A-P boys XC repeats as NICL East champs

REINBECK – The conditions weren't ideal for a fast cross country race for the North Iowa Cedar League cross country meet in Reinbeck on Saturday.

Al Kerns, a long-time coach and teacher at Aplington-Parkersburg, offered some words of wisdom to the Falcon cross country teams the day before.

"Everyone was going to run in the same conditions," A-P coach Jason Berkey said, recalling the gist of Kerns' motivation. "We needed to be the mentally-tougher team."

The Falcon boys delivered, winning a second-consecutive conference title with three runners earning first-team all-conference honors as top-10 finishers at Oakleaf Country Club.

The boys scored 72 points, 15 clear of runner-up East Marshall. Mason Tyler was fourh in 17:30, Grant Truax took seventh place in 17:48 and Hunter Brouwer was eighth in 17:53. A-P's Brent Gibson (25th, 18:38) and Jack Maitland (28th, 18:42) earned honorable mention all-conference.

"The boys competed well from varsity to junior varsity to junior high," Berkey said.

Dike-New Hartford's boys placed eighth in the team standings with a 207 team score, led by second-team all-conference runner Conlee Lyons in 19th in 18:25. Seth Wibben earned honorable mention all-NICL with a 22nd place finish in 18:36.

In the girls' race, A-P placed fourth in the team standings with a 124 team score, trailing Grundy Center/Gladbrook-Reinbeck (108) in third. Hudson won the team title with 60 points.

The Falcon girls were led by Sophia Jungling, as the sophomore repeated as individual conference champion with a time of 19:29, 70 seconds ahead of runner-up Jenna Twait of Hudson.

"The mud was a big challenge today," Jungling said, "just trying to maintain balance going through the mudslides. … It means a lot to represent A-P in this way, A-P's a special place and I'm glad to represent them."

Read more in the Oct. 18 Eclipse.

NICL All-Conference Teams

Girls

First team

1. Sophia Jungling, A-P, 19:29; 2. Jenna Twait, Hudson, 20:39; 3. Grace Jorgensen, Hudson, 20:43; 4. Lily Ehlers, GCGR, 20:53; 5. Melinda Puumala, EM, 20:54; 6. Emily Treptow, Jesup, 20:55; 7. Caroline Stokes, Denver, 20:57; 8. Macy Niewoehner, S-F. 21:14; 9. Avril Sinning, WM, 21:18; 10. Natalie Even, Denver, 21:23.

Second team (area only)

16. Megan Johnson, A-P, 21:47.

Honorable mention (area only)

26. McKenna Tingle, A-P, 22:30; 28. Ellie Foster, D-NH, 22:33

Boys

First team

1. Lake LeBahn, Union, 16:48; 2. Caleb Silver, BCLUW, 17:17; 3. Wyatt Kelly, Hudson, 17:25; 4. Mason Tyler, A-P, 17:30; 5. ZaKee Newman, SH, 17:32; 6. Colin Beck, Hudson, 17:38; 7. Grant Truax, A-P, 17:48; 8. Hunter Brouwer, A-P, 17:53; 9. Cam Hungerford, EM, 17:55; 10. Derek Ciddio, GCGR, 18:01.

Second team (area only)

20. Conlee Lyons, D-NH, 18:25.

Honorable mention (area only)

23. Seth Wibben, D-NH, 18:36; 26. Brent Gibson, A-P, 18:38; 29. Jack Maitland, A-P, 18:42.