Panthers’ Rhyan 13th in state meet
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Plymouth sophomore Niki Rhyan climaxed an outstanding cross country season with a 13th-place showing in the Division 1 girls race at the state meet here Saturday.
Rhyan made tremendous improvement over last year’s state meet in which she finished 80th. Saturday, she ran a career-best 15 minutes, 11.3 seconds over 4,000 meters (2.5 miles) at the Ridges Golf Course. Her time last year at state was 16:00.5.
Also competing at state for the Panthers was sophomore Haley Johnson who placed 157th in the Division 1 girls event that included 189 runners. Johnson, who was competing in her second consecutive state meet, was clocked in 16:49.9.
“The coaches are very proud of the great seasons Niki and Haley had. They capped those great season off with fine races at state,” said Panther head coach Jay Grosshuesch.
“She [Rhyan] was patient early in the race and she used her strength to finish well. She really moved up as the race progressed and even passed a girl in the last 50 meters.
“That is a huge improvement [moving from 80th to 13th] and a testament to the hard work she put in this season,” Grosshuesch said.
Senior Gabby Levac of Hartland Arrowhead was the champion for the second straight season with a time of 14:36.7.
The other local runner who competed was Howards Grove senior Matt Bahr. Bahr finished 77th in the 150-runner Division 3 boys race in 18:13.4 on the 5,000- meter (3.1 miles) course. Senior Myles Galloway qualified for the event but didn’t compete due to illness.
Senior Josh Mulloy led the Cedar Grove-Belgium Rockets to the Division 3 boys title with his second straight state crown. Mulloy had a time of 16:15.4.
The Rockets, who placed second last year, scored 68 points. They had another top-10 finisher in Joel Merritt who was eighth in 16:45.2. Sheboygan Lutheran captured 10th with 237 and was paced by Davis Dobson who took 54th in 17:49.6.
Cedar Grove earned second in the Division 3 girls meet with 108 points – just one behind champion Edgar (107) which successfully defended its championship. Lutheran finished third at 133.
The Rockets were led by Marina Paul who placed seventh in 15:37.7. Lutheran’s top finisher was Meghan Falconer, 24th in 16:14.1. The winner was sophomore Molly Seidel of University Lake School (Hartland) with a time of 14:33.9.
“I’m extremely pleased with Matt’s performance and for the season he had,” said Howards head coach Gary Kalk.
“Matt ended his senior season at state – that’s what everyone aspires for. He accomplished much in his brief, two-year cross country career. It’s been a real positive working with him,” he said.
“Haley was in great position early in the race. At the mile mark, she was with the lead group,” Grosshuesch noted.
“She started to struggle at about the halfway mark of the race. Haley is a very talented runner who worked hard all season. It is unfortunate the season didn’t end the way she would have hoped.
“We look forward to much success out of both of these runners [Johnson and Rhyan] in the years to come,” Grosshuesch said.
“I feel bad that Myles didn’t compete,” said Elkhart head coach Dan Stephanie. “He was wasn’t feeling well Friday night. He decided Saturday morning before the meet not to run.”
Galloway was a four-time state qualifier who finished 12th last year. Kiel finished 11th in the Division 2 boys meet with 251 points and 12th in the girls competition at 278. Shorewood won the boys title with 81 and Pewaukee was the girls champion with 62.
