The Versailles Republican Sports
September 3, 2009

Results of '09 season opening XC Invitational are posted

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

Saturday, August 28, provided what many described as "The perfect day for running", (temperature and weatherwise) as the Annual Rushville Cross Country Invitational was held on the Rushville High School campus.
A host of high schools from across the state participate each year. This year, as in the past, schools were divided into one of three divisions, based primarily on school enrollment. Sixty-four high schools were represented in girls' competition while 61 were represented in boys' races.
Girls Division 3 Race
Smaller schools filled the division 3 slot with 24 schools participating.
Jac-Cen-Del Lady Eagles
The Lady Eagles of Jac-Cen-Del captured a sixth place team finish in their division 3 race with a total of 181 points.
Lady Eagle runners included Samantha White (10) @ 22:30, Ashley Hammond (25) @ 24:11, Lauren Fennelly (33) @ 24:35, Kara Wagner (50) @ 25:37 and Kayla Forbes (63) @ 26:47.
Other participating Lady Eagle runners included Kathleen Maloney (64) @ 26:48 and Hannah Phebus, finishing (103) @ 35:00.
So. Ripley Lady Raiders
Without the aid of ace Lady Raider runner Jenifer Patrick, the South Ripley Lady Raider team earned a 13th place team finish with a total point count of 339.
The Lady Raiders were led by Stacie Koger (39) @ 24:54, Jordon Webster (52) @ 25:48, Kelly Borter (77) @ 27:51, Cassandra Young (78) @ 27:52 with Kristen Walston finishing (93) @30:23.
Oldenburg Lady Twisters
Capturing third place in the girls division 3 team race was the Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters behind Ann Kuntz (1), who ran the course in 20:51. However, crossing the finish line for first place though not part of a team was Breanna Lawyer of Eastern Hancock with a time of 20:42.
Other members of the third place finishing Lady Twister team with a team total point count of 97 included Bridget Bruns (15) @23:20, Jamie Reed (17) @23:30, Maria Riehle (26) @ 24:13 and Julie Ricke (38) @ 24:50. Also running for OA but not counting in the team score were Courtney Unkrich who finished (54) @ 26:20 and Ellen Owens (85) @ 28:47.
Others - Division 3
Local schools with less than the required five member team for a team score included Rising Sun and South Decatur. Running without a full team were Rising Sun Lady Shiner Chelsea Bowman (42) @ 24:36 and Jaclyn Kolodzik (59) @ 25:18.
South Decatur Lady Cougars finished with Kristy Hamilton (15) @ 22:58, Lauren Cunningham (47) @ 24:45 and Nacole Hamilton (65) @ 25:41.
Boys Division 3 Race
The Boys Division 3 race also had 24 high schools participating.
South Ripley Raiders
The South Ripley Raiders ran to a 10th place team finish with a total of 254 points. Raider runners and times included Zach Grossman (11) @ 18:40, Ethan Back (42) @ 19:58, Brytton Rogers (65) @ 20:42, Alex Young (67) @ 20:46 and Zach Raab (69) @ 20:49.
Other Raider runners included Josh Huntington (73) @ 21:00 and Luke Ryle (110) @ 23:07. Raider runners running in the boys' open race included Bryan Forwalt (121) @ 24:33 and Alex Messer (146) @ 37:40.
Unable to attend the meet due to prior commitments, the Raider boys effort was without the aid of a pair of their usual top performers Devon Swinney and Kevin Dresselhaus.
Jac-Cen-Del Eagles
The Jac-Cen-Del Eagle boys team earned an 18th place team finish with a total point count of 422. The Eagles were led by Jim Dobbs (63) @ 20:42, Donnie Lows (64) also @ 20:42, Brock Shadday (84) @ 21:30, Kyle Bradley (96) @ 22:03 with Brandon Wilhoit finishing (115) @ 24:51. Joey Chambers crossed the line simultaneously with Wilhoit but was given (116), also at a time of 24:51.
Oldenburg Acad. Twisters
The Oldenburg Academy Twister boys team captured sixth place in the division 3 team race with 179 total points. Finishing behind the lead of Luke Owens (8) @ 18:37, were Andrew Newton (9) @18:38, Logan Ricke (26) @23:30, Mark Brunsman (58) @ 20:31 and Mark Zinser (78) @ 21:08. Also running for OA but not counting in the team score was Chris Garlotti who finished (121) @ 26:16.
Other local competitors
Area schools with less than the required five member team for a team score included Rising Sun and South Decatur.
Rising Sun Shiner boy finishes were posted by Anthony Nierlich (4) @ 18:12, Adam Hummel (22) @ 19:03 and Garrett Craig (103) @ 21:58. South Decatur Cougar finishes were posted by Cody Wamsley (50) @ 20:06, Nolan Allen (98) @ 21:39, Evan Kirshner (138) @ 25:54 and Adam Whiteman (140) @ 28:51.
Girls Division 2 Race
Twenty-four Class 3A size schools filled the Division 2 racing agenda slot including the Lady Bulldogs of Batesville who captured the first place team finish with 51 total points.
Batesville Lady Bulldogs
