The state’s top-ranked team topped the best teams in this last regular season meet
Coach Andy Carr, 10/15/16 – Gainesville, GA
Photos by Angie Butzow
The always super-competitive Coach Wood Invitational brings together the state’s best teams in one last showdown before teams head to region & area meets in order to qualify for the state meet and the 14th edition was one of the most competitive.
GIRLS VARSITY
Milton (1st-70 pts) continued to be the state’s top-ranked team in all classes best 20 schools in the championship division of the meet. Region rival South Forsyth (2nd-72 pts) kept it close the entire race with Lovett (3rd-138 pts) following. With two finishers in the top-10 and four in the top-20, the Lady Eagles were able to keep ahead of South Forsyth. Senior captain Marie Repasy (5th-18:55) took a couple of shots at a top-3 finish and was among the group of girls in the chase pack the majority of the race. Freshman Faith Bobak (7th-19:15) moved up through the top-20 and with a very strong last 800 meters secured a top-10 finish and was the top-freshman in the race. Freshman Abby Rindt (13th-19:30) followed and pulled along sophomore Taylor Cushman (17th-19:45) to lead the Milton effort. Final scorer senior Brooke Aumer (28th-20:13) just edged out South Forsyth’s last scoring runner to help secure the victory. Junior Emily Bowers (38th-20:28), sophomore Faith Wagner (45th-20:46) and junior Jessie Barnes (48th-20:49, a personal best) also ran varsity for the Lady Eagles.
BOYS VARSITY
In virtually a state meet preview in the 7A classification, Milton (4th-149 pts) battled with schools they will see on the Carrollton state meet course. Brookwood (1st-110 pts), Marietta (2nd-128 pts) & region rival Lambert (3rd-148 pts) edged the Eagles in a race that featured no real dominant team. Milton’s upfront strength led the team with junior Sam Bowers (2nd-15:58) running a race that saw him break away from Marietta’s top-2 runners and pull away in the last 300 meters. Bowers has run seven races this season and has been 1st four times and 2nd three times! The junior is a definite favorite to win the state title! Fellow junior Michael Malkowski (9th-16:19) ran a methodical race and cracked the top-10 very late to put two Eagle runners on the podium. Junior Ryan Beitzell (23rd-16:46) continued his strong racing with an impressive effort. Senior Valera Stettner (62nd-17:17) & junior Cam Harman (63rd-17:17) concluded the Milton scoring effort. Junior Dru Milton (80th-17:33), senior captain Michael McCarthy (88th-17:38) & junior Andrew Blizzard (103rd-17:49) also ran varsity for the Eagles.
GIRLS JV
The other team trophy won by Milton was the Lady Eagles junior varsity squad. Milton (3rd-96 pts) bested 13 schools in a race where Marist (1st-36 pts) & North Gwinnett (2nd-66 pts) prevailed over the Lady Eagles. Senior Capri Ligon (7th-21:28) & freshman Kelly Scott (18th-22:02) led the Milton effort.
BOYS JV
In the deepest JV race of the season, Milton (5th-102 pts) bested 12 other scoring schools. The Eagles were in position for a top-3 team finish but string upfront efforts by region rival South Forsyth (1st-50 pts), Marist (2nd-68 pts) & St Pius (3rd-76 pts) were too much for Milton to overcome. Senior captain Joey Brovont (8th-17:52) & fellow senior Jake Vernon (10th-17:58) led the Eagles with podium finishes.
GIRLS OPEN
The Lady Eagles battled two very deep squads in Marist (1st-20 pts) and Harrison (2nd-85 pts) to finish a strong third place. Milton (3rd-92 pts) bested 15 schools in a race with 438 finishers. Leading the Lady Eagles was junior Casey Hutchison (13th-23:20) in an all-time personal best performance.
BOYS OPEN
Milton (1st-46 pts) prevailed over 17 schools in the day’s largest race that had 466 finishers. Brookwood (2nd-58 pts) & St. Pius (3rd-63 pts) were closest. Junior Jean Moorman (1st-17:57) ran an inspired race as he battles a South Forsyth runner the entire distance and pulled away late to secure the overall victory in a personal best time.
The Milton cross country teams begin their post-season with the GHSA Area 3 XC Championship meet on Saturday, Oct 22nd at Boling Park in Canton, GA hosted by Cherokee High School. The top-6 teams & top-12 individuals in the varsity races will qualify for the GHSA State Meet to be held on Friday, November 4th in Carrollton, GA.
