October 29, 2020 at 2:02 p.m.
Dodge-Point's Will Aurit will represent team in Division 1 at state
Aurit finished in the 4th individual spot (7th overall) in 16:47 to qualify.
He will run at 1:10 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead High School in the second tier of runners.
Individuals and teams will run in three sections beginning with girls at 9:30 a.m. with the final boys entrants running at 4:10 p.m.
DODGEVILLE/MP BOYS
7-Will Aurit, 16:47.39
(Qualifies for State Meet)
9-Charlie Keith, 17:16.36
34-Cal Dampf, 18:45.12
36-Chandler Williams, 19:00.91
37-Mason Winch, 20:08.78
38-Wyatt Scheckel, 21:10.89
NOTE: Because of covid and the number of teams deciding to compete in the fall Dodgeville/Mineral Point ended up in Division 1 where they faced larger schools. They qualified as a team and finished fourth to DeForest (37), Onalaska (39) and Holmen (73) with 81 total points.
All of the D/MP boys runners return next year as Aurit, Dampf and Williams are juniors, Keith and Winch are sophomores and Scheckel a freshman.
DODGEVILLE/MP GIRLS
15-Julia Thompson, 20:54;32
17-Haylee Kearns, 21:00.23
NOTE: Julia, a sophomore, and Haylee, a junior, just missed qualifying for State in Division 1, the division the D/MP team was placed in this year because of enrollment among the teams who chose to compete in the fall of covid 2020. The top four runners were from team champion Onalaska with Kora, Lydia an Amalia Malecek taking the top three spots. Kora's winning time was 17:43.81.
Dodge-Point coach Denny McGraw reflected on the meet, the season and competing in Division 1 saying, "The Dodge Point Cross Country team participated in the Division I sub-sectionals and sectionals. With so many teams choosing not to have fall sports the WIAA realigned the divisions, so Dodge Point had to run in Division I.
"The girls ran first at the sub-sectional on October 20 hosted by DeForest but held at the Wyona County Park. Two different races were held, with four teams in each race. The times were then merged to determine the top two teams and top five individuals that would move on. The DPCC girls team finished 3rd out of the eight teams, so do not move on as a team. They ran extremely well, but came up just short of moving on. Julie Thompson and Haylee Kearns both qualified as individuals to move on to the sectional final which was held at the same location on October 24. Both girls ran excellent races at the sectional final, just missing the opportunity to move on to state. We look forward to next year as these girls will have great experience running with Division I competition at a sectional race.
"The boys team also ran sub-sectionals on October 20. The team ended up with a very strong second place finish, moving them on to the sectional race on October 24. The boys running at sectionals were Will Aurit, Charlie Keith, Cal Dampf, Joey Robinson, Chandler Williams, Mason Winch and Wyatt Scheckel. The boys are a young team and did so well competing against Division I schools. The team did not advance to state, but Will Aurit placed in the top five individuals, so moves on to the state competition at Arrowhead High School on Saturday, October 31. We wish Will the best of luck competing in Division I.
"We are extremely proud of how hard these teams worked and stepping up so well to compete in Division I. If we had competed in Division II, where we normally run, we think it would have been a different outcome. But hopefully we can come back next year stronger than ever from the experience."
