By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Rosholt girls cross country team is running down its competition so far this season and is leaving its opponents in their tracks.
In their six meets so far this season, the Hornets haven't gone home without a first place trophy. They've beaten several Division 1 and 2 schools, and they are currently No. 5 in the state's cross country coaches association Division 3 rankings.
And Coach Mike Trzebiatowski says his team isn't quite where it could be.
With about a month left before the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's state meet Oct. 30 in Wisconsin Rapids, Rosholt - which was fifth at state a year ago - already has some of the key pieces in place.
Most successful teams throughout the years have had a front-runner, someone that consistently finishes in the top five. After that, simply put, the next four or five runners have to be as close to the number one runner as possible.
Instead of only one front-runner, the Hornets actually have two - sophomore Tami Scott and senior Jen Zdroik. Scott was among the top two finishers in all six meets this season and Zdroik isn't far behind. She's consistently been in the top five.
Trzebiatowski may have explained his team best after the Smiley Invitational Sept. 18, where Rosholt not only beat all the Division 3 competition, they topped all of the Division 2 teams too.
"What makes us tough is we have two really tough runners up front and our pack of three, four, five, six and seven is tightly bunched," Trzebiatowski said.
He admits there is still room for improvement, though.
"We have a minute and 20-second gap between our second and third runners. That's a lot," Trzebiatowski said.
One of the keys to closing that gap is the health of Amy Scott and Lisa Yenter. Scott had dental work done and wasn't able to eat solid foods, which hurt her training. And Yenter is nursing some nagging aches and pains.
"As impressive as we might seem to be, we still need to get Lisa Yenter and Amy Scott to 100 percent, which will help immensely," Trzebiatowski said after the Smiley Invite.
"Amy Scott will be a big key. If she gets back it will make a big difference."
While those two are on the mend, others have been stepping up. Freshmen Lyndsey Peplinski, Jacki Yenter and Nicki Bembenek have all finished in Rosholt's top five sometime this season. Also in the mix is foreign-exchange student Pirjo Eelmaa, who has been among the first five as well.
To prepare for conference, sectionals and state, the Hornets are running between 35 and 45 miles a week. Their competition along the way, Trzebiatowski said, will include Fall Creek, Cochrane-Fountain City, Gresham and Brillion. Fall Creek is currently ranked No. 1, while Cochrane-Fountain City is No. 2, Darlington is No. 3 and Fennimore is No. 4.
"They're working and I think they're enjoying it," Trzebiatowski said. "There's some kids by the end of the year that will get better. There's a lot of things that can happen."