By RYAN WALKER
BERNE — For the fourth straight season, the Bluffton Tigers are the boys’ cross country champion in the ACAC.
The Tigers’ dominance is highlighted by the fact that this year’s class of seniors have won the ACAC every season of their career. On Saturday, the 47-point victory to second place South Adams etched another great season for the program.
“The credit goes to all the guys who run the races and put in the training,” head coach Michael Vanderkolk said. “From day one, the program was hungry for something more. Year after year, the program improves because these guys want to improve what has been established, and it’s a testament to them not settling. I’ve just been fortunate to be among the coaches who help guide them along the way.”
Two of those seniors went 1-2 in the boys’ race as individuals: Levi Johns and Jude Baumgartner both finished under 16:30, hitting personal records and earning first-team all-conference honors.
The girls also showed out in third place — a big improvement from the last few seasons with the additions of Abigail Ramseyer and Cora Kunkel, who placed third and sixth.
“I’m proud of the way the girls fought today,” Vanderkolk said. “We may not have had many personal bests, but these ladies came in with a confidence that inspires me as their coach. Overall, they delivered one of the best, if not the best, team races this program has seen since the girls moved to the 5K in 2007. They are on the cusp of breaking into something special, and we look forward to attacking the sectional with a sense of purpose next week.”
The rest of the county had a handful of teams finishing third place or better.
Out of the seven schools participating, the Bluffton boys varsity and Southern Wells middle school teams came away with first-place finishes. The Southern Wells girls’ middle school team took second and was beaten by four points, while the Bluffton girls’ came in third. The Raiders boys and girls varsity teams finished seventh overall.
The top runners for Southern Wells in the varsity race were Jarin Frauhiger in 16th and Kelton Barr 17th. For the girls, Sarah McFarren placed 21st and Marianne Pease 25th.
In the middle school meet, Logan Leas of Southern Wells finished third, Colten Fiechter seventh, Rylan Leas eighth and Logan Rogers ninth. For the girls, Aubree Neuenschwander came in second and Tenley Fiechter ninth.
ryan@news-banner.com
Varsity race
Bluffton boys: Levi Johns finished first with a time of 16:16.3, Jude Baumgartner second (16:23.7), Aidan Graves eighth (17:14.6), Jackson Rockwell 13th (17:44.6), Griffin Linderwell 14th (17:51.7), Ryan Schlagenhauf 18th (18:14.0), Owen Lesh 20th (18:29.6), Brett Kuhlenbeck 28th (18:58.4), Manning Nash 33rd (19:23.2), Andy Baumgartner 35th (19:30.1), Clayton Brubaker 43rd (20:20.2), Azimjon Bahronov 45th (20:25.2) and Jimmy Borabo-Hower 57th (22:06.4).
Bluffton girls: Abigail Ramseyer finished third with a time of 20:17.8, Cora Kunkel sixth (20:48.6), Reagan Harris 15th (22:33.7), Amarah Robles 23rd (23:59.5), Dakota Lee 26th (23:59.5), Addison Sonnigsen 27th (24:25.0), Juaneliz Rivera Torres 40th (26:20.2), Briana Ortiz 41st (26:28.2), Kierstynn Reed 45th (28:16.6) and Namine VanHyfte 49th (29:36.2).
Southern Wells boys: Jarin Frauhiger finished 16th with a time of 18:13.3, Kelton Barr 17th (18:13.8), Colter Kiel 24th (18:50.5), Miles Garrett 31st (19:16.3), Daniel Isasi Escudero 36th (19:53.7), Kane Jenkins 38th (20:10.7), Peyton Ellis 39th (20:15.1) and Braden Yencer 53rd (21:29.5).
Southern Wells girls: Sarah McFarren finished 21st with a time of 23:39.3, Marianne Pease 24th (24:16.9), Keely Miller 36th (25:51.6), Kameron Hawkins 39th (26:42.8), Gracie Reeves 40th (27:18.3) and Chanie Mounsey 43rd (28:47.9).
The sectional will be next week at Taylor University starting at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.
Team results:
Boys: 1. Bluffton (38 team points), 2. South Adams (85), 3. Jay County (90), 4. Adams Central (104), 5. Heritage (118), 6. Woodlan (121) and 7. Southern Wells (124).
Girls: 1. Jay County (49 team points), 2. Adams Central (65), 3. Bluffton (71), 4. Woodlan (94), 5. Heritage (124), 6. South Adams (131) and 7. Southern Wells (160).
Middle school race
Bluffton boys: Yates Deacon finished 11th with a time of 11:39.5, Hudson Withers 12th (11:40.3), Christian Clubs 15th (12:27.5), Parker Klopfenstein 19th (12:54.6), Aldan Wood 20th (12:55.3), Rhys Smith 21st (12:56.0) and Rowen Drayer 28th (13:50.6).
Bluffton girls: Erin Ramseyer finished third with a time of 12:30.4, Paisley Neuenschwander 13th (12:56.9), Mackenzie White 20th (13:14.6), Sophia Robles 21st (13:24.6), Naomi Fry 23rd (13:33.2), Kianna Linderwell 26th (13:38.8) and Willow Todd 27th (13:39.2).
Southern Wells boys: Logan Leas finished third with a time of 10:42.9, Case Kirkwood fifth (10:50.6), Colten Fiechter seventh (10:51.1), Rylan Leas eighth (11:01.9), Logan Rogers ninth (11:13.5), Liam Leas 17th (12:39.2) and Rhett Tucker 23rd (13:03.5).
Southern Wells girls: Aubree Neuenschwander finished second with a time of 12:22.3, Tenly Fiechter ninth (12:44.6), Parker Bryant 11th (12:55.2), Grace Rogers 12th (12:56.2), Anna McFarren 22nd (13:25.4), Ellie Nichols 24th (13:36.2) and Alexis Sunderman 32nd (13:49.2).
Team results:
Boys: 1. Southern Wells (32 team points), 2. Jay County (33), 3. Bluffton (77), 4. Adams Central (79) and 5. Woodlan (139). incomplete: Heritage and South Adams.
Girls: 1. Woodlan (52 team points), 2. Southern Wells (56), 3. South Adams (78), 4. Bluffton (80), 5. Adams Central (95) and 6. Jay County (144). Incomplete: Heritage.
