Ozaukee boys race to season goal

Runners on the Ozaukee High School boys’ cross country team knew they could qualify for the state meet this season, and minutes after the Prairie School Division 3 sectional concluded at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, they knew they did it.

The boys scored 51 points to top Brookfield Academy’s 59 and the scores of 13 other teams to win the sectional. Horicon was a distant third with 119 points.

This is the second time since 1984 the Warriors qualified for state and the second time in the last three years.

“Fifteen minutes after everyone was done, the announcer announced results are in,” junior Owen Klaus said.

“I didn’t know (how we did) right away. I went sprinting over to our team tent and that’s when one of our coaches had her phone pulled up. She just threw up her arms and said we won. It’s just an amazing feeling. I had the adrenaline pumping.”

Senior Calvin McKee knows the feeling.

“I was pretty happy. Three years ago we were sectional champs and I was on that team, but I think this team brings it a lot more and I’m really excited going into this week of what we can bring at state,” he said.

Sophomore Aaron Nehls knew the sectional title was possible.

“I knew we had it in us. I was just really happy for our team and what we accomplished,” he said.

Owen Klaus ran the 5,000-meter course with rolling hills in a personal-record 16 minutes, 50.7 seconds, just five seconds from first-place finisher Nathaniel Osborne of Brookfield Academy.

“We’ve raced there before and knowing the course you have to take it carefully,” Klaus said.

“The first 800 meters is almost completely uphill. If you give all your energy on the initial uphill like I did the first time I ran there, then you’ll ruin the entire rest of your race.”

Regardless, Klaus planned to stay near the front.

“The real strategy was to stick on the guy’s hip in front of me, and that pushed me to tie my season best,” he said.

Nehls, who came on strong later in the season, ran a personal-record 17:18.2, good for fourth place of 109 runners.

“I went out with Owen right away, and when he went away from me I just kind of settled into my rhythm. After the second mile, I knew it was time to go to work. During that third mile, I just kind of toughed it out and raced my hardest at the end,” he said.

Senior Calvin McKee was one second behind in fifth place, running the course in 17:19. He hoped to at least qualify for state as an individual.

“As a senior, I knew it could be my last race so I wanted to be top five. I knew if it was top five I could help the team also qualify,” he said.

Senior Tyler Mueller was 13th (11th of those on full teams) in 17:45.5. Junior Riley Borchardt was 32nd (29th) in a personal-record 19:16.9.

Coach Andrew Pfeuffer said this team has been fun to coach and he was pleased with Saturday’s performance.

“Owen has done a fantastic job this season stepping up and being one of the front runners these past few meets. It helps our score stay low when your first runner is only scoring one to four points,” he said.

“Aaron, Calvin and Tyler have also been right behind him and earning low points for our team as well.”

Even the sixth and seventh runners whose scores don’t count ran well. Freshman Otto Utecht was 35th (32nd) in 19:26.3 and freshman Brice Schueller was 41st (38th) in a personal-record 19:44.2.

“Riley, Otto and Brice have done a great job so far this season by challenging each other to get better each day and it shows with their recent performances,” Pfeuffer said.

The Warriors think they can finish in the top three at the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday.

“It’s definitely going to be tough competition. You see teams like Valders and Sheboygan Lutheran —­ the state champ last year,” Klaus said. “Running with these guys, I know we’re more than capable of placing in the top three.”

McKee, Mueller and Borchardt ran at state before and can help prep their teammates for what’s to come in a large meet.

“We can tell these guys what to expect, help them out, help with their nerves because I’m sure a lot of you guys will have some nerves,” McKee said as his teammates laughed.

“It helps to have experience with big races where there are a lot of people because if you let it get to you, you go out too fast and burn yourself out. It helps to be calm,” Borchardt said.

In 2019, the Warriors finished sixth at state.