WHS girls, PHS boys run to titles

HOUSTON — During the typical season, the Wasilla Warriors use the Mat-Su Borough Championships as a way to get in a good run.

But this year has been a little different for the defending state champions.

The Warriors placed five runners in the top 10 on the fast 3-kilometer course to win the girls’ team title at the Borough Championships Wednesday afternoon at Houston High School.

“Historically, we’ve used it as a workout,” Wasilla head coach Gary Howell said. “This year, because it’s the only race in a 14-day span, we went ahead and let the kids just crank.”

And the Warriors responded by cranking some respectable times.

Freshman Peggy Mathis edged teammate Mariah Burroughs by just a second to win the individual crown. Mathis stepped across the finish line at the 10-minute, 37-second mark, slightly ahead of the sophomore Burroughs.

Senior Jessica Pahkala finished fourth at 11:02, while Jenna Ford (seventh), Mandi Ringgenberg (ninth) and Riley Burroughs (10th) also notched top-10 finishes.

“We’ve just gone a whole new route this year, and so far it’s paying off,” Howell said. “The times are right where we want them.”

Howell was pleased to see the work of his runners in the race, Mathis in particular.

“She’s a strong track runner, so short distances just favor her,” Howell said. “Peggy ran brilliantly. Both ran really well.”

Howell said he was also impressed by the ability of both Mathis and Burroughs to finish ahead of Colony junior Audrey Michaelson, one of the top runners in state this season.

“Their plan was to go out hard, try to take away her kick, because Audrey’s kick is tremendous,” Howell said.

Pahkala’s fourth-place finish also stands out, Howell said.

“Jessica’s been tremendous for us this year,” Howell said. “She’s got great leg speed, more heart than anybody I’ve ever seen.”

Michaelson led the second-place Knights with a third-place finish, posting a time of 10:51. Makenzie Thompson was eighth for the Knights and Tracie Haan finished 12th.

The Palmer Moose also placed five runners in the top 10 en route to a win in the boys’ team standings.

“We’re feeling great about it,” Palmer head coach John Bishop said.

Senior Mason Minturn was the first of the five Moose to finish in the top 10, clocking a time of 9:25.

“Five guys in the top 10, that was really nice to see,” Bishop said.

Palmer is missing one of its top athletes to injury, junior Chris Osiensky, but Bishop said he is feeling very good about his team as the Moose now look toward the Region III Championships, slated for Sept. 24 at Palmer High’s Michael Janecek Running Trails.

“I still think we have a shot,” Bishop said. “We’re still hoping to have him back, but if not there are other guys who seem ready to step up and give Kodiak a run for their money.”

The Kodiak Bears have been the team to beat in Region III in recent years.

Joe Day and Schyler Knopp also notched top-5 performances for the Moose. Day was third at 9:35 and Knopp was fifth at 9:46.

“Schyler has been doing awesome and Joe really stepped up at Boroughs this year,” Bishop said.

Bishop said both could be key in Palmer’s run at the region title.

“They are. I talked to both of them about that. We need to get them in the front pack right in the middle of that Kodiak pack,” Bishop said.

Clarence Ess finished seventh for Palmer. Andrew Liebing was 10th.

Runner-up Brandon Schafer led Colony to a second-place finish in the boys’ standings. Schafer finished seven seconds behind Minturn. Darien Sinnett (eight) and Abe Meyerhofer (ninth) also finished in the top 10 for CHS.

Noah Ripley led Wasilla with a fourth-place finish. Brandon Lee was sixth and Josh Pahkala was 11th.

Local runners now have a small break before the Region III Championships.

Howell said the Warriors opted to take the final weekend of the regular season off.

“We purposefully took this weekend off,” Howell said. “Hopefully, we’ll just be ready to crank.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Mat-Su Borough

Championships

Wednesday, Houston High

Boys team standings:

1. Palmer 26, 2. Colony 51, 3. Wasilla 52.

Boys individual standings:

