Goldendale X Country at state today, Nov. 4; Team gets huge send off
By Tegan Shermikas
Goldendale, Wash., Nov. 3, 2023 - The Goldendale community rallied around these young cross country athletes on Friday, Nov. 3, and gave them a send-off that wouldn’t soon be forgotten as they headed to the state championship races.
Parents, students, and locals came together to make an impression, and they did. The Washington State XC meets are Today, Nov. 4, and with it a mix of excitement accompanied by nerves for the pack members who will be conquering the unforgiving course.
Regardless of the outcome, these champions have earned their place by competing against the best of the best. Their determination and grit will continue to be an asset as these young men and women find their footing in this world. Thank you, Coach Rising, Coach Jones and Assistant Coach Williams, your encouragement and skill have helped guide and shape this young pack.
The Goldendale Timberwolves fought through injuries and illness to defend their title as the 2B District 5 Champs from 2021 and 2022! It was a close race, anticipation ran high and it wasn’t until the results were posted that all the athletes could breathe a sigh of relief! They had won their 3rd consecutive District Championship. At the end of the day, the boys’ team narrowly beat out Cle Elum/Roslyn’s by a mere 6 points. All the boys competed valiantly; Sean Henrikson cruised into second place with a 17-minute time. Raymond Holycross came in 5th with a time of 17:53.
Next up for the team was freshman Brody Hatfield with an impressive 18:18, and the 10th place ribbon. Simon Grinding (18:53) and Anthony Hauck (19:09) rounded out the top 20 finishers! Aaron Shelton (19:42), and Graham Grinding (21:10) were the next finishers for Goldendale and helped secure the district trophy. It was a day that was full of ear-to-ear smiles. The whole season had come down to this one race and the pack had stuck together to help pave the way for another trip to the State XC Meet in Pasco, WA on 11/4/2023. Traveling with the boys’ team is freshman Emma Meagher, her time of 20:26 gave her 3rd place overall for the girls. However, she isn’t a lone wolf, she has her pack cheering her on as she heads to state for the first time.
