The Rudyard Bulldogs boys cross country team won the Upper Peninsula Division 2 state title in Escanaba Saturday, October 24. Runners include (front, from left) Trenton Erner, Sven Reichelt, Jacob Mitchell; (back) T.J. Rice, Charlie Schwesinger, Drew Otten, David Jarvie, and Jacob McDonoff. Missing from the photograph is coach Alan Jarvie. The Eastern Upper Peninsula was well represented at the Upper Peninsula state cross country finals as the Rudyard boys won the Division 2 crown and Matt Schlosser of Cedarville captured the Division 3 individual title during the meet at Ludington Park in Escanaba Saturday, October 24.

Sarah Cullip of St. Ignace finished second in Division 2, Brandi Kopitz of Pickford second in Division 3, and the Rudyard girls took second in the Division 2 team event.

Rudyard Boys Dominate

The Bulldogs totaled 37 points, followed by Munising with 50 points, L'Anse 81, Stephenson 90, Norway 148, West Iron County 156, Newberry 163, St. Ignace 194, and Ishpeming 217. Ironwood did not score, owing to not having enough runners. Five were needed for team scoring.

Matt Schlosser (left) of Cedarville won the Division 3 Upper Peninsula Finals individual event with a time of 18:37. He runs with his sister, Brittany, who was unable to run at the finals owing to illness. Older brother, Chad, competed at the finals in 2004. Rudyard: The Bulldogs placed five runners in the top 14, led by Drew Otten with a third place finish in 16:59; David Jarvie, fifth in 17:31; Jacob Mc- Donoff, seventh in 17:42; T.J. Rice, 13th in 18:15; Sven Reichelt, 14th in 17:42; Charlie Schwesinger, 30th in 19:48; Trenton Erner, 32nd in 19:55.

"This team has worked hard for this all season," said Bulldogs Coach Alan Jarvie. "The depth has been a key to our success. This meet was one of our goals."

Leah Jarvie of Rudyard placed third at the cross country finals. Rudyard boys won their last Upper Peninsula title in 1969 under Coach Roy Hamilton and in 1961 with Coach James Barry and were runner-up in 1974, when Classes C and D were combined

St. Ignace: Ben Paul, 17th in 18:59; Joe Snowaert, 42nd in 20:59; Eric Lenoir, 46th in 21:29; Kasey Bunker, 51st in 23:23; Raleigh Harrington, 53rd in 23:55.

Cedarville Junior Second

Schlosser To Win U.P.

Individual Title

Junior Matt Schlosser became the second Schlosser to win the individual Upper Peninsula title and the third Cedarville runner to finish first with a time of 18:37. Older brother Chad Schlosser placed first in 2004 with a time of 16:57, the year the Trojans were Division 3 team champions. Nick Schaedig won the individual crown in 2000 in 17:33.

The Rudyard Bulldogs girls cross country team finished runner-up in the Division 2 state finals in Escanaba Saturday, October 24. Team members are (front, from left) Megan Berkompas, Rebecca Malaski, Crystal Brownlee; (back) Emily Hoolsema, Carrie Berkompas, Leah Jarvie, and Samantha Raffaele. "I felt confident today and after the two-mile mark, I took the lead and held it. The cold weather kept the times down for everyone," said Matt Schlosser.

Team scoring: Painesdale- Jeffers won the team crown with 65 points, followed by Eben- Superior Central with 72 points, Cedarville 83, Rapid River 90, Hancock 91, Pickford 140, Mid Peninsula 160, DeTour 186. Carney-Nadeau, Big Bay de Noc, Dollar Bay, and North Central didn't have enough runners for team scoring.

Cedarville: Matt Schlosser, first in 18:37; Josh Hester, 14th in 19:56; Brent Heerspink, 21st in 20:30; Tyler Kanitz, 26th in 20:52; Jeremy Sherlund, 31st in 21:41; Dillon Currie, 42nd in 23:15.

Sarah Cullip of St. Ignace finished second during the Division 2 U.P. Finals. Pickford: Paul Morrison, 11th in 19:54; Illya Alfansye, 23rd in 20:35; Dylan Rye, 33rd in 21:56; Dennis Wondergem, 38th in 22:56; Brandon Christensen, 51st in 24:46.

DeTour: Chase Livingston, 16th in 19:59; Gerald Folsom, 47th in 23:47; Henrique Alves, exchange student from Brazil, 48th in 23:48; Bright Iamcheerangkoon, exchange student from Thailand, 50th in 24:21; Shane Viilo 52nd in 24:44.

