Grabow conference champion

 

Last week head coach Joe Noyes predicted that the Hill City High School Ranger cross country girls team could get third place and the boys team could get fourth place at the Black Hills Conference Cross Country Championships Oct. 10, and that is exactly what they did. 

Both races were close, and Noyes said without the AA schools that were ahead, the Rangers could possibly place first and second at the region meet Oct. 17. 

“We can compete for a region title. It’s just going to take a good day, and it’s going to take kids having their best performances of the season,” said Noyes. 

Of the boys’ performance at the conference meet, Noyes said, “They just dug down and gritted one out, and I was really pleased with how they raced.”

In the boys varsity 5K, junior Tate Grabow won the race with a time of 16:06.37, claiming the title of conference champion. 

“That young man, he flipped a switch on Thursday. If the kid that was on the course on Thursday shows up the next two meets, I have all the confidence in the world that he can go do something really special at the state meet,” said Noyes. 

James Dubois came in next for the Rangers in 18th with a time of 18:28.55. Then, Aiden Williams placed 25th at 19:02.35, Barrett Bush placed 31st at 19:20.06 and John Titus Isakson placed 34th at 19:50.73. 

Initially, when predicting where the boys could place, Noyes’ calculations included senior Brandon Escalante, who has been out of the mix due to an injury. 

“For our boys to step up and still get fourth without Brandon, that really encouraged me. Because it’s like man, these boys are really pulling for each other. They are really starting to race well at the right time of year,” said Noyes. 

Escalante is expected to race again at the region meet. 

Of the team as a whole, Noyes said, “You have a conference champ in Tate. You’ve got these other boys who are just grinding. You’ve got probably a top-five runner in the state in Brandon. If we keep getting things put together here, we can have a special little run here these next two weeks.”

Of the girls’ performance at the conference meet, Noyes said, “The girls looked a little tired, which is a coaching thing. That’s something that we as coaches will fix with a little more rest and sharpening them up. So I’m excited. The girls can feel that. So watching the girls turn that corner this week and finally reap the full benefits of their training will be nice.” 

In the girls varsity 5K, Rarity Cournoyer claimed all-conference with a seventh place finish at 20:57.58. Brook Thayer-Burke just missed the all conference cut off with a 17th place finish and a time of 22:21.44. 

Then, Aspen Veneklasen placed 22nd at 23:08.07, Hadley Walker placed 24th at 23:26.74 and Jaelyn Peters placed 26th at 23:39.84.

Phoebe Bentley-Buschur wrapped things up for the Rangers in 36th at 25:50.08. Aliyah Peters had a slightly faster time in the junior varsity race, coming in ninth at 25:34.57. Thus, Peters will join the Rangers varsity team for the region meet. 

“For some of our ladies, we had a game plan, and about a mile into the race, I think the girls realized that the game plan wasn’t going as planned and kind of got punched in the mouth. The wheels came off a little bit in that moment. 

“And then the last 800 meters, I felt like the girls rebounded, and we were competing down the stretch. So it was a good learning experience. All the girls, I think, stepped away from that meet like, ‘OK, one, I have more in the tank. And two, now I know how I’m going to react when I come across a little adversity,’” said Noyes. 

He added, “I have full confidence. We’re a group of girls that have all raced at the highest level in South Dakota. With that experience, even though we only have one senior with that experience of racing in big races, I think they’ll handle the pressure and bounce back well.” 

On Thursday, Oct. 17, the Rangers are heading to the South Dakota High School Class A Region 5A Cross Country Meet at Hart Ranch Camping Resort in Rapid City. This is where the state meet will occur Saturday, Oct. 26.

Although the athletes enjoy the “fanfare” of traveling, Noyes said he is excited that everyone can continue their normal routines and sleep in their own beds before the big day. 

“We get a look at the state meet course a week before everybody else does. I just think it’s such a huge Ranger advantage,” said Noyes. “I am excited about the opportunity that our athletes have.”