It definitely wasn’t the finish the Living Word Lutheran High School boys cross country team was hoping for, but they’ll take it just the same. The boys finished a respectable fifth out of twenty teams at the sectional meet held at UW-Parkside on October 22. This was the third straight fifth place finish for the boys in a year that could be considered a rebuilding and growing year. It was respectable to say the least, but the boys want to be great. And so fifth wasn’t up to their standards.

All-Conference runner and junior Zach Ziemann led the way for the T-wolves as he has done all season. He was greatly disappointed to miss qualifying for state by just two runners. Ziemann finished fifteenth overall. Living Word’s lone senior, Johann Hinck, stayed close behind finishing in seventeenth place overall. It capped off a solid four years for Hinck; four years that saw his team rise from the bottom to respectability. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be around to see the development of this young, growing team into state contenders. So for now, the boys will look on as the girls complete their season at state.

However, they can anticipate greater things ahead. The future looks bright with the strong legs and leadership of juniors Ziemann, Matt Rosenheimer, and Austin Meier. Caleb Aschebrook, the lone sophomore and the freshman “dynamic duo” of Chase Uden and Shane Welter round out a talented group of promising runners. Certainly too there are a few more sleepers hiding among the Living Word student body who just may decide to join this team and take it to the next level next year.

INDIVIDUAL TIMES – (15) Zach Ziemann – 18:14; (17) Johann Hinck – 18:34; (25) Caleb Aschebrook – 19:10; (56) Chase Uden – 20:38; (59)Shane Welter – 20:43; (62) Matt Rosenheimer – 20:48; (66) Austin Meier – 21:30

TEAM RESULTS - 1. Kenosha-St. Joseph – 39; 2. Lake Country Lutheran – 58; 3. The Prairie School – 98; 5. Brookfield Academy – 133; 5. LIVING WORD LUTHERAN - 163; 6. Burlington Catholic – 201; 7. Eastbrook Academy – 201; 8. Wayland Academy – 210; 9. Christian Life School – 220; 10. Williams Bay – 234; 11. Shoreland Lutheran – 274; 12. St. Anthony – 276; 13. Dodgeland – 335; 4 other teams incomplete