Cross Country Team Presents End-of-Season Awards

Milbank’s cross country team held their end-of-the-season awards ceremony on Monday, November 18.  Ashlynn Batchelor received the Most Valuable Runner on the girls team. Bryan Meyer was chosen the Most Valuable Runner on the boys team. Head coach Eric Townsend also singled out Meyer for his effort and hard work this season and for being the only senior on the team. “Your leadership will be greatly missed, and we wish you good luck in the future,” Townsend stated. Meyer took first place at the NEC meet to help the boys take second place, and he was instrumental in getting the Bulldogs to third-place at Regions and 11th place at State. The Lady Bulldogs brought home all top-10 finishes in their postseason events. They took second place at the NEC meet, second at Regions, and ninth at State. Batchelor claimed 23rd place at the state meet and Bianca Berry was close behind in 25th place.

Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs Awards:
MOST VALUABLE RUNNER 
BOYS—Bryan Meyer 
GIRLS—Ashlynn Batchelor 

MOST IMPROVED RUNNER 
BOYS—Bennett Graham and  Franco Flores 
GIRLS—Macy Mueller and Tabitha McFaden 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 
BOYS—Jeter Scoular 
GIRLS—Tabitha McFaden 

PRIDE OF THE PAW 
BOYS—Liam Heller 
GIRL—Macy Mueller 

SENIOR AWARDS 
Bryan Meyer

ALL-CONFERENCE RUNNERS 
BOYS 
Bryan Meyer-1st, Jeter Scoular-6th, Bennett Graham-7th, Beckham Berry-9th, Rylan Wendland-14th, and Franco Flores-17th 
GIRLS
Ashlynn Batchelor – 3rd, Ella Koplin – 7th, Bianca Berry – 8th,Macy Mueller – 16th, Zayda Townsend – 18th, Tabitha McFaden – 19th, and Aria Prasnick i- 20th 

ALL-REGION RUNNERS
BOYS 
Jeter Scoular – 4th, Bryan Meyer – 5th, Beckham Berry – 9th, and Franco Flores – 18th
GIRLS
Ella Koplin – 4th, Bianca Berry – 5th,  Macy Mueller – 13th, Zayda Townsend – 20th

STATE
BOYS 
N/A
GIRLS 
Ashlynn Batchelor – 23rd and  Bianca Berry-25th 

BOYS TEAM: 
NEC—2nd   REGION—3rd   STATE—11th
GIRLS TEAM: 
NEC—2nd  REGION—2nd   STATE— 9th

VARSITY LETTER WINNERS 
BOYS 
Bryan Meyer, Beckham Berry, Liam Heller, Bennett Graham, Jeter Scoular, Harley Zemlicka, Franco Flores, and Rylan Wendland

GIRLS 
Ashlynn Batchelor, Macy Mueller, Zayda Townsend, Bianca Berry, Ella Koplin, Aria Prasnicki, and Tabitha McFaden 

MINOR LETTER WINNERS 
BOYS 
Armando Chan, Tate Pew, Levi Street, Gunnar Anderson, Justus Gortmaker, Jefferson Ordonez, and Matthew Unzen
GIRLS
Yanderyn Olivares, Elexia Quintanilla, Camryn Sovell, Mackenzie Mueller, Sophia Bass, Paola Culhuac Segundo, Nuria Rodriguez Duron, Haylen Schneck, Susie Schuneman, Timbree Spors, and Madelyn Van Lith

Coach Townsend offered thanks to many individuals and groups:  Whetstone Creek Golf Course for allowing us to host our home meets, the Milbank Fire and Police Department for helping leading us out of town heading to the state meet, NeSoDak Bible Camp for hosting our team retreat, Jeff Carrino and KMSD radio for the coverage and Coach’s Corner, the Valley Express for the excellent online coverage, Spencer Schaefbauer and Big Stone Therapies for the prevention and care of our injuries, the Grant County Review for their great weekly results coverage, GrandStay Hotel and Suites for sponsoring our home meet, the Bank for providing delicious food and drinks at the GrandStay Invite, and DeFea Transportation for transporting us safely to and from the meets.  

Coach Townsend offered another huge thanks to all the parents for their great support throughout the season, and said, “Thanks to Coach Josh Schmeichel, Coach Brady Femling, and Coach Laurie Batchelor for all their hard work and extra effort throughout the season.  Finally, thanks to the athletes for all their effort and hard work throughout the season, especially to the lone senior this year, Bryan Meyer.”

Submitted Photo: left to right, Jeter Scoular, Liam Heller, Bennett Graham, Bryan Meyer, Ashlynn Batchelor, Macy Mueller, Tabitha McFaden.  Not pictured is Franco Flores.