Wawasee XC Advances, But Barely [VIDEO]
ELKHART – Wawasee cross country head coach Doug Slabaugh had hoped and prayed he wouldn’t have to stand at the finish line pining over places. But that was exactly where he was as the Elkhart Central Sectional boys race was winding down, hunched over longtime program mom Linda Stookey’s shoulder fretting over times she had penciled in on the famous clipboard.
Slabaugh was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief a few minutes later as both of his clubs were announced within the top five of the boys and girls races at the Elkhart Central Cross Country Sectionals, ticketed to advance to the regional next Saturday at Ox Bow Park. The top five teams and top 10 individuals from a non-advancing team will run next week at the regional.
“Our guys definitely responded from conference,” Slabaugh said, noting accomplishments by his entire roster. “They wanted to show that last week wasn’t what we are as a program. I think the kids really came out and did well.”
Wawasee’s boys had the most exhaling to do as the masses waited for the team scores to be announced by the Elkhart Central athletics staff. The Warriors piled up 119 points and needed to hear what NorthWood and Elkhart Central had as the three teams were jumbled in the placings. The Blue Blazers were called in sixth place with 123 points, leaving Wawasee to quietly but proudly pump a few fists and throw a couple high-fives. NorthWood would take fourth with 116 points.
The Lady Warriors weren’t in as much danger of not qualifying with five of its top seven finishing in the top 27 places. The reward was a third-place score of 113, sandwiched between Concord (118) and Goshen (104), two teams Slabaugh was worried about coming out of the Northern Lakes Conference Championships.
Northridge won the girls title by a landslide 33 points, a full 71 ahead of Goshen. The Goshen boys were able to claim the title, edging Northridge 61-69 for honors. For the Lady Raiders, ho hum another title, its 23rd title overall and third in a row. Northridge’s titles would all be consecutive and one higher had Warsaw not beat Northridge in the 2011 sectional. The Redskins won its fourth title overall and first since going back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.
Northridge’s Conner Sandt (16:15) and Memorial’s Brooke Moore (18:17) were the respective race champions.
Wawasee’s girls were led by Sarah Harden, running in her first sectional and placing 18th overall at 20:51. The pack Slabaugh has begged for all season finally showed up, with Aubrey Kuhn just behind Harden in 20th place at 21:09 and Yanelly Pizana trailing in 22nd at 21:13. Elizabeth Zorn (26, 21:37) and Reagan Atwood (27, 21:38) gave Wawasee it’s top five, while Molly Swartz (32, 21:51) and Courtney Linnemeier, who ran near the front for half the race but succumbed to the pain of a stress fracture, fell to 33rd at 21:59.
“The girls really stepped up, and to have Sarah step forward like she did with Courtney hurting was huge for us,” Slabaugh said. “Then add in Aubrey and Yanelly near Sarah, and that’s big. Just hat’s off to the girls, they all stepped up.”
Slabaugh’s worries were with the boys and could they keep the pack together to keep up with Elkhart County’s finest. Zach Cockrill finished fifth at 16:52, and passed a pair of crucial people in the final 10 meters of the race in Nate Munet of Central and Ryan Price of NorthWood. The pack would not come together, with Troy Carolus taking 20th at 17:30 and Jaxon Bame 22nd at 17:35. However, Erik Diaz was 32nd at 18:04 and Sam Griner 40th at 18:17. Good enough? Yes. Could be better? Slabaugh thinks so.
“Our two through five had good days, and we need that,” Slabaugh said. “We need to run a little closer together, but we raced really well. I just want to see us a little closer and not so spread out.”
Brady Robinson was sixth for Wawasee in 53rd overall at 18:45 and Stori Bright was 62nd at 19:29.
The long stepping will only get tougher next week as the five teams from Elkhart’s sectional merge with the top five teams from South Bend Riley’s sectional. A third run on the Ox Bow course will only help, but the addition of stronger teams from greater St. Joseph County will make things that much tighter at the finish.
“Things get no easier for us, either team,” Slabaugh said. “You add in teams like Penn on both sides, Mishawaka has really good runners, South Bend has a lot of quality talent. It’s going to take a lot from our kids to advance.”