Louisburg earns four medals at state cross country

Louisburg sophomore Emma Vohs approaches the finish line and is cheered on by Wildcat assistant coach Shelby Suther on Saturday during the Class 4A state meet in Wamego.

WAMEGO — It wasn’t the finish Louisburg wanted following the Class 4A state cross country meet, but the Wildcats left with more than their fair share of hardware.

Louisburg was awarded four state medals following the meet at Wamego Country Club, including three on the girls side for the second straight season.

The Lady Cats had hoped to earn a team plaque for the second year in a row, but took fifth overall with 144 points. Eudora won the girls championship with 56, Baldwin was second with 64 and Winfield was third with 93.

Sophomore Emma Vohs led the charge for Louisburg as she finished sixth overall. Sophomore Maddy Rhamy and senior Reese Johnson also medaled for the Lady Cats.

“The girls team ran great at state,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “Medaling three again this year is a testament to the work they put in throughout the season. It was great to see Reese medal in her final race of her high school career. I’m confident that the team will come back next year looking to find the podium again.”

In his first year with the boys program, senior Jaden Vohs had a strong final run for the Wildcats as he medaled 12th overall.

“Jaden ran a great race,” Reece said. “To the bystander, it might have appeared that he was not in a good position but he ran his race and as the course came to him he moved up and finished well. He looks to run in college and will make great gains and become an awesome cross country runner.”

The girls kicked off the Class 4A meet at Wamego and the Lady Cats had a strong showing. 

Emma Vohs had one of her better races of the season as she just missed out on the top five with a time of 20 minutes and 24 seconds. Vohs is just in her first season of cross country.

“I felt that I ran my best race at state,” Emma said. “I was one second off my personal record for the season and this course was probably the most difficult course this year. I worked hard all season to get to state and was thrilled to receive my first state medal in the top 10. At the beginning of the season, I did not expect to medal in state at all, but it goes to show hard work pays off.”

Rhamy earned her second consecutive state medal as she took 13th overall with a time of 20:51. The Louisburg sophomore was a part of last season’s third place team.

“I’m very proud of how I ran this season and I accomplished many of my goals,” Rhamy said. “ I was so happy to medal in another state meet. It feels so good to see all that hard work pay off.”

As for Johnson, she capped an impressive cross country career as she racked up her third state medal. Johnson was 19th in 21:08. 

She finished in the top 10 as a freshman and then went on to medal as a junior and help the Lady Cats to a third place state finish in 2020.

“I feel that overall this season I ran well,” Johnson said. “I pushed myself really hard this season, all for that final race at state. Making it to state and medaling in my final race of my final season means so much to me. My goal was to medal and accomplishing that was the cherry on top to my cross country career. That feeling of walking up and being handed a state medal is unreal and I am very proud of not only myself but my teammates. 

“Running with this team the past four years has been the biggest honor and has made my high school experience amazing. Cross country has been an incredible journey and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Having the best coaches and most amazing teammates by my side made me the person and runner I am today and I am forever grateful for this sport.”

Jaden Vohs couldn’t have asked for a much better way to end his high school career with a sport he just started months ago.

Jaden medaled 12th in 17:12 and was happy with the way his season wrapped up.

“I felt like I had an off day, but I did beat some really good runners that day, which helped even it out,” he said. “Before the season, I did not think I would medal knowing my opponents have been running for years.”

As for the boys team, the Wildcats took eighth with 195 points. Buhler won the state team title with 51 points, Wamego was second with 67 and Augusta was third at 130.

“The boys improving over their finish a year ago was outstanding,” coach Reece said. “They had a solid season and we are proud of what they accomplished.”

Sophomore Noah Cotter was second on the Wildcat squad as he took 40th overall in 18:18 and freshman Jerynce Brings Plenty was 51st in 18:40.

Junior Leo Martin finished 70th in 19:08 and senior Hayden Ross was 80th in 19:40. Junior Landon Henry (20:07) and senior Sawyer Richardson (20:27) rounded out the Louisburg lineup in 85th and 93, respectively.

Junior Nova Ptacek was 63rd for the Lady Cats in 23:14 and sophomore Anna Poe had a strong race to take 87th in 24:22. Junior Bree Gassman (25:05) and sophomore Erin Apple (27:00) took 94th and 99th, respectively.

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