The Bulldogs Girls Cross Country team has started their season out with a win at their first meet and are looking forward to an exciting season.

Head Coach Trish Reimer-Kealy has been leading Becker’s girls cross country team for the last 15 years. She’s been coaching since 1981; along with Becker she’s coached in Bemidji, Pipestone and Rockford.

Her assistant coach, Bonnie Kolbinger, is also an experienced coach; this is her third year as Kealy’s assistant.

This year’s team consists of 32 runners and one manager. Captains are Lexi Dehmer, Callie Doucette and Megan Gregory.

“We have a very young team, so we have been learning the basics and our veteran runners have been great in helping the younger girls feel comfortable,” said Kealy. “With the program a seventh through twelfth grade team it’s important to have good team chemistry.”

Varsity runners returning from last year include eighth grader Dani Nuest, who was the team’s number one runner last year, and senior Lexi Dehmer, who was the number two runner and who has experience at the State Meet.

Other returning varsity runners include Adeline Kent, Natasha Berthiaume, Abby Nelson, Jaden Kraus, Kayla Gruenes and Alexa Voller. 

Team practice started Aug. 12 in the mornings. With the start of school, practice has moved to right after classes are out for the day, Monday through Friday.

The Bulldogs Girls Cross Country team had a successful meet Aug. 29 at the Princeton Invitational at Fairway Shores Golf Course, with all three levels winning first place.

At the varsity level, Becker scored 37, followed by Elk River with 80 and Cambridge-Isanti coming in third at 96. 

Senior Lexi Dehmer won the 5K varsity race, coming in first out of 87 total runners with a time of 20:29.8. Eighth grader Dani Nuest came in third at 20:37.1.

Adeline Kent placed eighth at 21:18.3, Alexis Rose ninth at 21:28.6, Alexa Voller at 22:29.3 placed 21st, Natasha Berthiaume was 23rd at 22:41.2, and Jaden Kraus rounded out Becker’s top seven runners with 22:52.3, placing 29th.

With 49 total runners in the JV 3K race, Becker’s scoring runners were led by Kayla Gruenes who took second with 13:42.8, Megan Gregory placed third with 13:49.1, Regan Housemann fourth at 14:27.8, and Natalie Trenz placing seventh with 14:37. Callie Doucette placed ninth with a time of 14:58, Shelby Dawson came in 11th at 14:59.5, and Jess Gruenes placed 12th with 15:03.

Alea Briggs placed fourth in the 2K Jr. High race with a time of 9:04.1, Myli Praught was 12th with 9:34.1, Anna Kuklock 13th with 9:38.9, Olivia Babler at 9:39 placed 14th, Anikah Hall was 18th with 9:45.2, Abi Berning 20th at 9:53.2, Emilia Hansen placed 28th with 19:25.2, and MacKenna Smith was 43rd at 11:21.5. There were 47 total runners.

The Bulldogs next took part in the Rockford Rocket Run on Thursday at the Shamrock Golf Course in Corcoran, where the varsity team placed second with a score of 62. Rocori came in first with 48 and Providence Academy third with 104.

Senior Captain Lexi Dehmer was once again Becker’s first runner, placing third overall with a time of 20:35.5 for the 5000 meter course. Dani Nuest was again Becker’s second runner, coming in fifth with a time of 20:48.6. Alexis Rose ran 21:12 to place 10th, giving Becker three runners in the top 10.

Rounding out Becker’s top runners was Alexa Voller in 19th place with 22:28.3, Nora Pilarski at 22:54.8 placed 28th, Ella McDonald was 29th in 23:13.5 and Jaden Kraus 38th in 23:29.9.

“These girls raced hard and had really gutsy finishes, outracing several girls to the finish to help our team score,” said Kealy.

The JV team brought home the team win with a score of 28, followed by Providence Academy with 71 and Rocori with 75.

Seventh grader Morgan Vee, running her first 5000, was Becker’s first finisher in second place at 23:19.1. Abby Nelson was right behind her in third place with 23:34.4, Bella Duncombe in fourth at 23:44.7 and Megan Gregory 10th in 25:20.

Finishing out the scoring group was Kayla Gruenes in 11th place with 25:22.7, Hannah Dierkes placing 12th with 25:37.7 and Regan Hausmann at 26:20.2 came in 18th. 

The team’s next meet is Sept. 12 at St. Francis.