WAUZEKA – Senior Niko Karavergos was crowned the individual conference champion and all three of his teammates joined him on the All-Conference squad as the Shullsburg Miners closed the regular season with a successful run at the 2020 Ridge and Valley/Six Rivers Conference Meet hosted by Wauzeka-Steuben High School on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Karavergos, who swept all the boys’ titles during the eight conference races held this season, continued to lead the pack as he posted a winning time of 18:46.6 for the Miners. It is his second appearance on the first-team All-Conference squad.
“This has been Niko’s goal since the state meet ended last year. He put a great deal of time in during the off-season to get to where he is now,” said Shullsburg head coach Zach Wedige. “It was incredible to watch him let everything else go and just run, leaving it all out there. I am so proud of Niko for his accomplishments this season and look forward to what could be in store for him in the postseason.”
Kickapoo/La Farge sophomore Nolan Reese was runner-up in 19:04, followed by River Ridge senior Brett Kerscher in third in 19:37.
Shullsburg sophomore Garrett Ray added a top 5 finish for the Miners by finishing fourth in 20:20 to earn a spot on the first-team All-Conference team. Ray was a second-team runner as a freshman.
“This was one of Garrett’s best races of the season so far. He went out and left it all out on the course and it showed. I am very happy for him,” Wedige stated.
In the girls’ race, sophomore Ella Woodworth garnered first-team All-Conference honors in her first season running with the Lady Miners with a sixth-place overall finish in 24:12, while senior Hildie Sigwarth earned her third career All-Conference honor after making the second-team with her 12th-place showing in 25:41.
“Ella continues to surprise me with each and every race that she competes in. Ella may not have gotten off to the start she would have liked, but she was able to battle back for a big finish,” Wedige commented. “Hildie has worked tremendously hard all season long. I am proud of her for everything she has accomplished. She ran with great determination and it showed. She is catching fire at the right time of year.”
Kickapoo/La Farge swept the team titles at Tuesday’s event, claiming the girls’ crown with 21 points led by the individual conference championship effort of junior Anelise Egge in 21:33, and capturing the boys’ title with 34 points.
North Crawford was runner-up in the girls’ race with 42 points, and Wauzeka-Steuben finished second in the boys’ race also with 42 points.
Shullsburg did not have complete teams in either race, and Belmont did not run at the conference meet.
Ridge and Valley/Six Rivers Conference Meet
(At Wisconsin Badger Camp, on Tues., Oct. 6)
Varsity Boys Team Scores: Kickapoo/La Farge 34, Wauzeka-Steuben 42, River Ridge 60, North Crawford 103, De Soto 128, Cassville inc, Shullsburg inc.
Individual Champion: 1- Niko Karavergos, S, 18:46. Shullsburg Results: 1- Niko Karavergos, 18:46; 4- Garrett Ray, 20:00.
Varsity Girls Team Scores: Kickapoo/La Farge 21, North Crawford 42, Wauzeka-Steuben 74, De Soto 96, Cassville inc, River Ridge inc, Shullsburg inc.
Individual Champion: 1- Anelise Egge, K/LF, 21:33. Shullsburg Results: 6- Ella Woodworth, 24:12; 12- Hildie Sigwarth, 25:41.
