By RYAN WALKER
UPLAND — The Bluffton boys and the Norwell girls won sectional championships for the second time in three years on Saturday.
Both swept the Bellmont sectional in 2022 and repeated it again at Taylor University in 2024.
The entirety of the Knight girls’ five-team point finishers ended up with all-sectional ribbons. That led the team to a 68-point performance to second place Jay County, who posted 81 points. The five runners in order of finish were: Ashley Tucker (fifth), Mia Kurtz (12th), Macy Oatess (15th), Brooklyn Meyer (17th) and Ashley Waldman (19th).
“The girls did what they needed to do to get out,” Norwell girls’ coach Vanessa Hannie said. “Each one kept their eyes up to see the whole field and focus on the next person in front of them. Every place mattered and this is a race we train for.”
The Tiger boys similarly scored 66 points to the reigning champ Wapahani with 80 points. Levi Johns and Jude Baumgartner went second and third and Aidan Graves ninth, earning all-sectional honors. But the back end of the team was almost as important as the front to be able to win the sectional.
“We knew Levi and Jude would have to carry the bulk of the responsibility, and they continued to improve by being pushed by each other during practices and some of the best runners in the area every week,” Bluffton boys’ coach Michael Vanderkolk said. “That turned the focus to the next crop of runners.”
Jackson Rockwell and Griffin Linderwell placed 23rd and 29th, helping the Tigers edge Wapahani’s fifth runner. But Graves’ ninth-place finish was all the difference in defeating a previous sectional champion, even when they returned most of the team.
Last year, Graves finished in 40th with a time of 18:23.6. He jolted 31 spots, became a first-team all-conference runner and all-sectional runner while shaving off one minute and 25 seconds off of his time last year.
“Aidan has stepped up to another level this season,” Vanderkolk said. “He’s latched onto Levi and Jude during training, and he delivers in big moments.”
Even though the two teams highlighted the day, it wasn’t all Wells County accomplished.
The Norwell boys’ placed fifth, advancing to the regional next week. The Bluffton girls finished third and qualified for the regional for the first time since 2001.
The Tiger girls have had a tall mountain to climb in the 23-year drought. But in the past few seasons, Vanderkolk’s program has done nothing but make strides for personal best times and its hard work helped finally get them to the top.
They were led by the fourth and eighth place finishes by Abigail Ramseyer and Cora Kunkel, both freshmen.
“This has been a whirlwind of a season, and these ladies have come into their own as runners and competitors. We’ve been plagued by injuries all season, with a few missing out early in the year and others needing to recover later on,” Vanderkolk said. “However, I’m so proud because they picked each other up and continued to prove that it takes an entire team to succeed.”
Also advancing to the regional next week as an individual was Kelton Barr for Southern Wells, who finished 24th overall.
The regional next week will take place at Purdue Fort Wayne’s “The Plex” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.
ryan@news-banner.com
Full results
Boys
All-sectional: Levi Johns (Bluffton), Jude Baumgartner (Bluffton), Adidan Graves (Bluffton), Gavin Threewits (Norwell) and Caiden Petrie (Norwell).
Individual results
Bluffton
Levi Johns finished second with a time of 16:24.2, Jude Baumgartner third (16:28.5), Aidan Graves ninth (16:58.9), Jackson Rockwell 23rd (17:44.3), Griffin Linderwell 29th (17:57.5), Ryan Schlagenhauf 37th (18:11.7) and Owen Lesh 46th (18:40.3).
Norwell
Gavin Threewits finished 11th with a time of 17:08.8, Caiden Petrie 19th (17:28.5), Kayden Robbins 38th (18:13.4), Elijah Jacob (18:28.3), John Baxter 42nd (18:28.9), James Springer 53rd (19:05.8) and Kale Meredith 63rd (19:25.2).
Southern Wells
Kelton Barr finished 24th with a time of 17:46.5, Jarin Frauhiger 39th (18:24.6), Colter Kiel 48th (18:43.2), Miles Garrett 55th (19:06.5), Danel Isasi Escudero 64th (19:27.1), Kane Jenkins 69th (19:57.5) and Peyton Ellies 77th (20:35.2).
Team scores: 1. Bluffton (66 team points), 2. Wapahani (80), 3. Bellmont (129), 4. South Adams (146), 5. Norwell (151), 6. Delta (152), 7. Monroe Central (165), 8. Jay County (169), 9. Adams Central (188), 10. Southern Wells (230), 11. Eastbrook (238), 12. Randolph Southern (313), 13. Winchester (336) and 14. Union Modoc (429).
Girls
All-sectional: Abigail Ramseyer (Bluffton), Ashley Tucker (Norwell), Cora Kunkel (Bluffton), Mia Kurtz (Norwell), Macy Oatess (Norwell), Brooklyn Meyer (Norwell) and Ashley Waldman (Norwell)
Individual results
Bluffton
Abigail Ramseyer finished fourth with a time of 19:45.5, Cora Kunkel eighth (20:12.3), Reagan Harris 26th (21:52.8), Briana Ortiz 47th (23:34.4), Amarah Robles 49th (23:39.1), Addison Sonnigsen 59th (24:35.4), Kierstynn Redd 72nd (26:36.4).
Norwell
Ashley Tucker finished fifth with a time of 19:53.2, Mia Kurtz 12th (20:56.4), Macy Oatess 15th (21:05.9), Brooklyn Meyer 17th (21:11.4), Ashley Waldman 19th (21:15.2), Mya Oatess 25th (21:47.9) and Teagan Lesley 32nd (22:16.3).
Southern Wells
Marianne Pease finished 40th with a time of 22:51.0, Sarah McFarren 53rd (23:52.2), Kelly Miller 67th (25:33.6), Kameron Hawkins 68th (25:53.1), Gracie Reeves 77th (27:37.0) and Chanie Mounsey 82nd (28:59.4).
Team scores: 1. Norwell (68 team points), 2. Jay County (81), 3. Bluffton (131), 4. Adams Central (131), 5. Wapahani (134), 6. Monroe Central (138), 7. Eastbrook (145), 8. Bellmont (177), 9. South Adams (225), 10. Randolph Southern (249), 11. Delta (274), 12. Winchester (290) and 13. Southern Wells (295).
