2010 Season Summary - The 2010 Saline Middle School boys’ & girls’ cross country teams recently concluded its season. Both squads had outstanding years. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished first in the Southeastern Conference, along with winning the prestigious Michigan State University Spartan Invitational, the Coaching Legends Invitational, the Saline Invitational and the Michigan Middle School Mega Meet.

The girl’s team also won the Portage Invitational, which is touted as the largest middle school meet in the nation. Pacing Saline individually at the Portage girls’ meet was Gillian Walter who placed fourth overall. Other top performers for the Hornets were Hannah Cummings who finished fifth, while Haleigh Cummings was sixth, Danielle Rathfon seventh, and Lauren Green17th. Saline ended up besting the Portage field with a score of 39 points.
The Saline boys placed fourth out of 44 teams at the Portage Invite. Leading the way for the Hornets was Logan Wetzel who finished first overall, beating a field of 550 runners and covering the 1.5 mile course in the 8:23.2. The season was highlighted by Hannah Cummings not only setting a new seventh-grade grade record, but a new overall middle school cross country 2-mile record with a time of12:12 at the MSU Spartan Invite. The previous seventh-grade record was 12:21 set by Allison Krager in 1995, while Alex Leptich set the overall record of 12:13 in 2005. Leptich is currently running for the University of Michigan.

Both the boys’ and girls’ teams went 1-2-3 at the Saline Invitational at Mill Pond Park. The top three Hornets finished faster than the 2009 Saline Invite individual overall winners. The boys’ team had three runners dip under the 12:00 minute mark on the 3,200m course, Logan Wetzel placed first in 11:05, while Kevin Hall was second in 11:28 and Diego Morse third in 11:45. The top three for Saline were Haleigh Cummings in first with a time of 12:26, while Hannah Cummings was second in 12:29 and Walter third in 11:45. The girls’ team remained undefeated throughout their season by winning the Michigan Middle School Mega Meet. The team looks forward to a strong season in 2011 with top 7th graders Stevie Kise and Brian Blakenship returning on the boys team and the girl’s team returning Hannah Cummings, Haleigh Cummings, Gillian Walter, Alle Fiske and Holly Treber.

Saline Community Education offered middle school cross country for 6th graders who transitioned into the middle school this year. The 6th grade team posted quick times in their inaugural season. The 6th grade boys won the Portage Invite, with Gabriel Walder finishing second, 9:39, on the 1.5 mile course, Aaron Milley, 6th, 9:55, Luke Humphries 20th, 10:16, Grant Peters, 21st, 10:17, and Grant Santos, 37th, 10:45 in a field of 184 runners. The 6th grade girls team did not run a full team but saw three of their runners place well in a field of 217 runners, Olivia Sovitch, 26th, 11:18, Juliana Boyd, 31st, 11:47 and Katie Jacobsen, 116th, 13:16. The 6th grade boys combined forces with the Heritage cross country boys team to win the Michigan Middle School Mega Meet, while the 6th grade girls and Heritage girls were second. The team benefited from the help of their volunteer coaches, Carrie Berkley, Kristin Dolsen, Dann Morse, Derek Stern and Tara Stow. A few of the Heritage and Middle School runners have continued training and will compete at the AAU National Cross Country Meet to be held in Orlando, FL on December 4. We wish them the best of luck!

 

2009 Season Summary - The 79 member Saline MS cross country team ended their season by both the boys and girls teams winning the Saline Invitational. For the boys Saline MS 8th grader Ryan Gauche was the individual winner in a time of 11:50.  The girl’s race was won by Saline 8th grader Gloria Park.  

Winning the Saline Invitational capped a perfect season for the Saline MS Boys. The MS boys won the Playmakers Spartan Invitational by an exciting tie breaker. The boys went 3-0 in the SEC Conference, Ryan Gauche and Nick Dykman finished 1-2 in the non-scoring Jackson Invitational. The boys also won the prestigious Portage Invitational. The Saline team placed 11 runners in the top 50 in a race that had over 500 competitors and 40 teams.

“The boys team proved that cross country running is not an individual sport. It was due to our exceptional running as a pack that we were able to have such a successful season” said Coach Cindy Barnett. Coach Derek Stern dubbed the team as “the great pack attack”. 

The Saline MS girl’s team also had a stellar season. The girls finished the season with a 2-1 record in the SEC conference; winning the second jamboree by a tie breaker. The girl’s team placed 4th at the Michigan State University Playmakers Invitational out of 11 teams with 11 Saline girls finishing in the top 50.

In the non-scoring Jackson Invitational Gloria Park was the individual winner in a time of 13:21. 

The girl’s team continued their successful season by placing 4th out of 39 schools at the prestigious Portage Invitational.  

Throughout the season the team improved and had a great attitude. At the end of the year banquet the team gave Most Valuable 8th Grade honors to Ryan Gauche & Gloria Park, Most Valuable 7th Grade honors to Logan Wetzel and Danielle Rathfon, Most Improved 8th Grade honors went to John Dolsen and Allison VanOirschot and Most Improved 7th Grade honors went to Victor Chen and Aly Dahlmann. The Coaches awarded the Coaches 8th grade Award to KC Borseth and Amelia Wittig & Elsie Bush and the Coaches 7th grade Award to Ted Lenk and Lauren Hunter.

The team welcomed new coach Ryan Stephens who made an immediate positive impact on the team. The team was also assisted by volunteer coaches Carrie Berkley, Kristin Dolsen, Derek and Theresa Stern.

The coaches are now looking forward to the joining forces with the Saline Chamber of Commerce for the 2nd annual Summerfest 5k to be held on Saturday, August 7.