the team were Austin Edghill (18th in 17:51.3), Lathan Petska (28th in 18:19.5), and Flagan Petska (49th in 18:55.5).  Edghill and Petska, both seniors on the team, finished their third state meet with their highest individual place and their best times.  "I am really proud of the progress that both Austin and Lathan have made during their time on the team", Trampe said.  "They have both been great leaders for us this season both vocally and by example.  I could not ask for two better guys to be a part of this team and I will really miss both of them next year.  I am really excited for them that they got to go out as state champions because they have done so much for us."  Running in his first state meet ever was Flagan Petska and the junior came through with high praise from his coach.  "Flagan was sick and really did not feel well at all but he battled through it as best he could and fortunately for the team it was just enough", Trampe said.  "I didn't know until after the race that Flagan didn't feel well because he didn't say anything to me because that is the type of competitor he is.  I am glad he competed but I feel bad for him because that is a lot to ask of anybody.  However, his attitude is typical of all the kids we have here in Ord.  All of them are going to do what is best for their teammates and that is what makes coaching here such a great honor."   Pushers for the team were Clinton O'Neel and Macon Petska.  O'Neel finished 100th in 20:41.3 while Petska was 104th in 20:50.1.  "Both Clinton and Macon ran as well today as they have all season and that is all you can ask for", Trampe said.  "They are both young runners and as they mature and get stronger, I look for great things from them over the next few years.  Hopefully, they will be a part of more state championship teams in the very near future."

Katharina Most was the top finisher for the girls as she placed 32nd in 16:54.8 over the 4,000-meter course to lead the team.  "Katharina has been a nice addition to our team this year", Trampe said.  "I hope it was a great experience for her as an exchange student to compete in the state meet and gives her some good memories to take home with her.  I am really looking forward to seeing what she can do on the track this spring."   Kristin Severance finished 57th in 17:58.5 more than one minute faster than she ran when she competed in the state meet two years ago.  "Kristin had a great year for us and has really been a consistent and strong performer for us", Trampe said.  "I am very proud of how hard she has worked these past three seasons in order to improve and with how competitive she is in every race.  She was a big reason for our success all season long."  Also scoring for the team were Kaitlyn Augustyn and Sofia Hill as the third and fourth runners on the team respectively.  "Kaitlyn had her best race of the season at the state meet", Trampe said.  "She ran a great race this week after battling through some injuries and sickness the past two weeks and I am so proud of the way she finished this season.  She looked like the tough competitor that she was all of last season and it was nice to see that from her again."  Hill is the lone senior on the team and had her best race of the season as well according to her coach.  "Sofia really picked it up in the last part of the race and helped her team to a top ten finish", Trampe commented.  "I am really proud of the progress Sofia has made in just two years and I will miss her a lot next season because she always seems to have a smile on her face.  The things that make you happy as a coach is when you know that the kids are having fun and growing together as a team and I believe Sofia helped with that a lot over the past two years."  Pushers for the team were Star Vera and Lupita Gallegos.  Vera finished 106th in a time of 20:24.2 while Gallegos was 109th in a time of 20:33.0.  "Star has been a tough little runner all season and, like every girl on our team, came through with one of her best performances of the year despite battling a nagging hip injury", Trampe said.  "Lupita stepped in and ran a great race for us today with Tori being unable to compete.  She also ran one of her best races of the season and I could not be more proud of her for her efforts.  I am so proud of all of our kids not only for the way they run but they way they care for each other and the way they conduct themselves and represent our school.  I feel privileged to work with them and with Coach Fields.  He has done an excellent job in helping prepare our kids to accomplish great things and I can't thank him enough for what he has done.  It is really exciting to bring home a state championship as well as the top ten finish by the girls but it is equally gratifying to work with the quality students and parents we have here in Ord."