Both Wildcat cross country teams qualify for state

The Louisburg boys cross country team earned runner-up at the Class 4A regional meet Saturday in Baldwin City. It was the highest regional finish in school history. Members of the team (front row, from left) are head coach John Reece, Hayden Ross, Jaden Vohs, Max LaJoie, Jerynce Brings Plenty, assistant coach Shelby Suther; (back row) Vitus Aagaard, Leo Martin, Landan Henry, Sawyer Richardson and Noah Cotter.

BALDWIN CITY — For the second time in as many years, Louisburg will be sending both its boys and girls cross country teams to the Class 4A state meet.

The Wildcat boys earned regional runner-up for the first time in school history, while the girls finished third at the Class 4A regional meet Saturday at Baldwin Golf Course.

“It is amazing that we are going back to state again this year with both teams,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “‘If you build it, they will come’ Our sport has found success and with that our numbers have been steadily increasing. The runners have bought into our training and it is showing in their individual performance which makes for a strong team and that is evident by our placing at regionals.”

It was a tight race for the regional title on the boys side as the Wildcats finished second with 72 points, just one point behind champion, Bishop Miege.

“Our goal was to qualify and that is what we did,” Reece said. “All of the boys had amazing races setting personal bests across the board. That is what we are training for and now we get to go to state and improve again.”

Louisburg senior Jaden Vohs led the Wildcats with his best time of the season. Vohs medaled third at regionals with a time of 16 minutes and 39 seconds, which is now the second fastest time in school history.

Freshman Jerynce Brings Plenty also earned a regional medal as he was eighth in 17:29.

“For our team to finish runner up at regionals was a great experience, especially because it hasn’t been done yet in school history,” Vohs said. “It was a little upsetting that we only lost to Miege by one point. 

“Before the race I was a little nervous I wouldn’t race good but turns out I got a personal record. I think what really helped was having a few kids from Baker University come and cheer me on.”

Sophomore Noah Cotter also cracked the top 20 as was 18th in 17:58. Junior Leo Martin (18:11) and senior Hayden Ross (18:12) were 21st and 22nd, respectively.

Junior Landon Henry took 45th in 19:15 and senior Sawyer Richardson was 47th in 19:19 to round out the Wildcat lineup.

The Lady Cats found themselves in a very competitive regional that featured the defending state champion (Baldwin) and state runner-up (Eudora).

Louisburg, which finished third last year at state, held its own as the Lady Cats were third with 89 points. Eudora won the regional title with 32 points and Baldwin was second with 40.

It is the fifth straight time the Lady Cats have qualified for the state meet as a team.

“We had the toughest regional on the girls side,” Reece said. “They all ran well and achieved their end of season goal — state. I think some of them have even more to prove at the State meet, and they will be bringing it.

“Finding success over the past five years is a direct reflection of the senior leadership we have had, and not accepting anything less than their best and making a goal for a team appearance at state.”

Sophomore Emma Vohs continues to lead the Lady Cats and was the team’s lone medalist. Vohs medaled fifth in 20 minutes and 25 seconds.

“Overall, we pushed hard to qualify for state as a team,” Emma said. “We knew we really had to step up our game to place, considering the setbacks we’ve had this season. I’m so proud of every one of them.

“At regionals, I felt that I ran well, placing top 5. Baldwin had a great course, but I ended up just missing my personal record by two seconds.” 

Sophomore Maddy Rhamy just missed a regional medal as she took 11th in 20:50 and senior Reese Johnson was 18th in 21:26.

Junior Nova Ptacek took 28th in 22:35 and fellow junior Bree Gassman was 36th in 23:28. Sophomore Erin Apple took 37th in 23:30 and Anna Poe was 40th in 23:45.

Poe was a last minute fill in for an injured Lola Edwards, and the Louisburg sophomore more than held her own.

“What most don’t realize about our sport is that your place is the points you earn,” Reece said. “The lowest score wins the meet. We score the first five runners and the sixth runner is a tiebreaker if needed and the seventh is that just in-case runner. At regionals, our seventh runner was Anna, who was more than just our No. 7. She put competing teams’ number 4 and 5 runners behind her, adding points to their team score, increasing our lead over them. That is the team aspect of our sport and Anna was a huge part of helping to get our team to state.”

Louisburg will end its season at Wamego this Saturday. The Wildcats will compete at the Class 4A state meet at Wamego Country Club, with the girls race starting at 10 a.m. and the boys at 11:20.

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