Valders High School will be adding another championship banner for cross country in the gymnasium in the not too distant future. That’s after the Vikings Boys Cross Country team made it a 3-peat at the State Meet in Wisconsin Rapids. When the team arrived home late Saturday night, there was a Police/Fire escort, and with Viking faithful gathered nearby the Valders Pep Band played as the team entered the gym.
Coach Bill Dietrich used the analogy of creating a kitchen favorite to explain what’s behind the 3-peat. “Hard work and teamwork,” he said. “That’s two ingredients those guys have that make up a perfect soup.”
Senior Nate Griepentrog, who carried the team’s Gold Runner Trophy, spoke about being part of back-to-back-to-back state division-2 titles. “Feels amazing,” Nate lamented. “Being able to accomplish everything that we’ve done in the last four years is incredible…It can’t get any better than this.”
Valders Athletic Director Kelly Isselmann added “I’m proud of the boys, coaches and the whole community. It’s a special feeling for everybody.”
Valders will be a Division-3 school for Cross Country in 2020.
