CROSS COUNTRY

By Pete Temple, Express Sports Editor

After a season that included a repeat state championship team and another team that brought home a state third place trophy, it’s hard to imagine that there could be even more accolades.

But there were. As the Monticello High School cross country teams held their annual awards meeting Nov. 12 in the MHS commons, other awards were revealed.

First of all, both the boys and girls teams received statewide academic awards. The girls posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.45, and the boys had an average of 3.34.

Also, head coach Dan Sauser was named both the state Class 2A boys coach of the year and a regional 2A girls coach of the year.

That was added to the state championship the boys brought home, the state third place trophy earned by the girls, four all-state award-winners, eight all-region award-winners, and eight all-conference awards from the Tri-Rivers.

The event included videos put together by volunteer coach Mike Lambert, and the annual speech of memories delivered by seniors from the team, which this year was offered by Nicole Stevens, Kally Blake and Cassi Britt.

A complete list of the awards follows.

ALL-STATE BOYS

Michael Melchert, junior; Nick Meyers, junior; J.J. Frawley, senior.

ALL-STATE GIRLS

Ellen Schlarmann, freshman.

ALL-REGION BOYS

Michael Melchert, junior; Nick Meyers, junior; J.J. Frawley, senior; Dallas Lumpa, senior; Tiler Streets, senior; Ben Ahlrichs, senior.

ALL-REGION GIRLS

Ellen Schlarmann, freshman; Jazmine Reynolds, sophomore.

ALL-CONFERENCE BOYS

Michael Melchert, junior; Nick Meyers, junior; J.J. Frawley, senior; Dallas Lumpa, senior; Tiler Streets, senior; Ben Ahlrichs, senior; Matt Manternach, freshman.

ALL-CONFERENCE GIRLS

Ellen Schlarmann, freshman; Jazmine Reynolds, sophomore.

TEAM AWARDS

Pride Award: Olivia Sunlin, freshman; Jacob Bergman, freshman.

Rookie Award: Ellen Schlarmann, freshman; Jordan Loes, freshman.

Most Improved: Jazmine Reynolds, sophomore; Nick Meyers, junior.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Dan Sauser, boys (state) and girls (regional).

PHOTO: All-state cross country runners for Monticello, from left: Ellen Schlarmann, J.J. Frawley, Nick Meyers and Michael Melchert. (Photo by Pete Temple)