The Cherry on Top: Boys XC get third, Bazil Mathes wins the state championship

Led by a remarkable talent, the boys Cross Country team finished off its season to remember with a bang. The team placed third in the State Tournament, beating out Waynesboro who previously beat them in the Region Tournament. Freak of nature Bazil Mathes was the first to cross the finish line with a spectacular time of 15:25. Mathes completed his dominant season with a state championship. Freshman sensation Creighton Doherty followed Mathes, placing 26th with a time of 17:13. Doherty has burst onto the scene, breaking the freshman 5k record multiple times this season. Half a second behind Doherty was Ben Davis, a senior and team captain for the team. Davis, in his first year of cross country, has kept improving throughout the season through hard work and humility, persevering through injuries and having to run with one shoe on.

Speaking of star freshman, Ryan Davidson, the lone representative of the girls XC team, went off. She finished sixth overall with a time of 19:14. Davidson has been a standout for the girls team this year, finishing in the top ten in every race she ran.

Sophomore Lukas Muehlberg finished 39th (17:22), and Senior Max Scharer (17:49) placed 51st. Owen Sexton and Daniel Vizcaino rounded out Monticello’s elite top seven with times of 18:14 and 18:42.

The team’s finish was the best in school history. This group has accomplished a lot and has a lot to look forward to moving forward. The team will return five of their top seven runners, including state champion Mathes. The Indoor Track season is about to kick off; look for continued success for these Mustangs!