Consistent Panthers run another big one in DeWitt

   Monticello’s cross country teams have been models of consistency this season.

   The Panther girls keep winning. The boys keep improving and showing their depth.

   Monti ran races at DeWitt’s Jim Hetrick Invitational Oct. 6 that were nearly carbon copies of previous meets at Western Dubuque, Anamosa and Cascade.

   “Overall it was a good night of racing,” Monticello coach Dan Sauser said. “It was a nice meet because of all the teams we don’t normally get to see.”

   Running against mostly larger schools, the Panther girls were overall champions, closing out the regular season with five consecutive victories. Team results were listed in two divisions, Class 3A/4A and Class 2A/1A, but it’s worth noting that Monticello’s finishes would have won either division, beating larger-school foes such as Clear Creek-Amana (ranked 13^th in 3A).

   “The girls’ goal was to win the whole thing, even though there were a lot of big schools there,” Sauser said. “It was another really good performance.”

   The boys were fourth overall, but easily won the 1A/2A division, totaling just 21 points with five of the top seven spots in the division, and seven of the top 12.

   “The boys are stepping up to put it all together at the right time,” the coach said.

   The varsity girls were led by Emma Althoff and Leah Koehler, who were separated by just over four seconds while taking ninth and 10^th places, respectively. Halle Recker was 18^th, Ava Capron 20^th and Marisa Kehoe 23^rd. Emily Hendricks (51^st) and Katie Roher (67^th) rounded out the varsity girls’ lineup.

   “Emma has been very consistent up front, and Leah is a very solid number two runner,” the coach said. “Our three-four-five can be in any order; they are that close to one another.”

   Leading the JV girls, who had a perfect score in the division with the top five places, was Leah Schemmel, who took fourth among all JV girl runners.

   “Leah is one who really stood out,” Sauser said.

   Monti’s boys were led by Chesney Capron in seventh place overall. Jacob Miller was 13^th, Aedan Althoff 19^th, Alex Oswald 21^st, and Reeve Graver’s 29^th place finish also counted in the scoring. Walker Spence ran 42^nd, and Cord Nietert was 54^th.

   “Chesney looked real strong out there,” the coach said. “We had really good performances out of our two-three-four runners. Reeve has had back-to-back outstanding races.”

   The Panthers had three of the top seven overall runners in the JV boys’ race, with Nathan Sauser fourth, Rylan Bertling fifth and Connor Eastin seventh.

   Two of the Panther boys recorded personal best times; Graver and Eastin.

   “Physically and mentally, we’re where we want to be for the postseason races,” Sauser said.

Conference Tuesday

   The River Valley Conference Meet, featuring many of the top teams not only in Eastern Iowa but also in the entire state, was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 11, after this paper went to press. Results will appear in the Express next week.

Oct. 6

Central DeWitt Inv.

VARSITY BOYS TEAM SCORES

(Class 1A-2A Division)

     1, Monticello 21; 2, Northeast 72; 3, Calamus-Wheatland 74; 4, Clinton Prince of Peace 88; 5, Wilton 117.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

(All classes included)

     7, Chesney Capron, 17:28.82; 13, Jacob Miller, 17:56.99; 19, Aedan Althoff, 18:05.90; 21, Alex Oswald, 18:12.81; 29, Reeve Graver, 18:34.18; 42, Walker Spence, 18:53.06; 54, Cord Nietert, 19:10.66.

VARSITY GIRLS TEAM SCORES

(Class 1A-2A Division)

     1, Monticello 21; 2, Northeast 50; 3, Calamus-Wheatland 59.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

(All classes included)

     9, Emma Althoff, 20:44.80; 10, Leah Koehler, 20:48.90; 18, Halle Recker, 21:06.00; 20, Ava Capron, 21:10.40; 23, Marisa Kehoe, 21:33.10; 51, Emily Hendricks, 23:05.00; 67, Katie Roher, 23:57.20.

JV BOYS TEAM SCORES

(Class 1A-2A Division)

     1, Monticello 15; 2, Northeast 50.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

(All classes included)

     4, Nathan Sauser, 18:40.95; 5, Rylan Bertling, 19:17.81; 7, Connor Eastin, 19:26.90; 15, Mace Schnoor, 19:58.80; 17, Harrison Ahlrichs, 20:10.50; 22, Royce Kiburz, 20:18.91; 23, Will Wolken, 20:22.29; 32, Alex Prull, 20:46.44; 38, Hayden Tomkins, 21:05.27; 40, Grant Gassman, 21:08.30; 42, Brennan Bohlken, 21:11.72; 57, Charly Lloyd, 22:03.10;

JV GIRLS TEAM SCORES

(Class 1A-2A Division)

     1, Monticello 15.

MONTICELLO RESULTS

(All classes included)

     4, Leah Schemmel, 23:39.52; 14, Savannah Freese, 24:45.68; 16, Mya Postel, 24:57.40; 20, Bri Kearney, 25:27.83; 25, Jackie Stadtmueller, 26:32.75; 26, Serena Brokaw, 26:41.48; 34, Lauren Verhagen, 27:03.73; 45, Taylor Gassman, 28:22.97.