Pioneer Girls, Ben Grota Runner-up in Packerland

Girls cross-country runners take off from the starting line Thursday to begin the Packerland Conference meet hosted by Gibraltar. Photo by Kevin Boneske.

Sevastopol’s girls cross-country team had five runners earn first- or second-team All-Packerland Conference honors Thursday when the Pioneers placed runner-up at the conference championships in Fish Creek.

Peshtigo (38) won the girls team title, followed by Sevastopol (48) and Sturgeon Bay (88) in the top three.

The other five girls teams with at least five finishers to score in the standings included Kewaunee (110), Oconto (129), Southern Door (141) Providence Academy (151) and Gibraltar (167).

Door County’s schools ended up with eight girls receiving all-conference honors, for which the top seven runners made the first team and the next seven finishers were named to the second team.

Southern Door freshman Emma Bousley had the best time among the county’s schools by finishing fourth in 20 minutes, 55.99 seconds, about 24 seconds off the winning pace of Peshtigo freshman Rachel Nelson.

Sevastopol’s top finish came from junior Bea Dramm, who placed fifth in 21:30.43.

The other four Pioneer girls to receive all-conference honors included sophomore Naomi Rikkola (seventh in 21:45.07), junior Jolene Luedtke (ninth in 22:03.08), junior Libby Ash (13th in 23:04.05) and junior Katie Spude (14th in 23:06.88).

Gibraltar placed a girls runner on the first team, with senior Betsy Lecy placing sixth in 21:34.96.

Sturgeon Bay junior Julia Kurek made the second team by placing 10th in 22:18.76.

Peshtigo Also Wins Boys Title

In the boys race, only four teams had at least five finishers to score in the standings, with Peshtigo (36) winning the conference title, followed by Kewaunee (48), Oconto (65) and Southern Door (76).

Among the four boys from Door County schools to earn all-conference honors, the top finish came from Southern Door sophomore Ben Grota, who placed second in 18:04.89, about 34 seconds off the winning pace of Peshtigo senior Andrew Nelson.

Another Southern Door sophomore, Lucas Conard, also made the first team by placing fifth in 18:20.39.

Gibraltar’s only runner in the boys race, senior Logan Mittermann, earned first-team honors by placing sixth in 18:44.44.

Sevastopol’s only boys runner, sophomore Jairus Dadam, made the second team by placing 11th in 19:30.38.

Sectionals Next

Up next for the county’s schools are the sectional meets, with Sevastopol, Southern Door and Gibraltar competing Oct. 22 in the Division 3 Sectional in Manitowoc at the Meadow Links Golf Course, while Sturgeon Bay will be running Oct. 22 in the Division 2 Sectional in Brillion at the Deer Run Golf Course.

The top two teams in each sectional, as well as the top five runners who are not on the top two teams, will qualify for the WIAA state cross country meet Oct. 29 at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.