Rockets’ runners take second at home

The Cedar Grove-Belgium High School boys’ cross country team is filling some fast shoes this season.

Four-time state qualifier and the second-fastest member of the 2024 Division 3 state title-winning team Weston Huenink graduated, along with top-five runner Abram Brill.

But Nolan Brill, Jack Krause, Noah Hopeman, Rome Miller, Grady Ketterhagen and Ben Duwell are back and “will need to step up,” coach Brandon Langer said.

A couple of freshmen will also be pushing for top spots, he said.

The Rockets again compete in Division 2 instead of 3 — they lost their appeal again to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s competitive balance initiative — “but I know the boys are eyeing a return trip to state after missing out last year,” Langer said.

“I have been impressed with how the upper classmen have worked over the summer, and it will be interesting to see how they improve as the season progresses and how the freshmen learn to race a 5k.”

At last Thursday’s nine-team Rocket Invite at home, Cedar Grove-Belgium took second with 63 points. Shorewood won with 29.

Cedar Grove-Belgium freshman Cable De Troye was fifth of 63 runners, finishing in 18 minutes, 11.5 seconds.

Nolan Brill was 10th in 18:36.6. Freshman Carsten Huenink, younger brother of former Rockets’ stars Will and Weston, was 12th in 18:38.1.

Krause was 17th in 19:18.7. Hopeman was 21st in 19:49.4. Duwell was 24th in 19:59.9 and Ketterhagen was 27th in 20:14.6.

“I anticipate our No. 2 runner rotation between Nolan, Carsten and Cable, which will only force them to push each other and help the team,” Langer said.

At the Milwaukee River Invite on Aug. 27, the Rockets scored 354 points and were 13th of 23 teams.

Huenink was 35th in 17:34.6.

“He is a quick learner and used some of the lessons from the Tosa scrimmage, where he went out a bit quick for the first lap, which cost him later,” Langer said.

Then came Brill, 60th, 18:03; De Troye, 61st, 18:05.3; Hopeman, 110th, 19:15.8; Krause, 115th, 19:20.8; Miler, 154th, 20:01; Ketterhagen, 166th, 20:20.1 and Duwell, 170th, 20:22.25.

“I was mostly impressed with their race strategy, as the goal was to stay controlled early - running with their training partners for the first mile, moving up during the second mile, and then finishing strong over the last one-plus miles,” Langer said.

“If the boys continue to maintain this consistency while also working to get out stronger, this will only help move the team forward as the season progresses.”

The Rockets compete in the Nightfall Classic in Neenah on Friday, Sept. 12.

Ozaukee starts hot

The Ozaukee boys have 12 members on the squad this season, up from 13 between the girls and boys last year, and are already seeing the benefits of a bigger, faster team.

“With more depth and new faces this season, we are working on not only being more competitive in races with other teams, but also creating healthy competition on our own team,” coach Andrew Pfeuffer said.

State-qualifiers Nick Schubert and Wyatt Borchardt are back to lead the team.

“They know what it takes to get there and the challenge of the Rapids course. So being able to relay that information and wanting to share that experience with their teammates is a big help this season,” Pfeuffer said.

Schubert said he’s thrilled to get going.

“I think our team is looking great so far. We didn’t lose anyone from last season and added a few strong runners this year,” he said. “ As far as team chemistry goes, we’re like a family, and I think that’s what makes us stronger when we all work together.”

Ozaukee won the Standing Rocks Invite in Stevens Point on Aug. 27, scoring 57 points. Weyauwega-Fremont was second with 70.

Schubert was third in 17:57. Borchardt was fourth in 18:07. Sterling Schanen was eighth in 18:28. All three medaled.

“Our top three boys all did a nice job of sticking together for most of the race and setting the tone for the team,” Pfeuffer said.

Hugh Steffen was 19th in 19:56. Fritz Hoffmann was 25th in 20:37. Evan Caswell was 28th in 21:12, and Carse Isselman was 30th in 21:34.

Ozaukee kept it going by winning the nine-team Lancer Invite in Sturgeon Bay on Sept. 1 in muggy conditions. The Warriors scored 41 points, beating out Sheboygan Lutheran with 54.

Ozaukee’s top five runners medaled.

Schubert was second in 18:36. Then came Borchardt, fourth, 18:50; Schanen, eighth, 19:01; Hoffmann, 12th, 19:57; and Steffen, 15th, 20:17.

Isselmann was 32nd on 21:59 and Jack VanMinsel was 44th in 24:36.

“Not only was it very hot and humid, the course was also very muddy at spots as well. However, they did a great job of moving up throughout the race and being mentally tough in challenging conditions,” Pfeuffer said.

The Warriors run in the Poynette Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 10.