Sarah Cullip 2nd Overall;

Rudyard Girls Runner-up

Freshman Sarah Cullip of St. Ignace finished second with a time of 20:30 behind Abbey Kelto of Munising, who captured her third consecutive individual crown with a time of 19:38. Randi Johnson was the first female runner from St. Ignace to place first with a time of 20:52 during the Class C event in 1998.

Brandi Kopitz of Pickford placed runner-up in the Division 3 cross country finals. "Overall, I was pleased with my time for the first U.P Finals. The cold weather kept all the times down," said Miss Cullip. "Abby Kelto is an outstanding athlete who will continue her running at the college level."

Rudyard Girls Runner-up

The Rudyard girls placed second with 59 points, one point behind Ironwood with 58 points. The Bulldogs were runner-up in 2004. L'Anse finished third with 67 points, St. Ignace 84, Stephenson 110, and Newberry 121.

Rudyard: Leah Jarvie, third in 20:54; Rebecca Malaski, seventh in 21:34; Samantha Raffaele, 12th in 22:23; Crystal Brownlee, 14th in 22:33; Emily Hoolsema, 30th in 24:15; Megan Berkompas, 31st in 24:22; Carrie Berkompas, 42nd in 26:30.

The Pickford Panthers girls cross country team includes (front, from left) Olivia Smith, Victoria Cusick, Brandi Kopitz; (back) Callie Smith, Ariel Niznik, Coach Merran Behling, Miranda Schwab, and Angela King. "I am proud of the girls," said Coach Alan Jarvie. "We almost swept the team championships."

St. Ignace: Sarah Cullip, second in 20:30; Nicole Elmblad, fourth in 21:07; Chelsea Swope, 19th in 22:51; Kristen Olsen, 25th in 23:35; Samantha Radecki, 46th in 28:05; Heather Beaudoin, 47th in 28:33.

Brandi Kopitz 2nd

in Division 3 Finals

Junior Brandi Kopitz of Pickford became the highest finisher at the U.P. Finals for the Panthers after placing second with a time of 20:50, seven seconds behind Lauren Spranger of Eben-Superior Central in Division 3.

The St. Ignace Saints girls cross country team includes (from left) Heather Beaudoin, Samantha Radecki, Chelsea Swope, Nicole Elmblad, Kristen Olsen, and Sarah Cullip. "I finished fifth last year and I wanted to better my place this year," said Brandi Kopitz. "I didn't reach my goal of 20 minutes or lower, but overall I was pleased with my effort."

Team scoring: Eben-Superior Central finished first with 63 points, followed by Painesdale-Jeffers with 85, Pickford 87, Cedarville 100, North Central 117, Dollar Bay 127, Rapid River 149, Carney-Nadeau 169, Mid Peninsula 218.

Pickford: Brandi Kopitz, second in 20:50; Callie Smith, 18th in 23:34; Ariel Niznik, 19th in 23:39; Victoria Cusick, 27th in 24:18; Olivia Smith, 31st in 24:33; Angela King, 35th in 24:47; Miranda Schwab, 52nd in 28:27.

Cedarville: Erin Currie, 11th in 22:43; Kirsten Straka, 15th in 23:23; Keely Gough, 17th in 23:32; Tara Smith, 28th in 24:40; Mary Eberts, 39th in 25:39; Jillian Collins, 43rd in 26:09.
The Pickford Panthers boys cross country team includes (front, from left) Illya Afanasyen, Dennis Wondergem; (back) Brandon Christensen, Dylan Rye, Paul Morrison, and Coach Merran Behling.
The Cedarville Trojans girls cross country team includes (front, from left) Tara Smith, Keely Gough, Jillian Collins, Mary Eberts, Erin Currie, Kirsteen Straka; (back) Head Coach Ryan Wilson and Assistant Coach Bruce Thompson. Missing from photograph is Brittany Schlosser.
The Saints’ Lauren Goldthorpe was unavailable for the team photograph.
The Cedarville Trojans boys cross country team includes (front, from left) Jeremy Sherlund, Matt Schlosser, Brent Heerspink; (back) Assistant Coach Bruce Thompson, Dillon Currie, Tyler Kanitz, Josh Hester, Isaiah Murray, and Head Coach Ryan Wilson.
The DeTour Raiders boys cross country team includes (front, from left) Shane Villo, Devin Livingston; (back) Henrique Aves, Gerald Folsom, Bright Iamcheerangkoon, Chase Livingston, and Coach Sam Peterson.
The St. Ignace Saints boys cross country team includes (from left) Joe Snowaert, Eric Lenoir, Kasey Bunker, Ben Paul, and Raleigh Harrington.