BATTLE LAKE, Minn (KWAD) – On Balmoral Golf Course’s rolling fairways, the Park Region Conference cross-country championships delivered a little bit of everything—front-running fireworks, disciplined pack running, and programs hoping to plan postseason flags at their respective conference meets late next week. Bertha-Hewitt’s boys put on a clinic to win the team title, Wadena-Deer Creek’s depth secured second, United North Central’s girls captured the conference crown, and Parkers Prairie’s youthful lineup stormed into third with a tight front trio.

Bertha-Hewitt’s boys were relentless from the gun, scoring 30 points with four inside the top six and five in the top 14. Senior Brady Rach ran alone late to take the individual title in 15:49.4, and he had plenty of company in the chute: seniors Gunnar Barthel (4th, 17:04.6) and Henry Lockwood (6th, 17:21.6), eighth-grader Nolan Rach (5th, 17:06.1), and eighth-grader Vance Lockwood (14th, 17:46.0) locked down the scoring. The Bears’ top-five split—1:56.6—wasn’t just manageable; it was decisive in a field where most contenders needed two minutes or more to walk in their points. Junior Jakub Stovicek added depth in 19:18.5 as the sixth runner.

If Bertha-Hewitt supplied the hammer up front, Wadena-Deer Creek supplied the blueprint for second: five runners in just 14.2 seconds. The Wolverines tallied 48 points behind Lane Kaufman (7th, 17:24.3), Evan Schmidt (8th, 17:26.2), Noah Stroeing (10th, 17:29.6), Owen Anderson (11th, 17:36.0), and Grant Nelson (12th, 17:38.5). Senior James Seelhammer (13th, 17:38.9) and sophomore Brennan Simmons (17th, 18:07.3) pressed the pack from behind. WDC’s posted line—1:27:34.6 for the scoring five (17:31 avg.)—was the night’s tightest, the kind of compression that plays big in crowded sectional boxes.

Ottertail Central finished third with 68 points, led by Peter Newark (2nd, 16:27.7) and Talyn Setterholm (9th, 17:27.2).

United North Central placed fifth with 130, and did it with a clear identity: a true front-runner and a gritty supporting cast. Senior Drew Aho was superb in 16:52.1 (3rd), and juniors Gavin Schreiber (19th, 18:25.5) and Keegan Josephson (38th, 20:22.7) plus freshman Rohan Kuschel (30th, 19:42.6) and sophomore Darryl Haverinen (40th, 20:46.0) rounded out scoring. The Warriors’ challenge now is trimming the back-end gap behind Aho—a classic October project with outsized payoff.

The United North Central girls authored a wire-to-wire performance to win the team title with 51 points, collecting both the individual champion and runner-up. Senior Macie Josephson controlled the race in 18:51.4 and junior Anaya Aho followed in 19:19.3. Around them, eighth-grader Eva Lehto (12th, 20:28.3), senior Elsa Komppa (17th, 21:15.3), and senior Miley Westberg (19th, 21:39.2) stacked the scoring, while freshman Maelle Haverinen (22:14.2) and junior Avyana Isaacson (22:16.7) added insurance. The Panthers’ team line—1:41:33.5 (20:18.7 avg.) with a 2:47.8 spread.

Right behind, Wadena-Deer Creek kept the pressure on with 59 points and a balanced five. Junior Karly Haverkamp paced the Wolverines in 19:35.8 (3rd), senior Lydia Oldakowski was steady in 20:11.7 (7th), and the middle pack—Brielle Kern (14th, 20:40.2), Cambrie Geiger (15th, 20:57.9), and freshman Danya Spicer (20th, 21:52.2)—closed it out. Eighth-grader Cody Seelhammer (21:56.8) and junior Annika Spicer (22:11.9) ran sixth and seventh. WDC’s 1:43:17.8 (20:39.6 avg.) and 2:16.4 spread underline a roster that scores through five, not just one or two.

Parkers Prairie was the night’s climber, finishing third with 61 thanks to a fearless top three: senior Norah Froslee (19:57.2, 4th), eighth-grader Chloe Patrick (20:08.2, 5th), and sophomore Kaylee Vogt (20:08.4, 6th) all finished inside the top six. Senior Sophie Pfeffer (16th, 21:00.1) provided the fourth score and sophomore Olivia Christians (30th, 23:31.5) sealed it. With 1:44:45.4 (20:57.1 avg.) and a 3:34.3 spread, the Panthers showed they can hang at the front and will get even more dangerous as the fifth tightens toward 22-low.

Bertha-Hewitt didn’t post a full girls team score, but junior Kendra Miller put the Bears on the podium individually in 19:33.0 (3rd overall), earning All-Conference honors in just her fourth race of the season while battling an injury-riddled season. Senior Miette Hansel added a top-15 finish in 20:28.2.

2025 Park Region Conference Meet Results

FULL MEET RESULTS HERE