Lady Bulldog runner finishes included Steacy Gryspeerdt (4) @ 21:26, Alexandra Lake (7) @ 21:46, (former SR Lady Raider) Holly Keck (9) @ 21:50, Emily Morrison (15) @ 22:22 and Abbie Krieg (16) @ 22:28. Other participating Lady Bulldog runners included Laurel Washburn (24) @ 22:51 and Brittany Brewer (26) @ 23:03.
Greensburg Lady Pirates
The Greensburg Lady Pirates team earned a 12th place team finish with a total point count of 321. The Lady Pirates were led by Ashley Bowling (12) @ 22:05, Gina Ricke (53) @ 24:16, Tori Helms (69) @ 25:03, Erica Carman (86) @ 26:00 with Jenn Meadows finishing (101) @ 28:45. Also running for the Lady Pirates was Tori Butz who finished (110) @ 31:16.
No. Decatur Lady Chargers
Running for a 13th place team finish at 330 total points was the North Decatur Lady Chargers behind Victoria Leffel (29) @ 23:11, and teammates Veronica Yager (39) @ 23:44, Kylee Laudick (41) @ 23:46, Cindy Krieger (108) @ 30:44 and Marissa Hipps (113) @ 33:15. Also contending was Lady Charger Kelsey Kramer (115) @ 36:42.
So. Dearborn Lady Knights
The South Dearborn Lady Knights finished 17th as a team with 410 total points. They were led by Andrea Cash (37), who ran the course in 23:37.
Other team members included Kelli Foglesong (58) @24:30, Hannah Martin (98) @28:06, Jessica Lantgen (103) @ 28:56 and Kayla White (114) @ 33:59.
Boys Division 2 Race
The Division 2 boys competition included 23 schools participating. The Batesville Bulldogs made the best of a great day, clinching first place team honors in the boys division two race with a total accumulated 64 points.
Batesville Bulldogs
Bulldog male runners included Hayden Merkel (7) @ 17:35, Blake Coleman (8) @ 17:36, Collin Koury (10) @ 17:45, Chris Giesting (11) @ 17:53 and Jonathan Krekler (28) @ 18:25. Other participating Bulldog runners included James Call (45) @ 18:51 and Scott Gryspeerdt (64) @ 19:38.
South Dearborn Knights
The South Dearborn Knight team earned a 10th place team finish with a total point count of 301. The Knights were led by John Houchens (43) @ 18:50, Anthony Dang (44) @ 18:50, Kyle Hall (46) @ 18:52, Jimmy Kemper (77) @ 20:01 with Keegan McCabe (91) @ 20:21. Other SD runners included Keenen Fryman (107) @ 20:49 and Sean Stuart (143) @ 24:28.
Greensburg Pirates
Capturing 12th place in the boys division 2 team race was the Greensburg Pirates with 327 total points. Finishing were Zach Powell (27) @ 18:24, Ian Frink (49) @ 19:02, Colt Hyatt (80) @ 20:08, Tommy Richardson (84) @ 20:13 and Ethan Loechle (87) @ 20:16. Also running for the Pirates were Colin Evans (94) @ 20:23 and Travis Zeigler (130) @ 22:11.
North Decatur Chargers
The North Decatur Charger team finished 21st with 500 points. Leading their effort was Nick Gauck (69) @ 19:50. He was followed by teammates Ryan Root (99) @ 20:37, Derek Moore (101) @ 20:38, Ethan Rich (111) @ 20:57 and Anthony Bedel (120) @ 21:26.
Other Charger contenders included David Bedel (131) @ 22:11 and Shane Smith (133) @ 22:40.
Other local contenders
Local non-team producing contenders included Lawrenceburg Tigers Cody Land (130) @ 21:58 and Alex Humphrey (148) @ 24:50.
Girls Division 1 Race
East Central and Jennings County were the two local division 1 participating schools among the field of 16.
East Central Lady Trojans
The Lady Trojans of East Central ran for an eleventh place team finish with 301 total team points behind Julia Thomas (30) @ 22:03. Lady Trojan runners included Maddie Lattire (60 @ 24:03, Sarah Burke (68) @ 24:40, Bryanne Messmore (71) @ 24:53 and Anne Hendrix (72) @ 24:56. Also running for EC was Abby White (88) @ 26:16.
Jennings Co. Lady Panthers
The Jennings County Lady Panther team finished at 15th place with 403 points. Freshman Julie Doran (52) @ 23:26 led the Lady Panther effort. She was followed by Kristen Moran (84) @ 25:45, Nicole Boggs (86) @ 26:05, Katrina Brandenburg (90) @ 26:25 and Kelsey Fleener (91) @ 26:27. Other participating Lady Panther runners included Lacy Allman (98) @ 27:09 and Jaclyn Capes (105) @ 28:26.
Boys Division 1 Race
Of the 14 teams contending in the division 1 race, the Jennings County Panther and East Central Trojan boys team action resulted in the following.
Jennings County Panthers
The Panthers ran to a fifth place team finish with 164 total team points. Panther runners included Kane Barker (17) @17:52, Webster Justin (30) @ 18:29, Branden Gasper (32) @ 18:30, Jeremy Capes (37) @ 18:40 and David Gasper (48) @ 19:20. Also running for Jenn. Co. was Brett Lykins (51) @ 19:28 and Billy McNicholas (55) @ 19:40.
East Central Trojans
The East Central Trojan boys team finished at 14th place with 350 total points. They were led by Trevor Morrall (53) @ 19:30 led the Trojan effort, followed by Trey Gellert (64) @ 20:22, Zach Hutchinson (72) @ 21:02, Nathan Hallman (79) @ 21:37 and Austin Whitton (82) @ 21:51. Also running for the Trojans was A. J. Gallagher (83) @ 22:08.