BELLE FOURCHE—A special evening to celebrate the 12 cross country runners who qualified for the state competition in Huron was held at the Branding Iron Steakhouse on October 22.
“We have six boys qualified and six girls qualified,” explained boys’ head coach Matt Wattier. “We’re going to take off on Friday, and the meet is on Saturday.”
The runners who qualified for the state meet are: Boys team: Lennon Clarkson, Nathan Hudson, Clifford Torberson, Oden Walding, Brux Hartman, and Thaddaeus McKenney.
Girls team: Rhys Pearson, Lia Mundt, Piper Curran, Misty Drieling, Layla Drieling, and Isabela Torberson. Leading the teams are Brittany Clarkson, girls’ head coach, and Matt Wattier, boys’ head coach.
Hopes were high for a strong showing from both teams. “On the boys’ side—I did the math, and I think we’re sitting sixth, and they place six, so we’re on the edge of placing as a team,” said Wattier. “Lennon Clarkson should place—probably top five—he’s probably the only boy we’ll place individually—but it would be pretty awesome!”
In his second year as head coach, Wattier’s predictions proved right on target. Lennon Clarkson finished 4th at the State Cross Country Meet, and Nathan Hudson came in 12th. The boys’ team placed 5th overall at the state meet.
Wattier’s outlook for the girls’ team was optimistic as well. “We could get the team placed on the girls’ side. We could sneak a couple girls into the top 25, and that’s what gets points at state. We could sneak anywhere from one to three girls in there,” he said.
At state, Rhys Pearson finished 21st, and the girls’ team placed 7th overall.
At the Cross Country Team send off family and friends came out to support the athletes as they prepared for the upcoming competition scheduled for October 25.
Goodie bags lined the side tables and individual posters of each runner were displayed, along with each runners name and number. The public was invited to write good-luck messages on each poster.
Branding Iron hosted the event, offering dinner off the menu and complimentary soda. At the end of the evening, Coach Brittany Clarkson shared a few words of encouragement. The team’s lone senior, Oden Walding, was introduced and recognized for this milestone.
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