Cross country hosts Ney Park meet

 by Sally Krutzig
It is nearing the end of summer and while most high school students are taking advantage of these last days to sleep in late while they still can, the opposite is true for one group of dedicated individuals. Every morning, members of the Maple Lake cross country team roll out of bed at the crack of dawn, pull on their running shoes and head over to Ney Park to hit the trails. There, they warm up and run several miles, all before most of their classmates are even awake.
Last year the team did well despite a lack of upperclassmen and experience on the boys’ team. Throughout the season their times improved and the girls’ team even came in second at five of the meets. In the end it all came down to the conference championship where the Irish cross country team didn’t disappoint when the girls took second and the boys third. 
Being an ambitious team, though, they plan on doing even better this year. 
“Our goal for boys and girls is to win the CMC,” said Head Coach Ben Youngs. “If we run as hard as we can and don’t win, at least we did as well as we could.”
It wouldn’t be surprising to see them win, since the team is full of so many committed runners. Their commitment was shown when eight particular teammates did more than relax at the beach this summer. Alyssa Redemske, Maria Stokman, Hannah Haegele, Kayla Hoisted, Mollie Graham, Greg Dorow, and Ben Thiele all ran 100 miles during their vacation and Michael Thomas, an especially dedicated runner, ran 300 miles.
While they are overall a very fun and easy team, there will be some challenges facing the Irish. 
“We don’t have as many people as last year, but we still have most of our point winners,” said Coach Youngs.
Some of the challenges are even made by the runners themselves. 
“It will be more challenging this year because I want to do better and push myself harder, since it’s my last year,” said senior Kristin Wohlrabe.
Competition is always a focus of the sport, but it is not the only one. Some run just for the sake of running, while others like Sam Hollencamp and Elly Muller choose not to compete, instead focusing on getting in shape for basketball.
Michael Thomas has his own goals as well. 
“I hope to letter, make new friends, and stay in shape for track,” said Thomas.
The time for leisurely runs through the woods will soon be over, though, as the first meet looms ahead. On Monday, the team got down to business when they had their time trials to decide who will run what at their first meet which will take place at Ney Park on Thursday, September 2. Hopefully they will run their best to get the team off to another memorable season.
Members of the Irish cross country team are as follows:
Seniors–Alyssa Redemske, Kristin Wohlrabe, Hilde Hallgrimsen; Juniors–Allie Mack, Michael Thomas, Kevin Salveson, Ben Thiele; Sophomores–Maria Stokman, Hannah Klug, Hannah Haegele, Nick Feikema, Danny Becker, Greg Dorow; Freshmen–Alexa Gorres, Maddie Gagnon, Anna Thiele, Sullivan Graham, Evan Hertwig, Adam Jude; 8th–Amanda Colbert, Mollie Graham, Kayla Hoisted, Cullin Gallagher, Austin Louis, Benjamin Brinza, Adam Latour, Blake Paumen, Andrew Schonnessen, Jackson Triplett; 7th–Jordan Sifferle, Tara Holmgren, Kennedy Gorres, Allison Preusser, Kaija Johnson, Skylar Manka, Sydney Louis, Ross Hickey, Devin Deringer.
It is nearing the end of summer and while most high school students are taking advantage of these last days to sleep in late while they still can, the opposite is true for one group of dedicated individuals. Every morning, members of the Maple Lake cross country team roll out of bed at the crack of dawn, pull on their running shoes and head over to Ney Park to hit the trails. There, they warm up and run several miles, all before most of their classmates are even awake.
Last year the team did well despite a lack of upperclassmen and experience on the boys’ team. Throughout the season their times improved and the girls’ team even came in second at five of the meets. In the end it all came down to the conference championship where the Irish cross country team didn’t disappoint when the girls took second and the boys third. 
Being an ambitious team, though, they plan on doing even better this year. 
“Our goal for boys and girls is to win the CMC,” said Head Coach Ben Youngs. “If we run as hard as we can and don’t win, at least we did as well as we could.”
It wouldn’t be surprising to see them win, since the team is full of so many committed runners. Their commitment was shown when eight particular teammates did more than relax at the beach this summer. Alyssa Redemske, Maria Stokman, Hannah Haegele, Kayla Hoisted, Mollie Graham, Greg Dorow, and Ben Thiele all ran 100 miles during their vacation and Michael Thomas, an especially dedicated runner, ran 300 miles.
While they are overall a very fun and easy team, there will be some challenges facing the Irish. 
“We don’t have as many people as last year, but we still have most of our point winners,” said Coach Youngs.
Some of the challenges are even made by the runners themselves. 
“It will be more challenging this year because I want to do better and push myself harder, since it’s my last year,” said senior Kristin Wohlrabe.
Competition is always a focus of the sport, but it is not the only one. Some run just for the sake of running, while others like Sam Hollencamp and Elly Muller choose not to compete, instead focusing on getting in shape for basketball.
Michael Thomas has his own goals as well. 
“I hope to letter, make new friends, and stay in shape for track,” said Thomas.
The time for leisurely runs through the woods will soon be over, though, as the first meet looms ahead. On Monday, the team got down to business when they had their time trials to decide who will run what at their first meet which will take place at Ney Park on Thursday, September 2. Hopefully they will run their best to get the team off to another memorable season.
Members of the Irish cross country team are as follows:
Seniors–Alyssa Redemske, Kristin Wohlrabe, Hilde Hallgrimsen; Juniors–Allie Mack, Michael Thomas, Kevin Salveson, Ben Thiele; Sophomores–Maria Stokman, Hannah Klug, Hannah Haegele, Nick Feikema, Danny Becker, Greg Dorow; Freshmen–Alexa Gorres, Maddie Gagnon, Anna Thiele, Sullivan Graham, Evan Hertwig, Adam Jude; 8th–Amanda Colbert, Mollie Graham, Kayla Hoisted, Cullin Gallagher, Austin Louis, Benjamin Brinza, Adam Latour, Blake Paumen, Andrew Schonnessen, Jackson Triplett; 7th–Jordan Sifferle, Tara Holmgren, Kennedy Gorres, Allison Preusser, Kaija Johnson, Skylar Manka, Sydney Louis, Ross Hickey, Devin Deringer.

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