Athletes of the Week
Week 10
Rachael Reilly… ”Though this season didn’t result in another state trip for senior Rachael Reilly, she once again proved to be one of our fastest girls. Her distance running knowledge has been shared with many of the girls on the team, helping some of our up and coming girls expedite their learning. Rachael came through for the girls in the sectional meet this past Saturday taking 14th place with a finishing time of 21:01. Rachael leaves the program as one of the most accomplished lady hatchets, leaving behind a big spot to fill.”
Owen Dickrell… ”Another senior who came through for the Hatchets this past Saturday was Owen Dickrell, who ran a dependable 19:25 for the fourth position on the team. He has always been on varsity since freshman year proving his athletic consistency. Owen’s calm demeanor no matter the situation has always helped stabilize the boys team going into our most difficult workouts and races. His leadership and experience will be missed next season.”
Week 9
Abi Micke…”Abi Micke is one of our toughest runners, so it would only make sense for her to finish out her sophomore season with a gritty first place finish in the junior varsity race. Spending the majority of the season running 24 minutes or more for her 5k, one would not expect a huge drop in time, as her best race the previous year was mid-way through the season. Her body is becoming more acclimated to the training and it’s showing, peaking at the right time with a 22:33 personal record. A clear sign that she will be a scoring varsity runner for the years to come. A necessary component to the lady hatchets.”
Elliot O’Connor…”Another sophomore who had a big day at the Great Northern Conference meet was Elliot O’Connor. Dropping nearly a minute off of his old personal record, Elliot finished in 11th place in the junior varsity race with a time of 20:44. His sights are set on varsity and with an upper junior varsity level performance such as this, there’s nowhere else to go but up. With continued off-season running Elliot will certainly continue to improve and could one day find himself scoring for the hatchets.”
Week 8
Kambyl Mattke…“Despite starting the season with higher times than she is accustomed to and battling through illness, senior Kambyl Mattke has never complained. A definite leader within the girls team, she always looks out for the best interest of the team and seems to always have a great attitude. She has given her all every practice and meet and finally has been rewarded on the race course with a first place overall finish in the junior varsity Hatchet Invitational race in a time of 23:53. As the team comes down the stretch and into the postseason, the girls will need Kambyl both mentally and physically more than ever.”
Presley Gutbrod…“Coaches look for athletes to start showing signs of eager competitiveness late in the season and one does not have to look far to find it in senior Presley Gutbrod. Coming off of several great practices, Presley had a solid home invite race claiming the 7th place medal and taking the top spot for the boys team in a time of 18:21. Presley has set his sights high for his final season. High aspirations typically lead to great results, thus far Presley has earned these great results by attaining the most varsity letter points and having the fastest personal record of all the hatchet boys with last season’s time of 17:55. Now it’s a matter of how much can be accomplished with only a few meets left of his high school cross country career, the coaching staff believes it could be a lot.”
Week 7
Alli Palmer… “Battling with her knee on and off throughout the season, it seems Alli Palmer has come out on top. She has consistently dropped time throughout the season and is now vying for the team’s top position. Missing her personal record by a mere three seconds at Medford, the coaching staff knows this veteran will make the most of her upcoming meets as she has historically peeked at the right time in the season. Her off season mileage and day in/day out consistency along with handling her knee honestly and effectively has resulted in Alli having a great 2023 season. The team will need her most down the stretch if a run at the WIAA State Meet is to occur.”
Norah Mann… “Norah is another girl who has been fighting the injury bug and has found a way to keep making herself better at every practice and meet. A freshman with potential who has bounced around several positions within the team seems to be finding her stride, knocking on the door to varsity once again with her 8th place team finish in a time of 24:10 at Medford. The coaching staff knows that she is a key piece of what the hatchets have in store for the future.”
Ryan Montag… “A hooper at heart, Ryan has found another sport for which he can excel at. Starting the season as high as 26 minutes for a 5k, he has now run under the 23 minute marker three times in a row. Most recently setting a personal record at the Medford Invite with a time of 22:36. As this freshman continues to develop his distance running abilities, his basketball conditioning and shooting will improve as well due to better leg strength. With a season or two under his belt combined with some potential track & field leg speed, Ryan might prove to be one of the boys varsity scorers sooner than he may realize.”
Will Boneck… “One of our runners with the highest ceiling of potential is freshman Will Boneck. Coming out of middle school with no sporting experience and joining cross country means we still don’t know what he can truly accomplish. This is extremely exciting. His friendly demeanor has been a great fit within the boys team and his effort at practices and meets have been commendable. Another freshman who started with a 26 minute 5k has found himself in the sub 23 minute group through hard work and steadfast commitment to the program. With continued training, the coaching staff looks forward to inevitable growth from Will in his distance running career. Like his Medford side by side finishing teammate, Ryan, Will may soon be a varsity scorer. Especially if track & field leg speed is added to his training regimen this coming spring. This will certainly not be the last time Will Boneck’s name graces Athlete of the Week.”
Week 6
Elise Gibeault... “Teams always hope for at least one immediate impact freshman, but we think it’s easy to see that the lady Hatchets have cashed in on a great incoming freshman in Elise Gibeault. Elise has led our girls team at every single race, including alumni scrimmage where historically freshmen have yet to find their racing legs at the 5k distance. Elise has made the transition from middle school standout to high school varsity look effortless. This couldn’t be farther from the truth though, as Elise continues to work hard and puts in the workouts at the necessary speeds. If this girls team is to attain another state appearance it will require Elise to keep pushing her limits.”
