Emerging as a powerhouse program over the last few years, the Quinter boys cross country team is showing no signs of slowing down. 

Despite losing two seniors off last year’s squad that notched the Bulldogs’ third straight Class 1A championship, Quinter’s depth has never looked stronger.

“It’s been fun to watch the progression of ‘next man up,’ ” Quinter coach Ed Mense said. 

Seniors Elliot Churchwell and Kendrik Selensky are returning state placers for the Bulldogs, taking third and 12th, respectively at last year's state meet. 

Carter Pennington is working on a strong sophomore season. 

“His transformation has been steady, as he made major gains during his freshman track season before really making a dedicated effort this summer to log a lot of miles and attend some camps,” Mense said. 

The Bulldogs have won three meets on the season (Quinter, Trego, Norton). 

Pennington, Selensky and Churchwell are all ranked in the top 10 for top times in Class 1A. Pennington is fifth (17:02.35), followed by Selensky in eighth (17:14.88) and Churchwell (17:19.67) in ninth. 

John Boone is another impact sophomore for the Bulldogs. He’s ranked in the top 25 in 1A times this season with a 18:09.33. 

Freshmen Knox Betz and Reid Bowman have also helped supply depth for the Bulldogs. 

On the girls’ side, Mense said he’s been impressed with the perseverance of Ella Gruenbacher, who has fought through a disorder with her calves that causes inflammation and pain when she runs. Gruenbacher set a new personal-best with a 23:20 at the Quinter Invitational early this month.
 

 

 

OTHER WESTERN KANSAS STANDOUTS 

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY 

– Holcomb’s Brody Deniston ran a personal-best 15:12.10 at the Olathe Twilight. Deniston, runner-up at the 3A meet last year, owns the top time in 3A this year and the third-best time in all classes. 

– Ness City’s Broxton Gall, the 1A state runner-up last year, has won back-to-back meets at the Trego and Pratt Skyline Invitationals. Gall has the third best time in 1A with a 16:39.67. 

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 

– The top times in Class 1A belong to the Boydston sisters of Ellis. Avery Boydston, the reigning 1A state champion, has the best time in the classification with a 18:49.68 she ran at Norton. Taryn Boydston, a freshman, has the second-best time in 1A with her 18:57.59 at Norton. Avery and Taryn have finished 1-2 at the Norton, Trego and Wamego meets. 

– Two-time reigning state champion Madison Howland from Smith Center has the top time in 2A with an 18:38:04. Howland ran an 18:51.22 at the Rim Rock Invitational on Saturday to finish fourth in the Gold division. 

– South Gray junior Jenna Simmons has stepped up as a leader for the three-time reigning Class 1A champion Rebels. Simmons took first individually in South Gray’s first three meets and owns the third-best time in 1A with a 19:40.15 she ran at the Hugoton Invitational. 

– Norton’s Emma Collins has the second-best time in 3A with a 19:15.90 she used to win the Hays High Invitational. 
 

GIRLS TENNIS 

– Ellsworth won its 21st consecutive regular-season tournament at its home invitational on Sept. 18. The Bearcats saw their streak snapped at the Hesston Invitational this past Tuesday after being edged out by Hesston by a point. Inarie Rippert recently collected her 100th career match victory for the Bearcats. Rippert and Reygan Coonrod, two-time state runners-up in doubles, have a 19-1 record with the loss coming to Conway Springs’ Sadie and Morgan Koester. Karil Haase is 16-1 on the season in singles with her only loss coming against reigning state champion Chelsie Brown from Sterling. 

– Meade’s Bethany Reimer and Aby Dyck have fashioned a 12-2 doubles record. Reimer and Dyck took first place in the Meade Invitational last week.