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sports
In conditions meant for a snowmobile race, the Division 2 U.P. cross county finals were held at Young’s on Oct. 24.
IRON RIVER — As the Division 2 cross country teams arrived at Young’s for the U.P. Finals on Oct. 24, they were greeted with December-like conditions – bitter winds and a precarious snow covering on the course.
But no matter, the runners took to that course and completed the event. And the West Iron County Wykons wound up placing three runners in the top 15 in their respective races to earn all-U.P. honors.
West Iron’s top finisher was freshman Johnothan Swenski, who closed off an impressive inaugural season with an eighth-place result. Swenski recorded a 22:12.9 and was the second youngest finisher in the top 10 (Painesdale-Jeffers sophomore Tavin Larson took fourth).
Swenski also qualified for the all-West Pac Conference team the previous week when he finished ninth in that race.
The Wykons girls were led by senior duo Avery Bociek and Zoe Kolenda. Bociek battled to a 10th-place finish (26:23.1) while Kolenda closed out her career two spots behind her teammate in 12th (26:52.6).
The West Iron girls finished fifth in the team standings with 85 points. St. Ignace (53) edged Hancock for the team title by one point.Ironwood (73) and Ishpeming (76) followed, with Manistique (144) rounding out the field in sixth.
The Wykon boys wound up sixth in the team standings with 119 points. Ishpeming (17) captured the team trophy, while Painesdale-Jeffers (57) was a distant second. Wakefield-Marenisco-Bessemer (98), Ironwood (109) and Manistique (114) completed the field.
Other West Iron girls finishers included Jordan Shamion (27:57.7, 17th), Hailee Bradshaw (29:55.2, 22nd) and Brynlee Nodurft (30:12.6, 24th). Shamion also plays volleyball this season, while Bradshaw and Nodurft played tennis.
For the Wykon boys, sophomore Caleb Strom finished 16th (23:28.9), junior Dylan Nodurft placed 27th (26:57.9), sophomore Mason Starkey wound up 37th (31:39.3) and sophomore Wezley Breese finished 38th (32:36.5).