Rams Rule At 2A Meet Lone Exception Is Pullman Boys Title

Despite a 1-2 finish by Riverside High cross country runners Noah Hassler and Jamieson Kaluza, their boys team fell a point shy of a repeat District 7 2A team championship Thursday at Hangman Valley Golf Course. But, hey. Three out of four’s not bad.

The Rams won both individual titles, junior Katie Prichard defending her girls title. And Prichard was joined by a band of freshman newcomers for a runaway Riverside team victory.

Pullman’s boys edged the Rams 51-52 for the team title, and Lakeside qualified both of its teams to state as well.

The five teams, plus individuals from Chewelah, Newport and Medical Lake, will compete next Saturday in the state championships in Pasco.

Boys: Coaches knew going into the race that any of three teams could win. Each took a little different approach at giving it a go.

There was the 1-2 finish of Hassler and Kaluza that gave the Rams a chance. Lakeside placed three - Andy Prentice, Sam Hensold and Ben Bailey - between third and sixth, but the Eagles, with 62 points, wound up third.

And then there was the Pullman approach. Four Greyhounds - Brett Udy, Dusty Wisniew, Alex Perino and Matt Gollob - placed seventh through 10th, a mere 11 seconds apart. Fifth scorer Andrew Wolverton took 17th, enough to eke out the championship.

“There has been no boys cross country banner in our gymnasium in 22 years,” said second-year Greyhounds coach Bob Hanes. “I’m so excited, I don’t know what to say. It’s absolutely stunning.”

No less stunning have been the efforts of Hassler, who didn’t even make varsity last year.

“My freshman year, I was top JV runner,” he said. “I don’t know what happened my sophomore year. I ran over a minute slower.”

Following a well-conceived plan Thursday, he held back with his teammates and let the race flow to him.

“We wanted to start off easy, it didn’t matter where,” he said.

Eventually, he and Kaluza overhauled the field and almost produced a team title.

“It’s been a very competitive league, probably the most balanced we’ve had,” said Riverside coach Bill Kemp. “It’s a lot of fun to get all three teams to state.”

Girls: Not even a severe ankle sprain a mile into the race could deter Riverside’s girls.

The Rams had six of the first 10 finishers and seven out of 13 for a meet-low 28 points. Lakeside, with three freshmen, earned its first girls team trip with 72 points, two fewer than Pullman.

“I said before I’d sacrifice the guys if the girls could get to state because they’d never been there,” said Lakeside coach Matt Sullivan. “Those girls worked incredibly hard and doggone, they deserve to go.”

Prichard, one of three Riverside returnees, and the freshmen made short work of the field.

Prichard nipped hard-charging Newport senior Lauren White by a second. The frosh all finished in the top 10.

“They ran really well,” said Prichard of the neophytes. “They are a very talented group, but I wasn’t sure how they’d be able to deal with pressure. They proved today they handle it well.”

Senior Averie Powell stepped in a hole at the mile mark, but got back up, walked a few steps and ran her way to 13th. It was a remarkable show of courage, Kemp said.