2016 Awards Night

The 2016 Belle Plaine Cross-country season came to an end Thursday evening.  Food was fabulous the turn out was terrific and the captains recognized each participant with a certificate of some sort of achievement.

2016 was an amazing season finishing with a trip to the state meet.  The boys JV streak stayed alive.  They have not been beaten by a single A foe in over two seasons.  The Junior High girls defended their MRC championship with a perfect score.  In an incredible JV girls race at the MRC the ladies went 2-14.  Never before have we dominated that race so completely.  The boys varsity had a great season, winning the Mankato East meet, the I90, and the Buck invitational. They also had a strong showing with three all conference runners at the MRC.  The girls had an outstanding season winning the MRC for the 5th consecutive year.  They were runner up at the section 2A meet to the eventual state champions and competed at the state meet to a 13th place finish.

There were many fun and exciting moments this season and it was a pleasure being part of them.

Congratulations to the special award recipients:  Alexa Lenz and John Morrison (Most Tiger Spirit), Emily Nagel and Drew Hastings (Most Improved Runner), Kellen Bergs and Cassie Stolt (Most Dedicated Runner), Emily Berger and Kyle Siemon (Most Valuable Runner), and Teddy Sellnow Cross-country Special Achievement Award.

13th Place Finish!

In the first visit to the state meet since 1978 the Belle Plaine Cross-country team competed to a 13th place finish.  On a glorious morning the ladies went out under control carefully pacing themselves through the first mile.  At the two mile point they focused on whoever they could pass and finished the race giving it their all as they have done for the entire season.  They can be proud of the way they represented the community of Belle Plaine and the cross-country program.

Cassie Stolt had an outstanding run leading the Belle Plaine finishers over the 5000 meter course at St. Olaf in 20:37.  Cassie has had an outstanding year and her durability and experience came through at State.  The only senior on the team came through next, Haley Leger completed the course sprinting down the home stretch to finish in one of her best times of the season 20:57.  Haley has been an outstanding mature presence on the team this year racing with calm and intensity the entire season.  Emily Berger was the third runner at state finishing in 21:02.  Emily is very thoughtful about her racing and has and incredibly competitive instinct.  Fourth for the Tigers was 8th grader Jordyn William crossing the line in 21:15.  In her second season Jordyn has already established herself as a seasoned runner putting in the extra work in the off season.  The youngest member of the squad was next, Malina Koepp had a fabulous race finishing fast in 21:33.  Malina has learned quickly this season and has shown that she is a serious runner.  McKenna Herrmann crossed the finish just behind Koepp in 21:37.  McKenna is a very strong runner and incredibly diligent about her training, she is quickly becoming a highly experience runner.  Lizzy Schmidt finished in 21:43 to round out the squad.  Lizzy has had an amazing first season as a cross-country runner and has brought strength and cognition to the team.

It was very uplifting to see and hear so many Belle Plaine fans come out and support us at the State.  The girls enjoyed the experience and are eager to take another shot against the best in Minnesota.  Thanks to all for their support of the Cross-country program.

State

It was an exciting meet last Thursday in Montgomery.  The girls team placed 2nd with a score of 104 and is going to the state meet Saturday November 5th for the first time in 38 years.  The boys team finished in 6th place with 171 points completing their 2016 season.

Every girl new her job and pushed herself to the limit in pursuit of Belle Plaine cross-country history. Freshmen Emily Berger led the way with a 12th place finish in 20:09.  She was followed closely by 8th grader Lizzy Schmidt in 17th place with a time of 20:20.  Senior Haley Leger sprinted across the line in 20th place just in front of LCWM's number 2 runner finishing with a PR of 20:29.  Cassie Stolt, sophomore was next with another strong performance in 25th place, with 8th grader Jordyn Williams just behind in 30th place to round out the scoring.  7th grader Malina Koepp and freshmen McKenna Herrmann nearly placed in front of LCWM's 5th runner finishing in 34th and 36th.  In the past 17 years we have never had a girls team that had their top 7 girls so close to one another.  This years team has the strength of pack running which is very affective in big races.

