By Coach Kevin Gartman
Conference cross country champions again!
The 2020 SICL Conference cross country meet was held at Diamond Trail Golf Club, hosted by Lynnville-Sully. On a beautiful Tuesday, Oct. 13 evening, the Montezuma teams showed up and competed!
Capturing back-to-back conference titles for the first time in school history, the Bravettes came away victorious as team champions.
Led by senior Elise Boulton, who finished as runner-up in her strongest performance of the season, the Bravettes were also steadied by sophomore Mia Boulton in 5th place, sophomore Madison Johannes in 6th, junior Beka Teumer in 8th.
Freshmen Makenna Johannes (new career best time), Lydia Singleton, and Ashlee Eilander rounded out the top seven for the Bravettes.
Earning 1st-team all-conference honors were Elise Boulton and Mia Boulton, with 2nd-team all-conference honors going to Madison Johannes and Beka Teumer.
Makenna Johannes is named an all-conference honorable mention. Running without two typical varsity scoring runners, the Bravettes’ depth was key with a wonderful showing by all.
The varsity boys made some historical noise as well, finishing in second place as a team behind conference rival North Mahaska. The runner-up team finish marks the strongest team performance in the 2000s.
Senior Brydon Henning ended his conference racing career with his strongest performance, placing third overall, just one second off of a second-place result.
Running second for the Braves, in a new best time for his career, was sophomore Gavin Strong. Right behind Strong, nearly matching his career-best was freshman Carter McKee.
Rounding out varsity scoring were senior Cam Johnson and freshman Jack Erselius.
Freshman Jayden Ross finished as the sixth runner for the Braves, picking up a new best time by a minute and 24 seconds. Sophomore Colton Benson rounded out the strong team performance for the Braves.
At the junior high level, Ellen Cook came away with an individual SICL title in the girls race, running nearly a minute faster than her previous best time on the course.
Also setting a strong pace was 7th grader Claire Erselius, finishing 6th overall.
Joining the two medalists in competition were Catelynn Coffin, Amy Longfellow, Lily Ferry, and Hayley Burnett. The girls finished a strong second place as a team.
7th grade runner Luke Erselius led the junior high Braves with a 7th place finish, followed closely by Broox Stockman, who medaled 10th while also scoring a touchdown in the football game, also going on during the same time frame.
Jusiah Wetering finished one spot back in 11th, and teammates Kohen Holland and Carson Van Der Hart crushed their previous best times on the course. The boys team finished third in the conference.
UP AND COMING – The varsity cross country teams will compete Thursday, October 22nd, at 4:00 at a location yet to be announced by the boys and girls unions for the state qualifying meet, with the top two teams and top ten individuals headed to state on October 31st.