1. M. Minturn, Pal 9:25; 2. B. Schafer, Col 9:32; 3. J. Day, Pal 9:35; 4. N. Ripley, Was 9:39; 5. S. Knopp, Pal 9:46; 6. B. Lee, Was 9:46; 7. C. Ess, Pal 9:55; 8. D. Sinnett, Col 9:55; 9. A. Meyerhofer, Col 9:59; 10. A. Liebing, Pal 10:00; 11. J. Pahkala, Was 10:03; 12. K. Weaver, Pal 10:05; 13. C. Smith, Pal 10:06; 14. K. Lucas, Col 10:09; 15. K. Thompson, Was 10:11; 16. B. Muniz, Pal 10:18; 17. K. Frick, Was 10:20; 18. T. Oliver, Was 10:24; 19. B. Sessom, Col 10:24; 20. Z. Zmuda, Col 10:25; 21. K. Kleewin, Col 10:25; 22. L. Reed, Col 10:28; 23. R. Steiner, Was 10:29; 24. J. Gentz, Pal 10:30; 25. C. Mattson, Was 10:32; 26. B. Carricaburu, Was 10:33; 27. S. Forrest, Pal 10:34; 28. B. Atkinson, Col 10:39; 29. A. Kinne, Hou 10:50; 30. S. Hermann, Pal 10:55; 31. R. Abbott, Was 10:58; 32. J. Link, Col 11:00; 33. E. Fouch, Pal 11:06; 34. B. Mahan, Pal 11:10; 35. W. Goulding, Was 11:10; 36. D. Drake, Hou 11:13; 37. E. Grazulis, Col 11:13; 38. A. Fuller, Was 11:13; 39. S. Carpenter, Was 11:13; 40. B. Kavalok, Pal 11:16; 41. T. Marshall, Was 11:16; 42. L. Jaschek, Col 11:18; 43. C. Olsen, Col 11:21; 44. C. Pulver, Was 11:22; 45. J. Grice, Was 11:23; 46. R. Loveless, Was 11:24; 47. D. Gumminger, Col 11:26; 48. C. Danner, Col 11:29; 49. N. Harrison, Col 11:30; 50. A. Nelson, Col 11:34; 51. Z. Marsh, Pal 11:35; 52. L. Jones, Col 11:40; 53. R. Lozanoff, Col 11:40; 54. J. Goyette, Col 11:45; 55. H. Colberg, Col 11:47; 56. W. Wall, Was 12:03; 57. R. Diotte, Col 12:04; 58. M. Tuning, Col 12:04; 59. L. Seims, Was 12:07; 60. Z. Grace, Hou 12:18; 61. C. Dodd, Was 12:20; 62. M. Bolton, COL 12:23; 63. L. Hammond, Col 12:31; 64. D. French, Was 12:41; 65. S. Larue, Pal 12:43; 66. D. Bell, Pal 12:49; 67. M. Christiansen, Col 12:50; 68. B. Boyovich, Col 13:38; 69. B. Ingersoll, Was 14:15; 70. G. Birch, Was 14:15; 71. J. Jensen, Pal 14:41; 72. J. Hemmer, Hou.

Girls team standings:

1. Wasilla 23, 2. Colony 52, 3. Palmer 55.

Girls individual standings:

1. P. Mathis, Was 10:37; 2. M. Burroughs, Was 10:38; 3. A. Michaelson, Col 10:51; 4. J. Pahklala, Was 11:02; 5. E. Jorgensen, Pal 11:03; 6. H. Boham, Pal 11:10; 7. J. Ford, Was 11:22; 8. M. Thompson, Col 11:28; 9. M. Ringgenberg, Was 11:47; 10. R. Burroughs, Was 11:47; 11. H. Hanna, Pal 12:09; 12. T. Haan, Col 12:15; 13. A. Devine, Was 12:19; 14. M. Wright, Was 12:20; 15. B. Diotte, Col 12:25; 16. J. Kopsack, Col 12:29; 17. M. Osiensky, Pal 12:35; 18. E. Fichter, Was 12:35; 19. A. Pell, Was 12:36; 20. L. Kelley, Was 12:41; 21. S. Schmidt, Was 12:41; 22. D. Cummings, Pal 12:44; 23. M. Southwick, Pal 12:52; 24. J. Marman, Was 12:55; 25. A. Woodings, Was 12:55; 26. M. Michaels, SV 13:14; 27. W. Nagel, Col 13:22; 28. M. Meyerhofer, Col 13:26; 29. H. Clark, Was 13:38; 30. K. Jenkins, Col 13:49; 31. A. Goyette, Col 14:02; 32. M. Nagel, Col 14:05; 33. K. Trolinger, Hou 14:18; 34. A. Hasse, Was 14:23; 35. H. Spargo, Was 14:24; 36. A. Qualls, Pal 15:03; 37. T. Loveless, Was 15:28; 38. J. Schwantes, Col 16:01; 39. S. Praile, Col 16:01; 40. K. Stricklan, Col 16:04; 41. C. Forrest, Pal 16:30; 42. A. Apangalook, Hou 16:45; 43. L. Crosslin, Hou 16:46; 44. J. McLean, pal 17:11; 45. D. Reeder, Hou 17:33; 46. H. Michaelson, Col 17:52.