Developing into one of the state’s top cross country programs, Oak Harbor High School placed both its boys and girls teams in the top 11 at the Washington 3A championships Saturday, Nov. 5, at Pasco’s Sun Willows Golf Course.
The Wildcat girls finished 10th and the boys 11th as Oak Harbor qualified both squads for the big meet for the second consecutive year. The only other time both teams traveled to state the same year was 1995.
Oak Harbor, coached by Eric Peterson and Andy Wesley, was topped by seniors Matt Reith (39th, 16:14) in the boys race and Hannah Bressler (35th, 19:37.6) in the girls.
Peterson said the races featured “tough” fields and “one of the fastest in years.”
This was evident when Reith ran nearly the same time as last year but finished 20 spots lower. Bressler was also 35th last year, but ran nine seconds faster this season.
Senior Joshua Schrum was second for the Wildcat boys, improving by nearly a minute and 49 places from 2010.
He was followed by freshman John Rodeheffer (69th [fifth among freshmen], 16:49.1), junior John Kaltenbach (111th, 17:19.6), sophomore Esai Cunningham (118th, 17:29.6), sophomore Stephen Miller (125th, 17:39.7) and freshman Dakota Powers (138th, 18:39.4).
Bressler was followed by senior Heather Dale (46th, 19:51.4), junior Christina Wicker (59th, 20:05.3), sophomore Alex Laiblin (96th, 20:40.2), senior Taylor VonGrey (100th, 20:46.1), junior Ashley Everett (119th, 21:17.5) and junior Carlie Kenny (134th, 22:22.3).
Peterson said, “We are really happy with how the kids ran…A number of our kids ran great times and set PRs and/or improved from their district times.”
He added, “Overall our kids performed incredibly well. They showed toughness and this meet was a great culmination to an outstanding season of improvement. With so many younger runners we’re looking forward to returning both teams again next year.”
North Central won the boys meet with 59 points. Oak Harbor finished with 306.
Camas edged Glacier Peak 58-60 to win the girls race. The Wildcats tallied 249.
