Crusaders' win could be start of something big

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- It's either the perfect end or the perfect beginning to a fairy tale story.

Last year, in its first year of existence, the Saxony Lutheran boys cross country team placed fourth in the Class 1 state championship race.

This year, the Saxony boys won the Class 1 title Saturday at the Oak Hills Golf Center.

Coach Larry Cleair couldn't wipe the smile off his face.

"I'm really happy," he said. "We just had some really good kids and really smart kids with a lot of talent. They worked hard all year."

Saxony won with 80 points. Van Buren was second (107 points), Valley Park third (161) and Barstow fourth (163).

Kansas City Lutheran junior David Goeglein won the race in 17 minutes, 41 seconds.

Saxony had three individual medalists. Placing in the top 25 were sophomore Brandon Etzold (fourth), junior Trey Maevers (sixth) and sophomore Peter Winningham (20th).

Saxony's other finishers were sophomore Kory Mueller (36th), freshman Max Wieser (74th), junior Grant Lehmann (84th) and sophomore John Peck (117th).

"We knew all year we could do it," Cleair said. "We gave them that goal and they worked for it."

Lehmann said only one team worried the Crusaders.

"There was only one team we were kind of worried about and that was Van Buren," he said. "They got third last year."

More than an hour after the race, most of the team couldn't put into words how they felt on the medal stand, clutching the championship trophy.

"It was great," Lehmann said.

"I don't think it's sunk in yet," Mueller added.

Sophomore Alex Jauch said the newness of the program made the win even more special.

"It felt pretty awesome, since it's only our second year," he said.

With such a young team, Saxony couldn't help but anticipate next fall already.

"It's pretty cool to win considering we have no seniors," Winningham said.

"We'll be back next year," Jauch said.

Cleair won't deny that he's looking forward to defending the title. This year could just be the start of a string of championships.

"If the Lord is willing, we'll do it," he said.

Dippold finishes 145th

Saxony's only qualifier in the girls Class 1 race, Deanna Dippold, didn't fare as well as the boys did.

Battling an illness, the freshman finished 145th.

"She didn't have a good day," Cleair said. "She was sick all last night. She didn't do bad the first half but then her stomach just turned over."

For both Dippold and his boys team, Cleair said the experience of running the state race can't be equaled.

"This is an experience you can't buy," he said. "Except for yesterday and today, you can't get on this course."

Finishing for Meadow Heights were junior Whitney Breitenstein (97th), senior Carly Smith (99th), freshman Jena Hahs (117th), freshman Abigail Wissore (128th).

"They put up good times; I was really proud of them," Meadow Heights coach Shawn Seabaugh said. "It was rough running, very soggy."

Oak Ridge junior Sam Zoellner was 44th, and Delta junior Jessica Drew was 104th.

Stoutland's Jamie Vest won the race in 20:14. Penney won the Class 1 team title with 52 points.

Three other boys all-state

Southeast Missouri had plenty of representation in the Class 1 event.

Delta senior Kevin Bartels earned all-state honors for the second straight year with a 16th-place finish.

"Kevin ran a really good race," Delta coach Gordon Walton said. "He moved up several places from last year," when he was 23rd.

Bartels also improved from his district showing to beat two other area all-staters he finished behind Oct. 30.

Advance junior Cody Roper earned an all-state medal with his 19th-place finish. Meadow Heights senior Joel Hahs placed 24th for his third all-state medal.