COLD SPRING, Minn. (KWAD) – The Perham Yellowjackets added another chapter to their cross-country legacy Thursday afternoon, sweeping both the boys and girls team titles at the Section 8AA Championships in Cold Spring.
The Perham boys delivered a statement win, capturing the team title with just 28 points and placing five runners in the top ten as they advance to the State meet for the 23rd-consecutive time. Freshman Brody Freeland led the way with a runner-up finish in 16:13.0, followed closely by Matt Jorgenson (3rd, 16:16.8), Henry Mathiason (6th, 16:37.4), Ethan Johnson (7th, 16:39.5), and Bryce Brown (10th, 16:50.1).
Perham’s average time of 16:31 and a spread of only 37 seconds highlighted the team’s remarkable balance and depth. Seniors Reid Wokasch (11th, 16:52.0) and Dylan Guck (13th, 16:54.2) also crossed close behind to solidify the win.
Detroit Lakes sophomore Connor Malecka claimed the individual championship, clocking a winning time of 16:03.8—ten seconds clear of Freeland. Willmar finished second in the team standings with 82 points, led by junior Zach Engstrom (4th, 16:27.0), while Rocori took third at 90. Fergus Falls (103) and Detroit Lakes (129) rounded out the top five.
The Perham girls’ dynasty continued with another commanding team performance, scoring 32 points to earn a comfortable victory and another state berth. The Yellowjackets placed all five scoring runners in the top nine, led by eighth-grader Tilly Mathies (2nd, 19:01.6), Gracie Morris (6th, 19:09.7), Adeline Werner (7th, 19:09.9), Julianna Scraper (8th, 19:12.4), and Rory Kaldor (9th, 19:26.2).
Perham’s top five averaged 19:11 with a 24-second spread, one of the tightest team packs of the day. Chayla Sweere (17th, 19:46.1) and Avalee Brown (19th, 19:54.6) added strong performances as the team’s sixth and seventh runners.
Fergus Falls junior Cassie Wellman was the individual girls champion, winning in 18:55.9, just ahead of Mathies and Otters freshman Carsyn Lill (3rd, 19:01.7). Fergus Falls finished sixth as a team with 128 points. Rocori (90), Little Falls (102), Breckenridge/Wahpeton (107), and Willmar (114) rounded out the top five.
The Class AA State Cross Country Meet is at the Les Bolstad Golf Course at the University of Minnesota on Saturday, November 1st. The boys race starts at 12:15 pm, with the girls race at 1:00 pm. Since moving to Class AA after the 2022 season, the Perham Boys have finished runner-up twice. The girls, also looking for their first AA title, finished fifth in 2023 and third in 2024.
Section 8AA Cross Country Championships
Team Results
| Boys Team Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Team | Score | Scoring Places |
| 1 | Perham | 28 | 2-3-6-7-10 (11,13) |
| 2 | Willmar | 82 | 4-12-18-23-25 (26,68) |
| 3 | Rocori | 90 | 8-9-20-21-32 (48,51) |
| 4 | Fergus Falls | 103 | 14-15-16-24-34 (38,41) |
| 5 | Detroit Lakes | 129 | 1-22-31-36-39 (50,52) |
| 6 | Thief River Falls | 149 | 5-28-29-43-44 (60,64) |
| 7 | Melrose Area | 186 | 17-27-40-47-55 (66,69) |
| 8 | Albany | 201 | 19-35-37-54-56 (57,62) |
| 9 | Little Falls | 256 | 30-49-53-61-63 (74,75) |
| 10 | Breckenridge/Wahpeton | 259 | 33-42-58-59-67 (71,72) |
| 11 | East Grand Forks | 299 | 45-46-65-70-73 (76) |
| Girls Team Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pl | Team | Score | Scoring Places |
| 1 | Perham | 32 | 2-6-7-8-9 (17,19) |
| 2 | Rocori | 90 | 12-13-16-24-25 (38,42) |
| 3 | Little Falls | 102 | 15-18-20-21-28 (34,59) |
| 4 | Breckenridge/Wahpeton | 107 | 4-5-26-31-41 (44,45) |
| 5 | Willmar | 114 | 10-14-22-32-36 (46,54) |
| 6 | Fergus Falls | 128 | 1-3-29-47-48 (58,60) |
| 7 | Albany | 149 | 11-27-33-35-43 (52,62) |
| 8 | Detroit Lakes | 221 | 23-30-49-56-63 (64) |
| 9 | Thief River Falls | 224 | 37-39-40-51-57 (66) |
| 10 | Melrose Area | 284 | 50-53-55-61-65 |
Boys — Individual Finishers (Top 15 Overall)
| Pl | Athlete | School | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor Malecka (SO)* | Detroit Lakes | 16:03.8 |
| 2 | Brody Freeland (FR) | Perham | 16:13.0 |
| 3 | Matt Jorgenson (SR) | Perham | 16:16.8 |
| 4 | Zach Engstrom (JR) | Willmar | 16:27.0 |
| 5 | Curtis Griffin (SO)* | Thief River Falls | 16:36.8 |
| 6 | Henry Mathiason (SR) | Perham | 16:37.4 |
| 7 | Ethan Johnson (FR) | Perham | 16:39.5 |
| 8 | Jack Skanson (SO)* | Rocori | 16:45.7 |
| 9 | Brody Sieben (SR)* | Rocori | 16:47.0 |
| 10 | Bryce Brown (SO) | Perham | 16:50.1 |
| 11 | Reid Wokasch (SR) | Perham | 16:52.0 |
| 12 | John Spencer (FR) | Willmar | 16:54.1 |
| 13 | Dylan Guck (SR) | Perham | 16:54.2 |
| 14 | Brody Nelson (JR)* | Fergus Falls | 17:05.5 |
| 15 | Micah Mouser (SR)* | Fergus Falls | 17:06.9 |
*denotes individual state qualifier
Girls — Individual Finishers (Top 15 Overall)
| Pl | Athlete | School | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cassie Wellman (JR)* | Fergus Falls | 18:55.9 |
| 2 | Tilly Mathies (8) | Perham | 19:01.6 |
| 3 | Carsyn Lill (FR)* | Fergus Falls | 19:01.7 |
| 4 | Lucie Comstock (SO)* | Breckenridge/Wahpeton | 19:07.0 |
| 5 | Kiera Wiertzema (SR)* | Breckenridge/Wahpeton | 19:09.3 |
| 6 | Gracie Morris (SR) | Perham | 19:09.7 |
| 7 | Adeline Werner (7) | Perham | 19:09.9 |
| 8 | Julianna Scraper (FR) | Perham | 19:12.4 |
| 9 | Rory Kaldor (FR) | Perham | 19:26.2 |
| 10 | Gabby Martinez (JR)* | Willmar | 19:27.2 |
| 11 | Ella Lipinski (8)* | Albany | 19:27.4 |
| 12 | Grace Reiter (FR) | Rocori | 19:28.8 |
| 13 | Izzy Kraemer (SR) | Rocori | 19:29.0 |
| 14 | Allison Mages (JR) | Willmar | 19:31.5 |
| 15 | Rose Jarnot (SO) | Little Falls | 19:40.1 |