By Pat Garry, Staff Writer
The Eden Valley-Watkins/Kimball girls’ Varsity and JV cross country teams played a little game of “catch me if you can” at the Paynesville meet on Tuesday, Sept. 25. They were never caught and both teams emerged on top of the pack. The Varsity team, led by Olivia Kuechle and Zya Lueders (6th and 7th) finished in 1st place with a 48, topping 2nd place Sauk Centre; while the JV squad, sparked by 1st place finisher Brookelyn Kuechle (22.00), grabbed top-of-the-pack honors with a 27, just ahead of ROCORI (30). Eagles Varsity runners Amaya Lyrek, Isabel Greenwald, and Jenna Andersen, each posted top-20 finishes. Varsity boys Gregory Gathje and Matt Loch were EVWK’s top finishers.
EVWK Individual Results: JH Girls 2500 Meter: 5. Katie Ruhland, 10.56; 7. Brielle Kuechle, 11.08; 17. Ashlyn Schriefels, 12.50; 18. Kiera Stommes, 12.50; 21. Katelyn Utecht, 13.10; 22. Maddie Umana, 13.11; JH Boys 2500 Meter: 23. Ryan Wirz, 11.06; 28. Daniel Heuring, 11.15; 45. Jackson Fink, 12.37; 47. Carter Lommel, 12.39; 66. Alex Ludlow, 16.20; 67. Keegan Lommel, 16.33; JV Girls: 1. Brookelyn Kuechle, 22.00; 5. Sawyer Kuechle, 24.09; 6. Kiersten Johnson, 24.55; 7. Makenna Ludwig, 25.09; 8. Krista Loch, 25.14; 9. Allie Dockendorf, 25.16; 18. Olivia Schleper, 28.51; 27. Kyrie Rossman, 33.58; 28. Lilly Rhodes, 38.02; Team: 1st, EVWK, 27; 2nd, ROCORI, 30. Varsity Boys: 50. Gregory Gathje, 21.05; 57. Matt Loch, 21.59; 61. Jake Blommer, 22.30; 64. Riley Spoden, 22.55; 67. Jawnathan Lane, 23.12; 68. Neal Wertish, 23.12.
Team: 1. Melrose, 43; 2. Benson/KMS, 65; 3. Paynesville, 91; 4. Rocori, 99; 5. NLS, 116; 6. Sauk Rapids-Rice, 116; 7. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle. 200; 8. Sauk Centre, 218; 9. Bold, 228; 10. EVWK, 289. Varsity Girls: 6. Olivia Kuechle, 21.37; 7. Zya Lueders, 21.49; 16. Jenna Andersen, 22.27; 19. Amaya Lyrek, 22.39; 20. Isabel Greenwald, 22.46; 24. Rachel Utecht, 23.12; 38. Gretta Lemke, 24.23; Team: 1. EVWK, 48; 2. Sauk Centre, 66; 3. Paynesville, 92; 4. NLS, 107; 5. Melrose, 117; 6. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, 124; 7. Benson/KMS, 153; 8. Bold, 180.