Twining Yields a Triplet of Wins

Monroe's Twining Park hosted Saturday's quadrangle meet. The park layout is a favorite for spectators as teams remain visible from many vantage points. Runners appreciate the smooth turf covering the rolling terrain.
In many sports, the press focuses on star athletes - Venus or Aaron or Giannis - but in cross country we emphasize that fifth, sixth and seventh are as important as the first four. Case in point; Milton's Mara Talabac finishes ahead of New Glarus-Monticello's Lily Maynard (21:03) with a Monroe and Milton jump- ing in before Melanie Fink (22:17) and Dayna Karls (22:18). Another Monroe and Milton momentarily ties the score at 13 points for both Milton and NGM until Tenley Faber (23:06), Annika Ziperski (23:30), Emma Martinson (24:34) and Lucy Melvin (25:20) cross the line in front of Mil- ton's 4th and 5th runners. Our 4th and 5th kept the team score low while our 6th and 7th pushed every other competitor back. The result places NGM 37, Milton 54, Monroe 59 and Belleville 77 for the NGM victory. We should add that B'ville's trio of Taylor, Alora and Lainey also defeated a good chunk of the Milton and Monroe teams helping seal the victory for New Glarus-Monticello gals. Thanks Wildcats!
Saturday's beautiful sunny weather works wonders for the New Glarus-Monticello boys team. Joseph Quaglia (17:47) takes the lead early with Monroe's Heath Huschitt riding in Joe's wake. 200 meters remain and Heath makes his move... too late. Today, after leading the entire race, no one is stealing Joe's victory and his sprint seals the win with 6 seconds to spare. As fast as we turn our heads, four more NGM'ers blast through the chute. Tom Nelson (17:59), Braydon Ryan (18:04), Evan Guenther (18:19) and Braylon Hoesly (18:35) complete the scoring five. Just to make sure the day ends well, Ty Ready (18:46) and Conor McCoy (18:53) add more points to opposing teams. Final score: New Glarus-Monticello 19, Monroe 62, Milton 66, Belleville 96.
With four teams competing, the V and JV races occur at the same time. Race results in hand we now notice that the nine boys representing the J's scored a perfect 15, with Linden Lounsbury (19:52), Ian Schwartzlow (19:57), Griffin Ness (20:24) Desi Delforge (20:25) and Beckett Malaise (20:48) going 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. For the record, Aiden Runkle, Ben Collins, Collin Blum and Triston Koch make-up the remainder of the guy's team.
The regular cross country season ends with the Conference Meet at Columbus this Saturday. Scheduled for the last two Saturdays of the Alternate Fall season are Sectionals and State.