When the calendar turns to late October/early November, you can about count on Valder’s cross-country teams preparing for the state cross-country meet in Wisconsin Rapids.
This year is no exception. The boys and girls are at Ridges Golf Course on Saturday, running in the Division Three field.
The Viking boys are looking for their seventh title in school history, while the girls are trying to win their first as they run at state for the third time in four years.
Head Coach Marcy Skaletski tells Seehafer Sports that these kids worked hard to return to Rapids.
“The seniors and incoming freshmen blended from day one of practice. They shared their knowledge, the kids worked together and sacrificed for one another to make sure they could make the most of their talent for the team’s betterment.”
Senior Gunnar Romuald placed seventh at Sectionals last Saturday, leading Valders to the team title at Meadow Links in Manitowoc.
The Vikings had five of the top 22 runners, which Romuald says is key to any team’s success.
“It’s important. The energy runs off one another when you run together; if you run separately, it is tough to succeed as a team. Pack running makes for better scoring.”
Senior Issac Mangin says there’s nothing like running at state.
“It’s just so fun being there. The atmosphere is just amazing. The weather has been beautiful, and thousands of spectators are cheering you on. They help you overcome your fears in running the course in general.”
Valders returns to the girl’s field after missing the cut in 2023. Senior Elizabeth Backus says that “stuck in their collective craw” all off-season.
“It helped motivate us, especially with the freshmen there to push us. We made it back because of how hard we work in practice.”
The Lady Vikings had five of the top seventeen runners, winning the sectional title last Saturday at Meadow Links.
Senior Hannah Welch has been fortunate to run at state all four years of her career, qualifying as an individual in 2023. She says they had potential and put in the work to achieve it.
“We could see, going into the season, that we had a great mix of veterans and newcomers with a lot of talent. It’s been cool to see the freshmen develop over the season.” Welch adds—
“There’s a significant difference in their performance from day one to now.”
Coach Skaletski on what she’d define as a “great day” at Rapids.
“We want to give it our best and hit our preferred times. It’s a hilly course that will present plenty of challenges, but we’re confident in our abilities, and we want all of them to feel that they gave it their all, leaving everything on the course.”
The boys run at noon; the girls are scheduled to race at 2 p.m.
