Local Sports | Zeke Fuhrman

By Zeke Fuhrman |

Lake Park-Audubon, Breck/Wahpeton split titles at Barnesville Invite

Cassidyrotz
Cassidy Rotz of Barnesville finishes eighth overall at the Brave Like Gabe Meet in Perham on Saturday, August 23rd, 2025 (photo and results courtesy of Athletic Live and Heros Timing)

BARNESVILLE, Minn. (KWAD) — The rolling fairways of Willow Creek Golf Course played host to a rainy, chilly cross country meet on Thursday evening with Lake Park-Audubon capturing the boys’ team crown and Breckenridge/Wahpeton running away with the girls’ title.

In the boys’ race, balance proved the difference for the Raiders. Lake Park-Audubon’s pack, led by senior Hunter Harman’s third-place finish in 19:38, stacked five runners in the top 11 to edge Breckenridge/Wahpeton by just five points, 37-42. Samuel Strom (6th, 20:25), Tydan Eiter (7th, 20:29), Caleb Houle (10th, 21:02) and Haven Howery (11th, 21:10) closed the door on the team win.

Breckenridge/Wahpeton countered with the day’s individual champion, junior Troy Berndt, who broke the tape in 18:43. Teammate Jace Dauer (5th, 19:48) and Jack Ekren (8th, 20:33) kept the squad in contention, but the Cowboys ultimately settled for runner-up honors.

Pelican Rapids, behind senior Andrew Checco de Souza’s second-place run of 19:32, finished third with 66 points, while host Barnesville (67) placed fourth. The Trojans were led by Levi Cossette (6th, 20:20), Kobi Thompson (9th, 20:52), and freshman Kamryn Thompson (12th, 21:13).

On the girls’ side, Breckenridge/Wahpeton dominated the front of the race and the scoreboard. Senior Kiera Wiertzema (1st, 20:27) and sophomore Lucie Comstock (2nd, 20:51) went 1-2, while Jasmyn Benedict (5th, 21:43), Gracie Falck (8th, 22:47), and Linnea Burgr (9th, 22:56) secured a commanding 24-point team total.

Barnesville gave its home crowd plenty to cheer about, finishing second with 32 points. Eighth grader Cassidy Rotz was the top Trojan, finishing third overall in 20:53, while the Marshall sisters — Sienna (7th, 22:17) and Jovie (8th, 22:18) — and Rory Guderjahn (9th, 22:36) packed tightly inside the top 10. Braelyn Bomstad rounded out the scoring in 11th (23:55).

Pelican Rapids (78) placed third, paced by junior Megan Guler (10th, 23:29).

FULL MEET RESULTS HERE

BOYS TEAM SCORES — Barnesville Invite

  1. Lake Park-Audubon — 37 (3-6-7-10-11)

  2. Breckenridge/Wahpeton — 42 (1-4-8-14-15)

  3. Pelican Rapids — 66 (2-13-16-17-18)

  4. Barnesville — 67 (5-9-12-19-22)

BOYS INDIVIDUAL TOP 10

  1. Troy Berndt, Breck/Wahp — 18:43

  2. Andrew Checco de Souza, Pelican Rapids — 19:32

  3. Hunter Harman, Lake Park-Audubon — 19:38

  4. Beckett Odden, Ada-Borup-West — 19:44

  5. Jace Dauer, Breck/Wahp — 19:48

  6. Levi Cossette, Barnesville — 20:20

  7. Samuel Strom, Lake Park-Audubon — 20:25

  8. Tydan Eiter, Lake Park-Audubon — 20:29

  9. Jack Ekren, Breck/Wahp — 20:33

  10. Chase Chisholm, Ada-Borup-West — 20:39

GIRLS TEAM SCORES — Barnesville Invite

  1. Breckenridge/Wahpeton — 24 (1-2-4-8-9)

  2. Barnesville — 32 (3-5-6-7-11)

  3. Pelican Rapids — 78 (10-14-17-18-19)

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL TOP 10

  1. Kiera Wiertzema, Breck/Wahp — 20:27

  2. Lucie Comstock, Breck/Wahp — 20:51

  3. Cassidy Rotz, Barnesville — 20:53

  4. Brianne Myers, Ada-Borup-West — 21:35

  5. Jasmyn Benedict, Breck/Wahp — 21:43

  6. Ellen Schauer, Lake Park-Audubon — 22:04

  7. Sienna Marshall, Barnesville — 22:17

  8. Jovie Marshall, Barnesville — 22:18

  9. Rory Guderjahn, Barnesville — 22:36

  10. Gracie Falck, Breck/Wahp — 22:47