Bendle cross country teams compete at regional meet

GOODELLS — Even without enough athletes to field a full squad, the Bendle varsity boys’ and girls’ cross country teams haven’t been deterred, instead competing all season long on an individual basis. While their struggles have been many and their victories few, the Tigers still wanted to make their presence felt at the 2009 Michigan High School Athletic Association postseason tournament.

Bendle began its journey down championship lane last Saturday in St. Clair County at Goodells County Park in regional No. 27-3, which was hosted by Algonac and Marysville, entering five boys and two girls. Also in action for this event was Almont, Armada, Bad Axe, Birch Run, Capac, Caro, Cass City, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port, Beecher, Frankenmuth, Marlette, Montrose, Reese, Sandusky and Vassar.

On the boys’ side of the equation, Bendle managed to clock consecutive finishing positions, as Tanner Fulbright came in 74th in the 85-man field, Kimani Jackson was 75th, placing 76th was Matthew LaBombard, Joseph Low notched the 77th spot and taking the 78th position was Devin Marriner. As for their times, all five of the boys were listed on the MHSAA website as not finishing.

Coming in first for the event individually was Armada’s Gary Ezzo at 16:47, Frankenmuth’s Ben Sievert was second in 16:52 and coming in third with a time of 16:59 was Almont’s Dylan Creger. Armada also took the team title with a score of 63, followed by Caro (81), Frankenmuth (85) and Almont (85).

As for the girls, Bendle’s Celia Freeman was 80th and Kaylee Munson 81st out of 83 total competitors. Neither of the Lady Tigers managed to finish their 5K run, either.

Armada’s Rachel Durbin was the top individual finisher at 19:53, just behind her was Caro’s Erika Roe with a time of 20:17 and taking third in 20:57 was Lauren Deneweth of Almont. Caro was also tops in the team department with a score of 54, Almont came in second with 100 points and not far behind in the third position was Bad Axe at 106.

During the regular season, the Red and Blue divisions of the Genesee Area Conference merge to form a single 10- team league, with Durand taking the top spot for the boys at 9-0. Coming in second this season was Byron (8-1), followed by Goodrich (7-2), New Lothrop (6-3), LakeVille (5-4), Mt. Morris (4-5), Genesee (2- 6), Montrose (2-7), Lake Fenton (1-8) and Bendle (0-8).

Some of the events the Tigers have competed in this season include the GAC meet Oct. 20 at Durand, where they tied Lake Fenton for ninth place in a 10-team field, and three days earlier Bendle tied Flint International Academy for seventh place at the eightteam Kayla O’Mara Div. 2 Invitational hosted by Goodrich.

The Tigers also competed with 20 other squads at the Div. 4 Holly Invitational Sept. 19 at Springfield Oaks County Park in Davisburg, sharing the 19th position with Brown City and East Jackson, and Sept. 12 Bendle participated in the medium school division of the Corunna Invitational, tying Lake Fenton for fifth in the six-team event.

In girls’ competition, Goodrich proved to be the cream of the GAC crop this season at 9-0, but Durand (8- 1), New Lothrop (7-2), Byron (6-3) and Lake Fenton (5-4) all helped keep the pressure on the Lady Martians. Making up the rest of the standings are LakeVille (4-5), Montrose (3-6), Mt. Morris (2-7) and Genesee (0-8).

Results for the Lady Tigers this year include placing seventh at the Oct. 17 Kayla O’Mara Div. 2 Invitational, Oct. 1 Bendle finished in a tie for 18th with Bentley, Flint Northwestern and Genesee at the 21-team Flint Area Championships at Dutch Hollow Golf Course in Durand and Sept. 19 the team shared the final slot with Cass City, East Jackson and Unionville- Sebewaing at the Holly Invite.

With practices having started Aug. 12 and a maximum of 15 contests scheduled beginning Aug. 21, next up for those that qualified is the lower peninsula state finals this Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. with the action kicking off at 10 a.m. with the Div. 4 girls, followed by the Div. 3 girls a half hour later. Gates open at 7 a.m. with the packet pick-ups, Tshirt sales and a course review. Tickets are $7.