Redemption for Lakers
By MATT WENZEL, Manistee News Advocate Sports Editor
Published: Sunday,
November 1, 2009 9:32 PM
BENZONIA — When the competition is over,
the athletes are spent and the reward is hardware for being the best, a
little celebration is usually in order. Hoisting a trophy as the top
team is a party for most, but not the Bear Lake boys cross country team.
When the Lakers’ name was called for winning a Division 4 regional title
on Saturday afternoon at Benzie Central High School, the runners didn’t
jump around and scream, or really make a big deal of it at all. They
collected their trophy, posed for a few pictures, then went back to
their seats.
The Lakers acted like they’ve been there
before, which shouldn’t come as a surprise since they’ve spent a fair
share of time in the winner’s circle over the years.
“For the boys it’s always been a challenge between first and second and
they wanted first this year — there’s no question — and they worked hard
for it,” Bear Lake coach Eric Ross said of the regional.
Last year, Traverse City St. Francis narrowly edged Bear Lake for a
regional title to snap it’s seven-year string, which didn’t sit so well
with the Lakers, who wanted redemption.
“Me and a couple other guys, this is our last year and we really wanted
to get this back,” said Bear Lake senior runner Chuck Schoedel, who
helped the Lakers to a third regional title in four years with the team.
The Lakers took first place with 44 points, while Evart (51) and Suttons
Bay (67) rounded out the top three.
“As a team, it was the best race they’ve run all year,” Ross said. “They
ran it exactly how they had put their minds to it.”
Schoedel was the top finisher for the Lakers, taking second place in
17:12. “Chucky had his mind set that he wasn’t going to do his
slower-paced first mile and he was going to go out with everything,”
Ross said. “He went out with everything and finished with everything.” |
Battling tough conditions that featured
temperatures in the 30s, and a mix of rain, sleet and a bit of snow,
Schoedel ran hard from the crack of the pistol.
“I ran from the first mile and went from there,” he said. “I’m pleased.
I wish I could have taken first, but second is good too.”
Also finishing for the Lakers was Tyler
Groenwald (eighth, 17:55), Ryan Pienta (ninth, 18:01), Alex Ringel
(16th, 18:19), Lewis Bartlett (19th, 18:30), Danny Brown (22nd, 18:40)
and Josh Goins (28th, 18:50).
“We needed Alex to step it up this week
and he jumped right back into the spot he started in at the beginning of
the year, which is what we needed out of him,” Ross said. “He stepped
up, all of them stepped up.”
The Bear Lake boys cross
country team takes off at the start of the Division 4 regional race
at Benzie Central High School on Saturday. Pictured (from left to
right) are Lewis Bartlett, Danny Brown, Chuck Schoedel, Alex Ringel,
Ryan Pienta, Tyler Groenwald and Josh Goins. (Matt Wenzel/News
Advocate)
The Bear Lake boys will run in the
Division 4 state finals on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway
in Brooklyn. Last year they placed ninth, but will head to the last meet
of the year without the sting of finishing second in the regional.
“For us, it’s a little redemption but it’s also realizing that all the
hard work they put in this year really paid off,” Ross said. “Every one
of the kids, I’m so proud of them and their effort.”
Laker Girls' Race Report
Team
Photos by Lynn O'Connor |
