Boys CC Secures Second Place at the Norski Invitational

The Baraboo Thunderbirds showcased their strength at the 39th Annual Norski Invitational HS held at Linde Fields Soccer Complex, WI, on September 3, 2025. Competing in the Varsity Boys 5000 Meters event, the Thunderbirds faced stern competition against regional schools including DeForest, Sauk Prairie, Waunakee, Janesville Parker, Milton, Berlin, and Beaver Dam. Baraboo finished in an impressive second place, scoring 65 points in a tight race that saw several schools vying for top honors. The team's depth was evident as the Thunderbirds managed to place all seven varsity runners in the top 20 positions. Notably, there was a narrow 14-second spread between the team's number 2 and number 7 man, highlighting their collective effort and consistency. Individually, Baraboo had significant performances with several athletes setting personal and senior records. Will Boettcher led the team, finishing 10th with a time of 17:44.80. Ben Meise and Jonatan Martinez closely followed, with Meise setting a senior record and finishing 11th at 18:14.30, and Martinez achieving a personal record of 18:16.10, finishing 13th. The team's depth was further underscored by similar achievements from Oskar LaFave, Jack Brinker, Dylan Davies, Kilian Duncan, Carson Hasheider, Sebastian Martinez, and Peyton Hall who all set personal records during the event. The team's performance left a positive impression on both the athletes and coaches. Ben Meise commented on his near personal record performance with a light-hearted remark, 'Easy peasy, Coach.' The optimism was echoed by the coach who expressed satisfaction over the team's performance, noting, 'It was great to have 7 guys under 18:30 tonight. The next step will be to get 7 guys under 18. I promise you that these boys are capable of that.' Looking ahead, the Thunderbirds prepare for their next challenge at the Verona Invite, scheduled to take place at Verona High School on September 6, 2025.