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Panthers XC runners finish in top spots at invite

By Sue Sitter - | Oct 16, 2021

Two weeks ahead of regionals, the Rugby Panthers faced off against 17 east region schools on the course at Cooperstown Bible Camp Oct. 7 for the Griggs/Midkota G “Ott” Courage Invitational.

Following a pattern they set all season, the Panther varsity girls took first place in team points. The boys’ varsity team took third overall.

Panthers Coach Bill Jansen said he liked the results. “We had a few girls gone, but hopefully we will have everybody back and all healthy for the stretch run of region and state,” he said in an email. “The boys had their best race as a team, so I am excited to see what they can do at region and state. Hopefully, they can put together their best races of the season,” Jansen said.

Austin Dibble placed second in the varsity boys’ race with a time of 17:46.

Even with “a few girls gone,” three Panther girls placed among the top five finishers. Amelia Shepard placed first with a time of 20 minutes, 31 seconds. Teammate Brooklyn Bartsch placed third with a time of 21:04 and Hannah Senechal, who missed the Rugby Booster Invitational Oct. 2, returned to place fifth with a time of 21:39.

Although Bartsch and Shepard seem to trade top finish times for the Panthers often, Jansen said calling the back-and-forth top spots a rivalry or competition would be a mistake.

“Competition suggests a winner and a loser. The more they can drive each other and their teammates to get better, the better our team is and there are no losers,” Jansen said. “We compete and are rivals of other schools and their runners.”

“I would not call Amelia and Brooklyn a rivalry, they are teammates working hard to drive each other to be the best they can be,” Jansen added. “Rivalries are between teams and athletes from other teams not teammates, in my mind.”

Junior varsity runners did not compete in the meet.

The Panthers would have one bye week before heading to the Cooperstown Country Club for regionals Oct. 16. The following week, the Panthers head to state in Jamestown Oct. 22.

Rugby results for the Griggs/Midkota G “Ott” Courage Invitational were:

Varsity girls 5000-meters: Amelia Shepard, first place, 20:31; Brooklyn Bartsch, third place, 21:04; Hannah Senechal, fifth place, 21:39; Evyn Jacobson, 11th place, 22:17; Ashlyn Dibble, 16th place, 22:50; Kendyl Hager, 21st place, 23:05; Mauvlyn Kirchofner, 34th place, 24:40; Mikaylee Livedalen, 37th place, 24:47; Sara Schmaltz, 38th place, 24:51; Jaclyn Duchscher, 42nd place, 25:05; Mya McNeff, 44th place, 25:07; Ava Jacobson, 57th place, 26:25; Rylah Hager, 73rd place, 27:38; Sophie Oppen, 81st place, 28:16; Tressa Arnston, 82nd place, 28:39; Rylie Suchor, 84th place, 28:46; Livvy Johnson, 85th place, 28:57; Reese Gullickson, 86th place, 29:03; Ava Wurgler, 91st place, 29:38.

Varsity boys 5000-Meters: Austin Dibble, second place, 17:46; Jenner Johnson, 12th place, 19:14; Connor Ramsey, 23rd place, 20:18; Connor Klein, 26th place, 20:27; Wyatt Oppen, 27th place, 20:29; Brayden Green, 28th place, 20:49; Maddex Kirchofner, 33rd place, 21:11; Riley Odden, 37th place, 21:29; Andrew Duchscher, 43rd place, 22:00; Kristian Fritz, 45th place, 22:05; Damien Herman, 62nd place, 23:20; Brayden Herman, 65th place, 23:23; Dane