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THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

WAVERLY – Tony Bussan already knew he had a talented freshman class of boys on his cross country team prior to Tuesday’s Dick Pollitt Go-Hawk Invitational.

And now the athletes themselves know as well.

Competing only against other freshmen in the age classification meet, the WCHS rookies went out and placed second in a field of 17 teams. Using the top three runners to determine a team’s score, the Lynx trailed Waverly-Shell Rock by just eight points.

“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to run against only their own age group, (and) this was particularly important for our freshmen to realize how strong of a group they are and what the future may hold for them if they are willing to stick together and do what’s necessary to be the best they can possibly be,” Bussan said. “Our freshmen are a deep group with excellent talent.”

Dawson Hjelmeland earned a medal by placing sixth in 19:26. Tucker Judkins (19:41) just missed the podium with a 10th-place effort, and John Piazsynski (20:05) secured 13th.

WCHS sophomore Tyler Bultena was the squad’s overall leader, as he earned a second consecutive medal at the large meet. He crossed in 18:29 to secure the bronze in his class, which finished sixth.

Trey Nelson (18:44) was the pace setter for the eighth-place juniors, as he finished 14th.

Connor Foster (18:53), a senior, turned in a strong 5K as well to take 12th among the veterans.

“We continue to make progress as a team,” Bussan said. “We continue to develop greater depth.”

For the WCHS girls, only the sophomores (sixth) and seniors (seventh) had enough entrants to figure into the team standings.

Twins Allie and Ashley Flaws were the Lynx overall leaders, as they finished in 23:25 and 23:45, respectively. Allie Flaws took 18th, Ashley Flaws 22nd, in the chase among seniors.

Haley Johnson (24:16) paced the sophomores in 22nd, and Larae Ebrecht (24:31) finished 24th as the team’s only junior. Ebrecht and Courtney Biere (30th among seniors) ran matching times.

“It looks as if there is an opportunity to pull our top two to three runners together and then pull our next four together,” Bussan said of his girls’ squad. “If we can do that and then narrow the gap between the two groups, we can score much more effectively in the second half of the season.”

WCHS will put its pieces back together to compete in the traditional Ballard Invitational in Huxley on Monday at 5 p.m.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

WAVERLY – Tony Bussan already knew he had a talented freshman class of boys on his cross country team prior to Tuesday’s Dick Pollitt Go-Hawk Invitational.

And now the athletes themselves know as well.

Competing only against other freshmen in the age classification meet, the WCHS rookies went out and placed second in a field of 17 teams. Using the top three runners to determine a team’s score, the Lynx trailed Waverly-Shell Rock by just eight points.

“It’s a great opportunity for our kids to run against only their own age group, (and) this was particularly important for our freshmen to realize how strong of a group they are and what the future may hold for them if they are willing to stick together and do what’s necessary to be the best they can possibly be,” Bussan said. “Our freshmen are a deep group with excellent talent.”

Dawson Hjelmeland earned a medal by placing sixth in 19:26. Tucker Judkins (19:41) just missed the podium with a 10th-place effort, and John Piazsynski (20:05) secured 13th.

WCHS sophomore Tyler Bultena was the squad’s overall leader, as he earned a second consecutive medal at the large meet. He crossed in 18:29 to secure the bronze in his class, which finished sixth.

Trey Nelson (18:44) was the pace setter for the eighth-place juniors, as he finished 14th.

Connor Foster (18:53), a senior, turned in a strong 5K as well to take 12th among the veterans.

“We continue to make progress as a team,” Bussan said. “We continue to develop greater depth.”

For the WCHS girls, only the sophomores (sixth) and seniors (seventh) had enough entrants to figure into the team standings.

Twins Allie and Ashley Flaws were the Lynx overall leaders, as they finished in 23:25 and 23:45, respectively. Allie Flaws took 18th, Ashley Flaws 22nd, in the chase among seniors.

Haley Johnson (24:16) paced the sophomores in 22nd, and Larae Ebrecht (24:31) finished 24th as the team’s only junior. Ebrecht and Courtney Biere (30th among seniors) ran matching times.

“It looks as if there is an opportunity to pull our top two to three runners together and then pull our next four together,” Bussan said of his girls’ squad. “If we can do that and then narrow the gap between the two groups, we can score much more effectively in the second half of the season.”

WCHS will put its pieces back together to compete in the traditional Ballard Invitational in Huxley on Monday at 5 p.m.

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