The boys division on Thursday was incredibly competitive with two very tough teams tied for 1st place.  The boys finished in 6th place led by junior Kyle Siemon in 20th place finishing the 5000 meter course in 17:32.  Freshmen Drew Hastings was close behind in 22nd place running a 17:38.  Senior captain Kellen Bergs capped off his outstanding career with a 33rd place finish in 17:54.  Sophomore Elliot Rudd and freshmen Ben Hunsader rounded out the scoring for the Tigers in 44th and  52nd place respectively.  Sophomores Mikkel Schmidt and Tristan Cruz finished the course in 56th and 67th place.  The boys competed very well.  It is nice to be able to go to the section meet and be in the conversation for the state meet.  They are on the right path and their turn will come, hopefully sooner than later.  

The state meet will be held at St. Olaf college in Northfield Saturday November 5th.  We will be running at 11:00 am and will start in lane 10.  A fan bus is available sign up in the office.  The team will be busy preparing this week you are all welcome to come out and join us.  See you Saturday!

Season end rapidly approaching

Dear Parents,                                                                                    October 14, 2016

Thank you for all of your support this season.  The rides to practice, cheering us on at meets, hooking us up with chocolate milk, having our senior pictures taken and put up in the gym, driving us around for the homecoming relay, organizing a terrific meal and opening up you house to us at the homecoming relay, helping out at the spaghetti dinner and water stops, has made this a memorable season.

We are rapidly approaching the end of the season and the fruits of all the hard work your children have done will become evident.  Our final junior high competition of the season will be at the MRC meet on Tuesday October 18^th at Baylor Park north of Norwood.  Junior High kids are encouraged (but not required) to continue practicing with us until the following Tuesday October 25^th to participate in the JV extravaganza.  We love having them around and would like to see what they can run at the high school distance (5k). 

We are very excited about next weeks MRC meet at Baylor and are anxious to showcase your children’s talents.  We are hoping you can come out and support us it is very motivating hearing big cheers for Belle Plaine.  The remainder of next week we will be holding practices.  Thursday the 20^th and Friday the 21^st practice will be at 9:00 am.

The final meet of the year everyone is able to participate in is the JV Extravaganza a meet we host to promote the future or our team.  It will be held at the Ney Center on Tuesday October 25^th, see race times below.  This is a very exciting meet one you will not want to miss. 

The Section 2A meet will be held at Riverside country club half way between Winnebago and Blue Earth on Thursday October 27^th.  We are limited to have 9 runners on the roster with 7 of them running the other 2 back ups.  Top 2 teams will advance to the state and top 8 individuals not on one of those teams will advance.  We will bring as many kids that have practiced and competed to the JV extravaganza that want to come and will be stopping on the way home in Mankato again.  Hope to see you there.

Finally.  We will celebrate and recognize this seasons accomplishments at our end of the season potluck on Monday November 14^th in the high school commons beginning at 6:00 pm and going to around 8:00 pm.  This is our time to acknowledge the hard work the team has put in this year.

Thank you, for your incredible support of Belle Plaine Tiger Cross-country.  We can’t do what we do without such wonderful parents.

Steve Schroeder

MRC October 18th

Baylor Park)(3 miles North of Norwood Young America on Co. Rd. #33)

10775 County Rd. 33, Norwood Young America, MN 55397

Excusd

3:00 PM         -           Teams arrive

3:15 PM          –          COACHES’ MEETING

3:30 PM         -           JV Boys 5000 m

3:35 PM          -           JV Girls 5000 m

4:15 PM          -           Varsity Girls 5000 m

4:50 PM         -           Varsity Boys 5000 m

5:20 PM         -           MS Girls 1600 m

5:30 PM         -           MS Boys 1600 m

5:45 PM         -           Awards

JV Extravaganza October 25^th

Ney Center

Out at 250

Bus at 300

4:15 Girls 5100 meter Race

4:50 Mini Harriers (local 4-6graders)

5:10 Boys 5100 meter Race

Section 2A October 27^th

Riverside Country Club

Between Winnebago and Blue Earth on the west side of 169

Out at 12:50

Bus at 1:00

Varsity Girls 4:00

Varsity Boys 4:45

End of the Season Potluck November 14^th 6-8 pm high school commons.