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DUNLAP -ÊWhen the Wawasee boys cross country team won the sectional at Ox Box Park two Saturday's ago, they earned a spot as one of the favorites going into Saturday's regional. In fact, the Warriors defeated four of the nine other teams participating in the regional, also at Ox Bow.
However, favorites are not guaranteed a victory, as the Wawasee squad learned the hard way Saturday. The Warriors fell just short of advancing to the semistate as a team as they placed sixth with three of the four teams they defeated last week placing ahead of them.
"When your first three runners total 31 points and you still don't advance out of the regional," said Wawasee coach Dave Stookey, "then you have a problem with team depth. If one of your runners had a bad day, then another had to move up. Our strength is in our pack of five runners. We didn't have that today.
"We were prepared physically, but not mentally today. One week ago, we beat four of these teams, and today three of them beat us. There could not have been that much of a physical difference in one week, so our problem had to be mental. We had some individuals ready mentally, but we were not mentally ready as a team."
Although the Warriors did not advance as a team, two Wawasee runners placed in the top 15 and moved on to the semistate in Manchester. Rob Chalfant placed second while Jerid Stoffel came in at the 14th slot.
"I felt great today," said Chalfant. "I don't know, I just had a lot of energy today. It was cold and wet, but I felt really good. In the last half mile, it was just me and Andrew (McKalips of Goshen). It came down to the last 400 and I pulled in front to place second."
"Rob just keeps getting better and better," said Stookey. "He keeps getting stronger and stronger. He is running well."
Stoffel, however, was not as pleased with his performance on the day. "I didn't run as well as I wanted," said Stoffel. "But I did well enough to advance to the semistate."
Although Wawasee did not advance to semistate as a team, Stookey still had positive things to say about the team.
"Overall, we had a great season," said Stookey. "I am very proud of the guys. We had hoped to move on, but it just wasn't our day."
Along with Chalfant and Stoffel, two individuals from NorthWood High School will advance to the semistate in North Manchester Saturady as well. Aaron Hoover placed seventh overall while Mark Davidhizar placed 13th to move out of the regional.
Chalfant, Stoffel, Hoover and Davidhizar will compete in next week's semistate hosted by Manchester High School Saturday.
ELKHART REGIONAL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
Team results -Ê1. DeKalb, 82; 2. Elkhart Memorial, 95; 3. East Noble, 104; 4. Elkhart Central, 109; 5. Northridge, 110; 6. Wawasee, 123; 7. Goshen, 151; 8. Central Noble, 154; 9. Angola, 194; 10. Prairie Heights, 221.
Top 15 individuals -Ê1. John Parson (WN), 16:30; 2. Rob Chalfant (W), 16:46; 3. Andrew McKalips (G), 15:51; 4. David Owens (EC), 16:59; 5. Ryan Johnson (D), 17:01; 6. Thomas Wolfe (Fairfield), 17:02; 7. Jon McKalips (G), 17:04; 8. Aaron Hoover (NorthWood), 17:07; 9. Andrew Balthes (Elkhart Memorial), 17:11; 10. Matthew Cummins (Elkhart Memorial), 17:13; 11. Rocky David (EN), 17:17; 12. Tim Heiman (EN), 17:19; 13. Mark Davidhizer (NorthWood), 17:21; 14. Jerid Stoffel (W), 17:24; 15. David Young (NR), 17:34.
Wawasee finishers -Ê2. Rob Chalfant, 16:46; 14. Jerid Stoffel, 17:24; 24. Ryan Stichter, 17:44; 46. Dusten Lytle, 18:31; 58. Flaco Perales, 18:58; 67. Dustin Young, 19:56; 72. Forest Somers, 20:23
