Panthers 6th, Scott 3rd at state By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette WISCONSIN RAPIDS - The Stevens Point Area Senior High boys cross country team hoped to finish in the top half at the WIAA state cross country meet, but coach Donn Behnke wasn't sure the Panthers could finish higher than eighth. Everything went SPASH's way last Saturday, though, and the Panthers finished sixth with 186 points in the Division 1 standings. West Allis Hale won the team title with 90 points, followed by La Crosse Central (99), Waukesha West (123), Franklin (155) and Racine Park (178). "That's a tremendous team performance. We beat teams that pounded us earlier," Behnke said, citing Neenah and Oshkosh West. "Our kids just ran smart races. "We set a goal to get in the top half. To get sixth is terrific. I couldn't be happier." Led by Chris Solinsky's individual win, in 15:32, SPASH's top five finishers included Quinn Baumberger (28th in 16:45), Kyle Patoka (45th in 17:05), Mickey Katz (55th in 17:16) and Nate Hurst (57th in 17:19). Josh Kujawa (67th in 17:29) and Dan Honl (69th in 17:30) also ran for SPASH. "Quinn ran just a tremendous race. He really did a great job of moving up in the middle of the race. The whole team did. That was the key for us," Behnke said. "Patoka ran one of his best races. Mickey Katz, Nate Hurst and Dan Honl - all of those guys ran at or near their best times of the year when it's really hard to do. "It all fell into place today, individually and team-wise. Victories are great, but this is as good as any of those championship performances." SPASH senior Laine Willkom competed as an individual in the girls race, finishing 66th in 15:50. "I was very happy," SPASH coach Mike Olson said. "It was her best time of the year. She ran her P.R. (personal record) at the state meet last year and wanted to do it again. I think she ran an excellent race. With the extra runners, there was too much traffic for her to get that P.R. "She beat several people that she hadn't recently. In my opinion, it was her best race of the year. I was very proud of her." Division 3 In their first state meet appearance as a team, the Amherst Falcons girls finished sixth with 186 points. Albany won the team championship with 78 points. "I was hoping for fifth, but sixth is our best finish. And that's respectable. It's in the top half (of 14 teams entered)," Sparhawk said. "We beat the team (Gilman) we beat in the sectional. And that's important. You always go into the state meet trying to beat the team you beat in the sectional." Salla Pulli won the individual title in 15:03 while Brittney Dick (25th in 16:41), Jane Ovanin (32nd in 16:48), Samantha Diver (51st in 17:14) and Jackie Hucke (77th in 18:12) completed the top five. Jenny Dombrowski (78th in 18:17) and Lindsey Groshek (92nd in 19:29) also ran for Amherst. Rosholt junior Tami Scott, competing as an individual, gave the Hornets their highest finish in nine years. Scott was a strong third in 15:19. "It's about time I ran good at state. I started out behind and at the mile I started going," Scott said. "I just ran relaxed today." Scott, the Sevastopol sectional champion, trailed Pulli and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption sophomore Lindsey Faust. She let them take an early lead hoping to get them later in the race. "First and second took off right away. I kept my distance, expecting them to fall back," Scott said. Scott was disappointed in how she ran at state her freshman and sophomore seasons. The third-place finish was Rosholt's best since Jesse Bushman won the individual title in 1991. "This is a big confidence builder for her," Rosholt coach Mike Trzebiatowski said. "She could've tried to steal the race early. "She ran well and Salla was the better girl today. I think Salla was ready to race. Tami's very pleased to be on the awards stand." The Amherst boys ran consistent times, but didn't place where they hoped, taking 11th with 231 points. Iowa-Grant took the team title with 122 points, edging Drummond, which scored 125. "We ran good times, but we were really disappointed with our place. Nobody placed where they wanted to," Amherst coach Rob Sparhawk said. "I'm glad that we beat Gibraltar, who finished second at our sectional, because that proves that we should be in the meet." Tim Olson (22nd in 17:43), Jordan Selbo (38th in 18:04), Jeremy Sherf (42nd in 18:10), Jeremy Leck (63rd in 18:45) and Jeff Cloninger (66th in 18:50) comprised the Falcons' top five. Dan Werner (68th in 18:55) and Scott Hintz (85th in 19:52) also ran. Rosholt's Brady Staszak ran as an individual, finishing 36th in 17:39. "He ran OK. He got out probably a little conservative," Trzebiatowski said. "He was pleased. It was a great experience. Everybody, his family, was really happy to see him down there. It's a building block for next year."