WISCONSIN STATE MEET

Manny Putz, Sara Mlodik Prevail In Tight Division 1 Finals In Wisconsin

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Onalaska sophomore Manny Putz held off a late charge by Oconomowoc's Zachariah Vance and won the Wisconsin Division 1 state cross country title on Saturday at The Ridges. 

Putz, who was part of a winning team effort in 2021, built a 14-scond lead at the mile but had to dig deep to beat Vance, who took the lead at one before the final sprint. Putz was timed in 15:26.7 and Vance in 15:26.9. 

Aloysius Franzen was third in 15:35.6 and teammate Bode Erickson was fourth in 15:37.5 as they helped Stevens Point win its 12th boys team championship. The Panthers scored 39 points. 

The Division 1 girls race was also close and Sara Mlodik from D.C. Everest closed the fastest over the final mile to win in 18:06.6. Summer Schuster from Slinger was next in 18:09.9 and Kate Schmoll from West De Pere was third in 18:11.4.

Muskego put three runners in the top 10 overall -- Ella Anschutz (sixth), Sarah Martens (seventh) and Noelle Junig (10th) -- on the way to the school's third girls state championship. 

Notre Dame's boys and Xavier's girls put together winning combinations that both totaled 81 points in the Division 2 finals. Both schools won for the first time.

Sophomore Faith Wehrman of New Berlin Eisenhower, second in 2021, won the girls race in 18:14.8. 

Mount Horeb senior Joseph Stoddard won the D2 boys race in 15:54.7. He improved from 27th place in the 2021 state final.  

Wesley Pronschinske of Cochrane-Fountain City, a senior, won the D3 boys race in 16:08.9. Kohler won its first state title with a final score of 94 points. 

Cochrane-Fountain City won the girls championship with 132 points, edging out Lourdes Academy (138). C-FC was paced by individual winner Addy Duellman, a freshman, who ran 18:58.1.

Team Champions

Division 1 - Stevens Point boys 39 points, Muskego girls 45 points - RESULTS

Division 2 - Notre Dame boys 81 points, Xavier girls 81 points - RESULTS

Division 3 - Kohler boys 94 points, Cochrane-Fountain City 132 points - RESULTS