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Wolves move on

Ken Peterson
For The News-Dispatch

NEW CARLISLE - The adage of surviving and advancing to next week's semi-state was first and foremost on the minds of La Porte, Michigan City and New Prairie cross country teams Saturday morning at the New Prairie Cross Country Regional.

The Slicers, Wolves and Cougar boys were able to move on to the next round while the Wolves turned in an outstanding effort in the girls race to end the Cougars season.

Chesterton took home the boys title with 41 points followed by Valparaiso (60), La Porte (72), New Prairie (126) and Michigan City. In the girls race, Valparaiso won with 28 points, followed by Portage (69), Kankakee Valley (101), Chesterton (127) and Michigan City (137). New Prairie was sixth with 153.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals advanced to next Saturday's New Prairie Semi-state.

On the boys side, the Slicers once again got a great effort from Matt Miller. After defeating Chestertton's David Osborn to win Tuesday's Chesterton Sectional individual title, the senior turned in a 15:46.54 showing to once again beat Osborn, this time by eight seconds.

"He's runs this course more than any other and that includes our own," La Porte coach Tim Beres said. "This is a course that he's comfortable with and excited to run on. It's a legendary course and any kid is going to get pumped up about that. He was able to put in another good day."

Miller said running on the prestigious course is something he looks forward to.

"I'm definitely more familiar with the course," he said. " There's a different feeling when you come to New Prairie than anywhere else. It's like a state meet feeling. You get really pumped when you come here."

The Slicers placed two other runners in the top 15. Mitch Hubner finished 10th (16:43) and Corbin Slater 14th (16:57).

"To have those three kids up there is great," Beres said. "They're all deserving and they've all worked hard and they're talented runners. The thing is, they're not satisfied and feel like next week we can put a few more back up there."

Also scoring for the Slicers were Josh Hojnacki 22nd (17:24) and Austin Alcorn 26th (17:32)

As happy as Beres was with his team's effort, he realizes next week's semistate won't be easy.

"We know that we can't have an off day," Beres said. "There's no doubt that there's some great competition out there and we're not taking anything for granted. We know we're going to have to have a good day to get out."

Led by Kyle Smiley's fourth place, 16:32 showing, coach John Arndt's Cougars were able to knock off the Wolves for fourth.

Sophomore Blake Lawson finished 16th (17:03), Max Rehlander 28th (17:37), Matt Johnson 33rd (17:45) and Kenny Huston 49th (18:38) rounded out the Cougars scoring.

"I told the guys that no matter what the results are, keep your head up high because you ran solidly," Arndt said. "Looking at it, a solid race would get us through. I was real surprised that we edged out Michigan City. (Before the race), the guys kept saying this is our home course. Guys say that, but I think there's a measure of belief that these guys feel pretty good running on their home course."

The happiest coach of the day had to have been City's Ray Bloomer after his team found out it was advancing to semi-state. Leading the way for the Wolves was Phil Strader, who finished 13th in 16:54.

"This was supposed to be a total rebuilding year for us and to not have anything," he said. (So) to be able to stand here and say we're running in the semi-state is a major mark and the credit goes to kids that say, 'No coach, it's not a rebuilding year. We want to do it.'"

Evan Dopieralski finished 17th (17:09), Ryan Byers 29th (17:38), Wes Higdon 35th (17:58) and Garrett Payne 38th (18:06) to complete City's scoring.

"The kids are working hard," Bloomer said. "They have their own goals and now we have to go out (next week) and upset people. This week, it's a week of hard work and it's mostly mental work. ... We've got a few adjustments to make and keep going. We're real happy."

On the girls side, coach Tim Bumber's "Super Seven" Wolves showed once again that having a big team isn't necessary as City rose to the occasion to end New Prairie's season.

"They really are turning into a special bunch," Bumber said. "They really like each other and they're all pulling together in the same direction and good things happen when they're on the same page."

Senior MaryKate Mellen led the Wolves pack with a fifth-place showing (19:03). Freshman Kristina Parrish finished 16th (20:12), sophomore Kellsie Emerick 41st (21:28), sophomore Aislinn Kinney 45th (21:41), senior Lindsey Reed 49th (21:55), freshman Lindsay Smith 55th (22:24) and freshman Holly Higdon 59th (22:43).

"There's a lot of potential, there's just a lot of untapped potential," Bumber said. "As they begin to find out things about themselves, it's satisfying to them and it's satisfying to us."

Bumber spent the entire race following his runners, vigorously encouraging them to believe they could get it done.

"Because of that belief, I want them to feel that success and learn from it," he said. "We want to surround MaryKate as much as we can and just really make her and Lindsey's senior year something special."

Disappointment fell on the New Prairie contingent when it was announced the Cougars failed to qualify as a team. But coach Thom Smith will have two runners in next week's semistate. Julie Jeszensky finished ninth (19:42) and Mary Gamble 13th (19:56).

"The hard part is when you get two kids out and you don't accomplish what you thought you could have accomplished, that is tough," Smith said. "Michigan City, you've got to hand it to them. We knew that we had to beat them to make it happen ..."

Rebecca Miko finished 44th (21:39), Cassandra Monroe 52nd (22:06) and Kristin Wagner 53rd (22:15)to complete the Cougars' scoring.

Joining Jeszensky and Gamble at next week's semi-state is La Porte Rebecca Kuehn, who finished 15th in 19:57.