Lichosik leads Grafton runners to 4th

Grafton High School senior Zander Lichosik took third place of runners on full teams in the Len Nikolai Invite at Meadow Links Golf Course in Manitowoc on Saturday, leading the Black Hawks to fourth place.

Lichosik ran the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 25 seconds.

Sophomore Nathan Baker was 21st in 17:17. Sophomore Cael Abad was 37th in 17:59. Senior Sam Peters was 46th in 18:26, and senior Jake Kempka was 49th in 18:46.

Grafton scored 156 points in the 19-team meet. Stevens Point won with 32.

Port Washington finished sixth with 204 points. Senior Brett Grisar led the way by taking 12th in 16:55.

“Brett had a very aggressive start and left nothing out on the course,” coach Mark Pasten said.

Senior Zach Gephart was 24th in 17:28. Junior Ben Pasten was 33rd in 17:55. Senior Jacob Deheck was 64th in 18:47, and freshman Gabe Pasten was 71st in 18:59.

“Both Jacob and Gabe did an outstanding job of working together throughout the first 2.5 miles of the race. Then Jacob was able to use a great finishing kick to run down a few more places,” coach Pasten said.

Willes lead Grafton girls to fourth place

Senior Julia Wille finished 12rh in 20:22, and freshman Maddy wille finished 21st in 20:51 to lead the Hawks’ girls to fourth place.

The Hawks scored 148 points. Appleton North won with 82.

Junior Anna Eifert was 35th in 21:21. Junior Natalie Cherella was 37th in 21:22, and sophomore Morgan Ruona was 43rd in 21:48.

The Pirates’ girls took seventh with 195 points.

Sophomore Bethany Stacey was 19th in 20:45. Senior Jill Cavanaugh was 34th in 21:18. Sophomore Mira Stimac was 41st in 21:39. Senior Katie Erlandson was 48th in 21:59, and sophomore Emma

Goodman was 53rd in 20:20.

The Pirates next run Thursday, Oct. 4 at their home invite at Tendick Park.

The Hawks run on Thursday, Sept. 27, at Homestead Hollow Park.

Ibarra cracks 19 minutes for CG-Belgium

Cedar Grove-Belgium’s girls ran well in scoring 287 points for 10th place of 25 teams in the small school competition on a flat course. Freedom won with 74.

Karen Ibarra led the way by taking 12th in 20:45.12, the first time she broke 21 minutes.

“She went out quick and was able to hold her position, which was nice to see. She has really gained confidence in her abilities, and it has shown with her steady improvement,” coach Brandon Langer said.

Lyndsay Sass was 64th in 22:12.93. Grace Voskuil was 65th in 22:13.73. Cheyenne Simonet was 67th in 22:14.44, and Katie Mueller was 78th in 22:39.07.

Sass and Simonet knocked off 90 seconds from their season-best times.

The boys scored 287 points to take 10th of 26 teams in the small school competition. Freedom won with 100.

Quinn Hoopman led with 24th in 17:41.55. Ben Fleuchaus was 32nd in a personal-record 17:54.95. Nathanael Bruin was 66th in 18:33.62. Bryce Ketterhaven was 81sst in 18:48.14, and Cole Ketterhagen was 84th in 18:53.37.

Langer said the gap between the No. 2 and 3 runners was too large, and the team has to work on pack running.

The Rockets were to run in the Sheboygan County meet at Sheboygan Lutheran on Tuesday, and in Minnesota for the Griak Invitational on Saturday.