Despite producing the top two finishers, Whitehall just barely missed out on the top spot Saturday at the boys GMAA meet, which took place at Muskegon Community College's University Park golf course.
The Vikings were edged out by Western Michigan Christian, 52-56, for the win, with Montague in third place. Reeths-Puffer finished eighth.
Bobby Jazwinski put down his usual dominant performance, posting a time of 14:46.6 to win the race by over a minute and 20 seconds, and teammate Rex Pumford took second with a time of 16:12.1. The Wildcats' Nolan Kessler also earned a top-10 individual finish, coming in fifth with a time of 16:43.6.
Viking sophomore Ian Dennis finished in 13th place with a time of 17:28.5. Scout Freiheit (18th, 18:12.0) and Alex Winczewski (25th, 18:39.1) also scored for the team.
Bwtond Kessler, the Wildcats had two other top-20 finishers, with Jonathan Mueller coming in 16th place and setting a personal best time (17:57.8) and Gibson Smith placing 19th in a time of 18:14.0, his best of the season. Freshman Xavier Near set a new career best time of 18:43.0 to place 26th, and Carson Jasick also set a PR of 19:05.6, earning 32nd place.
Gabriel Luna led Reeths-Puffer by placing 28th (18:49.6), and Landon Learn finished 31st (19:04.8). Bryce Blair set a PR time of 19:41.4 and placed 38th, with teammate Kyron Novak in 39th (19:49.8). Kasyn Novak closed the team scoring in 43rd place (19:53.5).
In the girls' race, Whitehall led local teams by coming in third place in a close race; the Vikings were only 15 points behind winner Fruitport and five behind Mona Shores. Reeths-Puffer finished fifth and Montague was sixth.
Four local athletes placed in the top 10, led by Gabrielle Chevez for Whitehall. She finished fifth and had a time of 21:08.9. Madi Hueschele finished right after her in sixth (21:09.5). R-P also had two top-10 runners: Harper Roberts in ninth (21:23.5) and Hope Gordon in 10th (21:34.1). Gordon narrowly edged teammate Riley Bordeaux, with the latter taking 11th and setting a personal best time (21:36.4).
Reese Hesse added a 16th-place finish for Whitehall and had a time of 21:58.8. Kassie Sapp placed 20th and set a season best time (22:52.6), and Ryanne Ellsworth also set a season best time (23:51.7), placing 24th.
For the Rockets, Sidney Shackelford (36th, 25:56.8) and Kelsea Kent (43rd, 27:03.7) closed team scoring.
Brightyn Minchak led the Wildcats, coming in 34th with a time of 25:16.4. Erica Hansen followed with a 37th-place finish (26:02.6). Also scoring were Gemma Lorson (40th, 26:57.1), Amelia Liskey (41st, 26:57.1) and Peyton Sweet (44th, a personal best 27:05.0).
