Two years ago, Elm Bank Reservation was the site of a historic event for Walpole Cross Country: the Walpole Girls Cross Country team won the Bay State Herget Championship for the first time since 1993.
Even though Boys or Girls Cross Country did not clinch the Herget on September 30 at Elm Bank Reservation, the course still held some magic for the Rebels. While neither team won the Herget, their victories over Natick (and two of the three course records) brought them closer to their title bid against Wellesley on October 7.
For the varsity boys, Walpole won an extremely close meet by a score of 28-30. Despite Natick taking the top two spots, seniors Joe Keough (15:21) and Brendan Wohler (15:29) over the 2.87 mile course took the third and fourth spots. Although Walpole lacks the top-end talent to compete for the number-one spot against many Bay State teams, they make up for that with a deep second-tier group. Led by seniors Mike Orsi and Nick Hayden, the second-tier pack — which also consisted of sophomore Luke Berardinelli and senior Captain Billy Heiberger ― won the meet for the Rebels.
“The pack was the main focus of the meet,” Heiberger said. “This was essential to our win…To race together and to win together.”
Setting the girls course record at Elm Bank by running a blisteringly fast 17:43 (nearly thirty seconds ahead of Natick’s Sarah Lagan), senior Captain Allie Morris led the Rebels to a 19-44 victory. Despite injuries to top juniors Alyssa Murphy and Kyra Arsenault, the Rebels still placed seven runners in the top eight with sophomore Stephanie Forester, juniors Tess Lancaster and Molly Rockwood, freshman Danielle Borelli, sophomore Mikaela McSharry, and senior Captain Colleen O’Connor.
During the JV race, sophomore Kyle Barry (13:55) set the new course record for the 2.25 mile course. Sophomore Delaney Murphy (15:59) led the girls in the JV race, with freshmen Gabby Donahue (16:05) and Lindsey Ganshirt (16:06) following closely behind. Both teams took every single spot in the top seven, setting the tone early on in the meet.
With Arsenault (a top-five runner for the Rebels) out for the season with a fractured foot and with Murphy recovering from a small injury, the Rebels will need replacements to quickly step up against Wellesley, the last contender for the Herget title.
“The most important thing for the team right now is for a number five runner to really step up,” said Morris.
The Rebels take on Wellesley and Dedham at home on October 7. If both teams win, they will be crowned the first Rebel Herget champions of the fall season.
