“State has always been a goal of Julia's,” said head coach Brittany Erickson of the Bucs.  “It's nice when the hard work, time, and dedication pay off. She's had great teammates this season to push and motivate her and deserves the credit and success for this great achievement.

The weather was misty/rainy and never really stopped. 

“Karter Martinek and Liz Franzese also ended their cross country career,” added Coach Erickson. “It’s an emotional moment when it hits you that this is it. I said to Karter at the 4K mark, “It’s your last 1K, how do you want to finish it?” I am extremely proud of our runners and how they ran on a tough course with the weather.” 

In order to make it to state, you have to either belong to the first or second place teams from each section OR be one of the first 6 individual finishers who are NOT members of the 1st or 2nd place teams.  

Julia finished 4th overall, but was the 3rd individual that didn't belong to Minnewaska or Staples-Motley.  Karissa Anderson came in 12th after you excluded the first and second place team runners (19th overall) missing qualifying for state by just 6 places?  

“It’s really hard to make it state for class A,” noted Erickson. “Section AA or AAA have WAY fewer teams and follow the same qualifications.  For example...Section 1AA had only 73 girl runners and 12 teams.  The numbers are fewer for AAA sections.  Our Section had 109 girls and 20 teams.  It's something that single-A coaches are trying to change.”

Boys Team Results
1. Sauk Centre 61, 2. Bertha-Hewitt 85, 3. Staples-Motley 105, 4. Wadena-Deer Creek 117, 5. Minnewaska Area 145, 6. Melrose Area 173, 7. West Central Area 202, 8. Ottertail Central 229, 9. Osakis 244, 10. Benson/KMS 260, 11. Ashby-Brandon-Evansville 269, 12. Ortonville 277, 13. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 330, 14. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 370, 15. Pillager 402

Individual State Qualifiers
2. Carter Kjsesbo (WCA) 16:30.8, 3. Cadyn Vanderwall (ORT) 16:31.8, 6. Zackery Bruder (OSAK) 16:38.7, 7. Peter Newark (OTC) 16:43.0, 8. Grant Nelson (WDC) 16:47.9, 9. Zach Palmer (MWA) 17:14.12

Girls Team Results
1. Minnewaska Area 59, 2. Staples-Motley 74, 3. Wadena-Deer Creek 93, 4. Bertha-Hewitt 151, 5. West Central Area 183, 6. Sauk Centre 216, 7. Melrose Area 221, 8. Alexandria Community Christian 229, 9.  Ashby-Brandon-Evansville 235, 10. Ottertail Central 242, 11. Border West 250, 12. Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta 290,  13. Osakis 316, 14. Pillager 320, 15. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 323

Individual State Qualifiers
2. Norah Froslee (PP) 19:50.2, 3.  Amber Collins (WDC) 20:02.2, 4. Julia Schmidt (BW) 20:05.4, 5. Katie Holzner (HLA) 20:09.5, 7. Victoria Linscheid (SC) 20:13.4, 8. Kahlen Suelflow (SC) 20:13.9