Varsity Boys Take 8th at Border Battle

The Bulldogs took eighth place as a team, and Jeter Scoular took 13th place individually at the Border Battle cross country race in Grand Forks on Saturday, September 26. The Lady Bulldogs earned 16th place. These finishes were outstanding accomplishments as the meet just keeps on getting bigger and the competition is fierce.

The inaugural Border Battle was held in  2022 with 56 teams. It grew to  86 teams with 2,142 runners last year, and this year welcomed 96 teams with approximately 2,400 runners. The Border Battle also attracts elite athletes from across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.  Every ranked team in North Dakota attended. Top programs in Minnesota and South Dakota were also well represented, and included Sioux Falls Lincoln – the team ranked No. 1 in the Heartland Region. Top runners in the different classes also signed up. Many of the races featured 300-plus runners.

The event also pits the three border states against each other in order to crown a “state” winner. North Dakota schools accrued the most points and took the title for the second year in a row.  

Eric Townsend, head coach for Milbank commented, “Overall, our teams competed and ran pretty well.  The girls varsity team did not have their complete team but still managed a 16th-place finish amongst 29 complete teams. The boys varsity team placed eighth out of 38 complete teams.” Townsend also noted, “A key to both teams’ success lies with the health of the team.  Both teams are battling some illnesses and injuries that hopefully can be cleared up soon.”

In the Boys Varsity 5K Race, Milbank made the top-10 list by earning eighth place. Bowman County, the top-ranked team for both the boys and the girls Class B in North Dakota, won the race. Milbank’s Jeter Scoular led the way for the Bulldogs. Scoular cracked the top-20 list at No. 13.  Milbank’s Liam Heller came in 44th. Bennett Graham was 48th. Franco Flores finished 81st. Beckham Berry took 103rd place.

In the Girls Varsity 5K Race, Milbank – not working with a full team – earned 16th place. Hillsboro-Central Valley of North Dakota won the race. For the Lady Bulldogs, Macy Mueller brought home 65th place. Paola Culhuac Segundo took 102nd. Zayda Townsend was 105th. Haylen Schneck came in 106th.

In the JV Boys 5K Race, the Bulldogs with only two runners, did not place. Sioux Falls Lincoln won the race. Milbank’s Rylan Wendland took 271st place. Tate Pew was 321st.

In the JV Girls 5K Race, Milbank with two runners, did not place. Perham, Minnesota, whose teams are perennial state champions, won the battle. Lady Bulldog Yanderyn Olivares took 246th place. Camryn Sovell was 281st.  

In the 8th Grade Boys 3K Race, Milbank brought home 15th place. Bismarck’s Century won the race.  Running for Milbank, Jefferson Ordonez came in 48th. Matthew Unzen was 73rd. Justus Gortmakeer was 93rd. Gunnar Anderson took 137th.

In the 8th Grade Girls 3K Race, Milbank captured 12th place. Fargo’s Shanley won the race.  For Milbank, Nuria Rodriguez Duron came in 40th place. Abril Ayala Ramirez was 64th. Madelyn VanLith secured 72nd place.

In the 7th Grade Girls 3K Race, Milbank also earned 12th place. Horizon Middle School in Moorhead, Minnesota, won the race. Ainsley Brown took 34th place for MIlbank. Quetzalli Culhuac Segundo was 59th. Sophie Gruba came in 67th. Kinleigh Brandenburger was 92nd. Fernanda Hernandez Vasques placed 111th.

The Bulldogs cross country teams turn their attention to the 2025 South Dakota State Class A Cross Country Meet in Huron on October 25.