Second to one, on to state for Port’s runners

One of their season’s goals was to qualify for the state cross country meet. Port Washington High School’s boy runners came into last Friday’s Division 2 sectional in Kewaskum as the second-fastest team on paper. The top two move on.

“But they still had to get the job done on the day,”  coach Mark Pasten said.

The Pirates came through.

Port landed three runners in the top 18 of the 97 competitors and scored 99 points, behind Campbellsport’s 44 but ahead of West Bend East’s 127.

“It was a great feeling knowing the team qualified for state because of all the hard work and runs we have logged all year leading up to this moment,” freshman Andrew Karrels said. “For me, the race went amazing. I ran a personal best right when the team needed it to boost us toward state.”

Karrels led Port by finishing the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 17.4 seconds and coming in 12th.

“He had a very strong last mile and moved up three important places,” Pasten said.

Sophomore Beckett Shuster was right behind Karrels, taking 13th in 17:10.6.

“It felt amazing when I heard my coach say the qualifying words,” he said. “We wanted to go out at a moderate pace and pick it up and pass people as we approached the finish.”

Pasten said, “He was struggling on the final mile but was able to hold off all competitors except for Andrew.”

Senior Connor Zinuticz, the only Pirate left from the 2024 team that finished sixth at state, was 18th in 17:36.6.

“When we made it as a team, I felt amazing knowing we could go compete at the state level again, especially since we’ve been working so hard,” he said.

Senior Dylan Helmeid was 27th in 18:00.3. Sophomore Keagan Normile was 29th in 18:03.8.

Port was in fifth place at the mile mark and third after two miles.

“Our strategy was to not go out too fast and to pass farther in the race so as not to gas out early,” Zinuticz said.

“The boys ran a smart and patient race,” Pasten said.

 Securing second place was closer than the 28-point margin, Pasten said.

Plymouth was 13 points behind Port but had a runner disqualified after it was ruled he intentionally interfered with another runner, his own teammate, during the finishing kick. As a result, Plymouth’s top runner was disqualified and the Panthers dropped from third to sixth.

Finishing places are added for the top seven runners, but Port senior Noah Leinss and sophomore Will Dahmen helped the Pirates in another way. Leinss was 31st in 18:09.8 and Dahmen was 40th in 18:35.5.

“They were able to finish ahead of every other team’s top-five runners and push their scores up,” Pasten said. “It was a total team effort.”

Karrels and Shuster have been out front for Port all season, usually finishing near each other.

“Running with Beckett has been a great thing for me because we both push each other very hard to be the best we can be, not only for us but for the team. It is a great feeling to run with a teammate during the meets knowing you can build off each other mid-race and run to the best of your abilities,” Karrels said.

“I love building off of Andrew and working as a team in practice and races,” Shuster said.

The state meet is Saturday, Oct. 31, at Wisconsin Rapids.

CG-Belgium’s Cable proves he’s able

Cedar Grove-Belgium freshman Cable de Troye, despite starting a little quicker than his coach preferred, finished seventh in a personal-record 16:42.9, punching his ticket to state.

“He is a competitor and put himself in good position early,” coach Brandon Langer said. “Qualifying as a freshaen is a great accomplishment, particularly at the Division 2 level, and this will be a valuable experience for him.”

The Rockets scored 140 points and took fifth. Carsten Huenink was 20th in 17:44.8. Nolan Brill was 22nd in 17:48.4. Noah Hopeman was 41st in 18:36.4. David Tarter was 50th in a personal-record 19:02.1.

“The boys as a team went after it but fell short. Port did a good job moving up over the last two miles, and we couldn’t cover their moves,” Langer said.

The Rockets, the 2024 Division 3 state champs, were moved up to Division 2 through the Wisconsin Interscholastic Association’s competitive balance initiative.

Grafton’s Kagamaba nearly qualifies

Grafton’s seven runners posted five personal records and two season bests at the sectional.

Asher Kagamba took 11th.

“Asher led the charge with a huge personal record of 17:01, missing an individual trip to state by just two places,” coach Derek Lindstrom said. “As a team, the boys showed up, followed the plan and left absolutely everything they had on that course. As a coach, you can’t ask for much more than that.”

Brayton McCann was 16th in 17:44.8. Alex Bergmann was 23rd in 17:49.5. Zach Swenson was 36th in 18:19.5, and Jack Wenzel was 45th in 18:44.5.

Grafton’s girls scored 387 points and finished last of the 14 teams. Tess Brulla was 55th in 22:32.9. Jasmin Gandee was 72nd in 23:25.7. Amelia Jacobson was 85th in 25:01.9. Leah Swartz was 86th in 25:30.9, and Abby Widmann was 89th in 25:58.9.

“We’re not quite where we want to be yet, but we’re getting closer,” Lindstrom said.

Of their top seven runners, the Hawks only lose Swenson from the boys’ team and Widmann from the girls’ squad to graduation.

“The future of Grafton cross country looks incredibly bright,” Lindstrom said.

Knepfel’s fourth bid for state falls short

Port Washington senior Ellie Knepfel just missed out on qualifying for her fourth state meet.

Knepfel, Port’s school record holder in cross country, was 11th in 20:17.2. The top five runners not on qualifying teams advance to state. Knepfel was seventh of that group.

“Sectionals was a pretty rough race even for a rough season. Missing state for the first time honestly felt and still feels pretty crushing,” she said. “But I’m trying to look forward and am excited to see what track brings. And the Port boys team did absolutely amazing qualifying as a team.”

“She ran well. The other kids were just a little bit faster,” coach Joe Adamak said.

Knepfel has placed 43rd, 55th and 30th at state.

Port scored with 180 points and finished eighth. Natalie Northrup was 40th in 21:51.6. Charlotte O’Brien was 41st in 21:52.4. Hannah Dahmen was 46th in 22:02.3, and Ashley Mundt was 47th in 22:04.09.

“They ran great. They ran as a pack, really four of them right together, and they’re all underclassmen,” Adamak said.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran won with 31 points. Kewaskum was second with 100, edging Oostburg’s 106.