The Valders Boys and Girls Cross Country teams along with four local individual runners will be heading to the State Cross Country Meet at Wisconsin Rapids this Saturday.
The Vikings finished runner-up to Kohler in Division-3 boys and to Lourdes Academy in the girls’ team standings at last Saturday’s WIAA Sectional Meet at Meadow Links Golf Course.
In Division-1 boys, Manitowoc Lincoln High School senior Mason Gates had a strong closing kick to place 2nd to a runner from De Pere.
“The goal was to take first. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the outcome,” Gates told Seehafer News. “Senior year, it was the last race at home, so I knew I had to gut it out…Fortunately, I was able to secure second place.”
And, qualify for State for the 3rd time in his high school career.
Mason’s coach, Michael Bubolz, was very complimentary of his star runner.
“When his goals are to be a top 10 guy, top 5 guy, those are very realistic things, and things he has worked hard at,” the coach said. “He’s someone who is very critical of his performance. I don’t think her realizes what a great race he ran today.”
Another state individual qualifier is sophomore Jacob Kanzenbach of Manitowoc Lutheran, who took 8th overall in the D-3 boys’ race.
His coach, Abbey Bubolz, said Jacob led his Lancer team to a 4th place finish.
“He had a great race,” she said. “He had a few people he had to beat in the last half mile actually to qualify as an individual. He had his work cut out for him, and he was able to be up to the task today.”
Two other area state qualifiers were Brayden Yanda of Roncalli and Allena O’Connell of Reedsville.
