Cross Country Teams Eat and Run

The Milbank Area boys and girls cross country teams held their 2016 awards potluck on November 15. They celebrated successful seasons for both teams. The girls team captured the Northeast Conference team title and placed third at the region meet. They also finished eleventh in the team standings at the State Class A meet. The boys team finished its season with a third place finish at the NEC meet and fifth place at the regional meet.

Four seniors were honored for their commitment to the cross country program and were given the senior award. Concluding their high school careers were: Caden Bjordahl, Kody Johnson, Brooke Fraasch, and Karlee Mertens. “A special congratulations, thanks, and good luck need to be given to these seniors,” stated Bulldog head coach Eric Townsend. “Without their hard work and involvement, the season would not have been nearly as successful.”

Nick Batchelor and Taylor Thue received the Most Valuable Runner awards of the season. Andrew Falk, Ben Harstad, Danica Schulte, and Jatana Grajczyk received the Most Improved Runner awards. Nick Batchelor and Maiah Brown were named Rookie of the Year for their team. The Pride of the Paw award went to Alex Farrell and Amaya Street for their all-around hard work and coach-ability.

Runners earning all-Northeast Conference honors were: Danica Schulte, 5th; Taylor Thue, 7th; Amaya Street, 8th; Jatana Grajczyk, 11th; Nick Batchelor, 5th; Alex Farrell, 16th, and Kody Johnson, 19th. Runners who earned all-Region 1A recognition and the right to compete at the state Class A meet were: Taylor Thue, 5th; Amaya Street, 8th; Danica Schulte, 10th, and Nick Batchelor, 4th.

Varsity letter winners receiving a Major M certificate included: Brooke Fraasch, Karlee Mertens, Shea Hooth, Christina Lusk, Sophia Seffrood, Taylor Thue, Jatana Grajczyk, Danica Schulte, Allison Leddy, Amaya Street, Maiah Brown, Caden Bjordahl, Kody Johnson, Tanner Bock, Luke Wold, Ben Harstad, Zippy Bock, Alex Farrell, and Nick Batchelor. Minor M letter winners were: Allison Pillatzki, Maddie Gustafson, Marion Mischel, Isabelle Nowick, Savanna Osowski, Andrew Falk, Isaac Fischer, Elias Magilke, Shawn Stemsrud, Nathan Loutsch, Jadus Medicine Crow, Landon Brown, JD Lusk, Max McCulloch, Isaac Johnson, and Jack Sandvig.