Athens cross country is small but mighty

Athens might not have full varsity boys and girls cross country teams competing in races this season, but those who are on the team are giving it their best to finish high as individual runners. Teams need at least five runners to score team points in races.

Korey Rottscheit is in the midst of his 11th year coaching the team and Karla Erickson is his assistant coach again this season.

The top Athens boy cross country runners this season are seniors Eli Paul and Brandon Krause and sophomore Ben Hartwig. Hartwig earned second team all-Marawood Conference as a freshman last season.

“Ben Hartwig, Eli Paul and Brandon Krause are ready to go,” Rottscheit said. “They have been putting in the work as well and I see them improving even more this season.”

The top Athens girls cross country runners this season are seniors Isabella Zastrow and Katelyn den Otter along with juniors Terah Schreiner and Ellis Baer. Junior Anna Keemann is the top newcomer to the varsity girls team this year.

Ellis Baer is the most likely candidate to be the Athens girls’ new No. 1 runner this season. Last season’s top girls runner Breanna Sheahan graduated in spring and she is now running cross country for Division 3 St. Norbert College this fall.

“Ellis Baer has been running quite a bit over the summer,” Rottscheit said. “I do believe that she is in line to be our No. 1 runner this season. She has big shoes to fill in regards to trying to replace Breanna Sheahan, but I have faith that she can do it and possibly make it to state someday as well.”

Race results

Ben Hartwig took ninth place at Athens’ season opener at the Timm’s Hill Invitational on Aug. 28. Eli Paul placed 12th and Brandon Krause was 29th. For the Athens girls, Ellis Baer took fifth place and Isabella Zastrow was 26th. Hartwig took 19th place at the Marathon Invite on Sept. 4 at Nine Mile Forest and Paul placed 39th. Baer took ninth place for the Athens girls. Hartwig took 15th place at the Marshfield Tiger Invite on Sept. 9 at Wildwood Park while Paul placed 59th and Krause was 87th. Baer took 12th place for the Athens girls.