Nathan Rosenmeier… “The team comedian, who knows how to keep things loose, has had an up and down 2023 season thus far. We think it’s fair to say though, that Rosey has found his stride again. Running nearly a personal record time at the Three Lakes Invite, he finished 5th for the team indicating he’s headed in the right direction. He is a talented and vital piece of the boys team mentally and physically. When Rosey is on, so is the entire boys team. With only one more invite before the conference meet, Rosey’s positive influence is the boost this team needs.”
Week 5
Lydia Shaney… “Lydia is one of our returning sophomores who always knows how to lighten the mood at practices and meets. This year she has really pushed herself to improve her times from last year and Smiley was her biggest performance yet. She ended up filling a varsity spot with a few runners sitting out this week and ran a time of 23:35, which was a 1 min and 19 sec personal record from last week. With it only being half way through the season, this young student-athlete is showing great promise in being a key asset to the team for the rest of the season and into the future.”
Sam Zastrow… “Sam is starting to show leadership as he is a junior this year and consistently has been a valuable component to the boys varsity squad. He has always been a very coachable athlete and is always up to a challenge in order to reach new goals for himself. At Smiley, he became the first finisher on the team and ran a personal record time of 18:06. He continues to push himself in races and practices as he strives to achieve running a sub-18 minute 5K. If this boys team plans to reach new heights this season it is going to have to begin with Sam pushing ahead and encouraging his teammates to follow.”
Week 4
Faith Derleth…“Coming off of the hardest workout all season earning the title of Co-Queen of the Hill, sophomore Faith Derleth would step up in a major way. A fellow varsity athlete was pulled out of the meet due to injury and Faith was inserted into the 6th position for the race. Faith would respond with a 5th place finish on the team running a new 5k personal record of 23:15. Her positive mental inputs during meetings and practices cannot be overlooked. The coaching staff is witnessing the development of a fantastic future leader. Combining what she brings mentally to the team with her increasing speed makes her a key asset for the girl’s team success this season and years to come.”
Drew Voermans…“There was no slowing down freshman Drew Voermans at the Menomonie Cross Country Relays. Dropping over two minutes from his personal record, Drew flew through the Mustang course passing competitor after competitor going from 59th to 28th place. Drew is one of our most laid back and even keeled student-athletes. He brings stability to the team, a very uncommon trait for a freshman, but when he’s on the race course his calmness changes into fiery determination. Running a 20:39 for only his fourth 5k all-time means the future is bright for this young Hatchet. While he continues his athletic journey, the sky truly is the limit for Drew.”
Week 3
Reese Molitor… “Moving from another school district can be a mental and physical setback, but not for Tomahawk’s Reese Molitor. A Junior making the most of her new start has dropped an impressive amount of time from her previous personal record set at Abbotsford to claim her new best as 26:20. This mark was set at the Marathon Invite where she came through the 1st mile in 46th place and would finish 35th. Since joining the Hatchets she has nearly knocked off a minute each race. The coaching staff is thrilled to have Reese on the team and look forward to witnessing her athletic progression."
Jerome “Trey” Morrison III… “A late joiner to the sport of cross country, senior Trey Morrison has been a vital piece of the track & field team for several years. Now bringing his leadership and talent to the cross country team, Trey has found another sport at which he is a solid varsity contributor. The coaching staff loves his leadership abilities and his drive to continually push himself and his teammates to be better every day. Trey’s drive was viewed in plain sight at the Marathon Invitational where he went from 53rd to 41st leading the boys pack as they charged their way to the finish. Trey brings the passion and desire that this boys team needs in order to continue improving."
Week 2
Abbie Rosenmeier… “Newcomer to the sport of cross country and freshman Abbie Rosenmeier is making the most of her first season. Not holding back both meets thus, far she has dropped nearly a minute and a half off of her Alumni Scrimmage time to take the 11th spot on the girls squad. Her personal record now stands at a 26:46, but the coaching staff has a good feeling that this most likely won’t be the last major improvement Abbie pulls off. Though new to the sport, she is picking up on many of the early teachings and becoming a true student of the sport. Her racing career will continue to thrive due to her high retention of athletic knowledge. Abbie also contributes a caring and kind demeanor to a very unified girls team.”
Dominic Boos… “Moving into the four spot on the varsity squad in his first year running cross country is the enthusiastic Junior Dominic Boos. He set a personal record of 21:22, while also beating his Alumni Scrimmage time by 48 seconds. Though he has had track & field experience, this is Dominic’s first year running cross country but one wouldn’t know it watching him race at Rhinelander. Always displaying a positive attitude and about as friendly as they come, he has proven to be an excellent addition to the Hatchet boys squad. Dominic has yet to find his ceiling and with continued training one only knows where his speed will take him. An exciting runner to watch this fall, without a doubt.”
Week 1
Jennie Frederickson…”A returning sophomore who started her season off with several improvements was Jennie Frederickson. Equipped with new knowledge, solid summer training, and a full season of high school cross country and track & field has transitioned into a stellar start to the 2023 cross country season. Jennie came out of Bond Falls Cross Country Camp not slowing down a bit, dropping her baseline mile time 43 seconds and her Alumni Scrimmage time 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Her 2023 Alumni Scrimmage time was so fast that is now her personal record (PR). The coaching staff is extremely pleased with Jennie’s in-season and off-season efforts and her persistent attitude.
Jeremiah Johnson…”The student-athletes that prepare both body and mind for the season tend to have the greatest success. Thus far this is holding true for another sophomore, Jeremiah Johnson. Jeremiah did a great job running in the off season and has some high personal goals that have kept him pushing himself since he began his high school athletics career. Evident by his 1 minute and 43 second improvement in the Alumni Scrimmage race. His time was 20:55 which was only 16 seconds off of his personal record. We look forward to seeing what Jeremiah is capable of as he continues to reap the rewards of his hard work.”
