Hungry for another state title, Rugby High’s Panthers cross country team boarded the bus for Jamestown Oct. 22 with several east region standouts among them.

The state-bound Panthers included 2021 East Region Champion Brooklyn Bartsch, who also holds the all-region title along with teammates Hannah Senechal and Austin Dibble. Also among the Panthers was Quinn Neppl, nominee for 2021’s East Region Outstanding Senior Athlete.

The Panthers had placed third in class B girls at east regionals, behind longtime rivals Hillsboro Burros and 2021 champions, the Kindred Vikings.

The Panthers placed seventh in the class B boys’ division, farther behind Kindred, who won first place in the division, and Hillsboro/Central Valley, who placed second.

The east regional meet was held Oct. 16 at Cooperstown Country Club. Two hundred runners participated in the girls’ division of the race, while 200 runners participated in the boys’ division.

Panthers Coach Bill Jansen, who was named the east region’s Coach of the Year, said via email competition for 2021’s state title would be spread out among several top teams.

“Both Kindred and Hillsboro/Central Valley had their best races as a team this season and Mayville-Portland-Clifford-Galesburg wasn’t far behind us in fourth, so I feel it is a battle between those teams for the state title,” Jansen said.

The Panthers sent two teams, one team of 10 girls and another of 10 boys to the state meet at Jamestown’s Parkhurst Campground, according to Jansen.

“We did not have a great race as a team (at regionals),” Jansen acknowledged. “But if we do (at state), we are definitely in the hunt for another state title.”

“We must run well as a team, all 10 runners, to make it happen,” Jansen added. “I thought the boys had a nice race as a team and weren’t far out of the top five. They are making good progress as a team and it would be nice to get in the top 10 at state, but the future looks bright.”

“Brooklyn had a great race winning the region title for a second straight year,” Jansen said of Bartsch. “Hannah (Senechal) and Austin (Dibble) also had very good races finishing as all-region runners and we are hoping that carries over to state and that they drag some of their teammates with them.”

Rugby Results for the 2021 Class B East Region meet are:

Girls’ 5000-meters: Brooklyn Bartsch, first place, 19 minutes, 43 seconds, all-region; Hannah Senechal, eighth place, 20:13, all-region; Amelia Shepard, 23rd place, 21:12; Evyn Jacobson, 26th place, 21:15; Ashlyn Dibble, 31st place, 21:31; Kayara Lundstrom, 45th place, 22:06; Jaelyn Lunde, 46th place, 22:07; Quinn Neppl, 48th place, 22:15; Kendyl Hager, 53rd place, 22:24; Mauvlyn Kirchofner, 55th place, 22:34; Ava Jacobson, 69th place, 23:07; Mikaylee Livedalen, 73rd place, 23:13; Mya McNeff, 82nd place, 23:32; Sara Schmaltz, 90th place, 23:45; Jaclyn Duchscher, 98th place, 24:00; Jesse Wolf, 100th place, 24:06; Brooklyn Hager, 112th place, 24:06; Sophie Oppen, 148th place, 26:07; Livvy Johnson, 155th place, 26:15; Tressa Arnston, 158th place, 26:26; Reese Gullickson, 159th place, 26:28; Rylie Suchor, 160th place, 26:30; Rylah Hager, 170th place, 27:23; Ava Wurgler, 178th place, 28:07; Haylee Jundt, 195th place, 30:44.

Boys’ 5000-meters: Austin Dibble, ninth place, 17:23, all-region; Jenner Johnson, 25th place, 18:23; Connor Ramsey, 59th place, 19:55; Connor Klein, 60th place, 19:55; Wyatt Oppen, 61st place, 19:59; Riley Odden, 73rd place, 20:24; Brayden Green, 85th place, 20:46; Maddex Kirchofner, 90th place, 20:48; Kristian Fritz, 96th place, 21:06; Austin Duchscher, 104th place, 21:19; Andrew Duchscher, 118th place, 21:57; Jose Ortega, 135th place, 22:27; Brayden Herman, 151st place, 23:16; Damien Herman, 157th place, 23:35; Jaxon Heilman, 162nd place, 23:46; Kiefer Fritz, 171st place, 24:17; Kale Deatherage, 172nd place, 24:26; Dane Whorley, 192nd place, 27:53.