MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Oct. 10–17)
PREP CROSS COUNTRY: SWAL Championships

By Jason Nihles, Fennimore Times / The Platteville Journal / Boscobel Dial

Fennimore boys win first conference title since 2007

LIVINGSTON — The Fennimore boys cross country team made it official last Wednesday, they are the best team in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League this year.

The Golden Eagles placed four runners in the top six, paced by junior Isaac, Henkel, to win the program’s first conference title since 2007.

The Eagles had six of the top 14 finishers and dominated the final standings with 27 points. 

Boscobel (83) and Iowa–Grant (91) finished a distant second and third, ahead of Albany (110), Southwestern/Cuba City/Benton (120), Riverdale (137), Darlington (145) and Pec/Argyle (232).

The conference meet was moved up a day to avoid poor weather which was forecasted for Thursday afternoon.

“I was really happy with how the boys executed their races on Wednesday,” said Fennimore head coach Ryanne Carl. “We were fortunate that Iowa–Grant made the decision to switch the meet to Wednesday. On Tuesday, all of the SWAL coaches were in contact to make the switch and Iowa–Grant stepped up to the plate and made it happen. We are fortunate to run in a conference where the coaches value their athletes and want them to be able to race in the best possible conditions. Not to mention, it’s crunch time and we want healthy athletes. A big kudos goes out to the whole SWAL for putting athletes first.”  

Henkel (17:06.8) finished second out of  84 runners in the boys’ race, behind only Southwestern/Cuba City/Benton junior Noah Wood (16:59.7) to lead the Eagles.

Seniors Riley Foreyt (4th, 17:18.7) and Carter Bunn (5th, 17:28.8), and junior Ben Varela (6th, 17:43.9) bunched up to finish fourth, fifth and sixth, while senior Nick Needham (10th, 18:14.5) and sophomore Griffin Fry (14th, 18:28.2) also earned All-SWAL honors with top-15 finishes.

Sophomore Orlando Bonilla was Fennimore’s seventh varsity finisher at 19:38.3 to place 26th.

Both Fennimore cross country teams will return to action at Friday’s WIAA Division 3 Poynette Sectional, which begins with the boys’ race at 4 p.m.

The top two teams, and top five individuals not on a qualifying team, will advance to next Saturday’s WIAA State Championships in Wisconsin Rapids.

“For the boys, the goal is to make it back to state,” added Carl. “We have to stay healthy this next week and show up to sectionals and perform the way we have been performing all season. We know that nothing is guaranteed, and the team is ready to execute the race like any other week.”

The Fennimore boys finished second at last year’s sectional meet behind SWAL rival Iowa–Grant and went on to finished 14th out of 16 teams in Division 3 at last year’s state meet.  

In last week’s girls SWAL championships, Darlington (38) held off Boscobel (62) and Fennimore (80) to win the girls conference title.

Sophomore Adalee Berget (19:26.8) beat Boscobel junior Nora Jillson (19:30.8) to the finish line to win the girls’ individual title.

Fennimore sophomore Kylee Mumm (6th, 20:36.7), and freshmen Natalie Horsfall (7th, 20:38.8) and Keira Kartman (12th, 21:57.6) earn All-SWAL honors for the Eagles.

“We knew that Boscobel and Darlington were the teams to beat on the girls’ side,” said Carl. “At the end of the season, the girls team has only been beaten by ranked teams. They have really stepped up to the plate and have been running so well. Fortunately or unfortunately for us, we race in a very tough area of the state.  I was very proud of their third place finish!

“The girls get one more chance to see how close we can get to Darlington and Boscobel at sectionals. Plus, Kylee and Natalie have their sights set on trying to qualify for the state meet. We have to keep racing the way we’ve been racing and the girls need to put themselves in position during the race, but I have a good feeling that Natalie and Kylee working together will help push them through.

“Keira had a great race and ended up all-conference for us as well. As a freshman, especially in the SWAL, if you can grab an all-conference honor, it’s a big deal!” 

Freshmen Kate Kenney (22nd, 23:03.1) and Julianne Washa (36th, 25:49.9) rounded out the Fennimore girls team at conference.  

“For a young, inexperienced girls team, you couldn’t ask for much more out of them,” added Carl. “They continue to rise to the challenge each week and that is evident based upon their results.” 

SWAL Championships
(from Wednesday, Oct. 11 @ Iowa–Grant)
(Girls, 5,000 meters)
Team standings: 1.Darlington 38, 2.Boscobel 62, 3.Fennimore 80, 4.Southwestern/Cuba City/Benton 114, 5.Iowa–Grant 131, 6.Albany 131, 7.Pecatonica/Argyle 146.
Top individuals: 1.Adalee Berget (Dar) 19:26.8, 2.Nora Jillson (Boscobel) 19:30.8, 3.Raquel Reuter (Dar) 20:03.8, 4.Hanna Martensen (SW/CC/B) 20:09.0, 5.Aleya Kliesner (Bos) 20:16.2.
Fennimore (80): 6.Kylee Mumm 20:36.7, 7.Natalie Horsfall 20:38.8, 12.Keira Kartman 21:57.6, 22.Kate Kenney 23:03.1, 45.Julianne Washa 25:49.9, 
(Boys, 5,000 meters)
Team standings: 1.Fennimore 27, 2.Boscobel 83, 3.Iowa–Grant 91, 4.Albany 110, 5.Southwestern/Cuba City/Benton 120, 6.Riverdale 137, 7.Darlington 145, 8.Pecatonica/Argyle 232.
Top individuals: 1.Noah Wood (SW/CC/B) 16:59.7, 2.Isaac Henkel (Fennimore) 17:06.8, 3.Bret Connolly (Iowa–Grant) 17:14.7, 4.Riley Foreyt (Fennimore) 17:18.7, 5.Carter Bunn (Fennimore) 17:28.8.
Fennimore (27): 2.Henkel 17:06.8, 4.Foreyt 17:18.7, 5.Bunn 17:28.8, 6.Ben Varela 17:28.8, 10.Nick Needham 18:14.5, 14.Griffin Fry 18:28.2, 26.Orlando Bonilla 19:38.3.