Mexico High School cross country boys impressed Saturday in their season opener at the Green Estate, bagging both top team and top individual honors in the Mexico Invitational.
Seniors Hayden Legg, Grant Zysk, Drew McCoy and Scott Barker all medaled for the Bulldogs, who claimed the varsity team title with 42 points. NCMC rival Hannibal was second with 54, followed by Bowling Green 70, Holt 91, Warrenton 111, North Callaway 166, Hallsville 196 and Centralia 204.
Legg led all runners over the 5K course, crossing the finish line in 17:03. Zysk ran third in 18:03, McCoy eighth in 18:36 and Barker 15th in 18:54. Rounding out the Mexico lineup were Sam Kelly, 17th, 19:04; Jordan Geeson, 21st, 19:35; Collin Clement, 41st, 21:22.
“We concluded the season last year with a very successful and exciting competition schedule in which we won many meets, won conference champion and third in district,” MHS coach John Wilbers said. “For this first meet, the majority of our runners posted initial times equal or better to their first meet last year, so we are on track for more greatness, setting our sights on many medals and wins and the district championship.
“Not to be boastful, however, we still have lots of work to do if we want those goals to become reality,” he added. “Our next home meet is late October. It’s difficult to describe how exciting and strategic a cross country race is. I invite the public to come out and see these hard-working students in our beautiful Green Estate Park.”
Varsity girls team scores were Warrenton 34, Holt 58, South Shelby 76, Hannibal 97, Bowling Green 107 and North Callaway 120.
Medaling for the Lady Bulldogs was junior Sarah Ogar, who placed seventh in 21:58. Shelby Prince ran 23rd in 24:11, Becca Hotop 29th in 24:47 and Erica Bay 40th in 27:48. Mexico does not have enough girls out to compile a team score.
Michael Cox, Ryan Pickering and Tyler Ward all medaled for the Bulldogs in the JV boys race. Mexico results were reported as Cox, 2nd, 20:03; Pickering, 6th, 20:19; Ward, 9th, 20:54; Ryan Beasley, 12th, 21:16, L.T. Jerichow, 15th, 22:11; Barak Ingram, 16th, 22:24; Dustin Ship, 19th, 22:54; Skylar Wathan, 22nd, 23:27; Marshall Forbis, 30th, 24:15; DJ Nunnelly, 32nd, 24:31; Calvin Heins, 33rd, 24:55; Cole Given, 34th, 24:58; Levi Holmes, 40th, 26:03; Steven Richter, 44th, 26:59; Scotty Honaker, 46th; 27:38; Steven Jackson, 58th, 34:46.
MHS GIRLS TENNIS: In Saturday’s Osage Invitational, the Lady Bulldogs scored 7 team points with Sydney Stamy and Brooke Doolittle placing third in doubles to receive medals.
“Overall, it was a good day of tennis with the girls getting to see new district opponents,” MHS coach Jim Graham said. “We need to continue to improve each time we take the courts.”
School of the Osager bagged the team title. Mexico individual results follow below.
No. 1 singles first round: Becki Hamlett lost to Meredith Cleveland (Stoutland #2) 6-2, 6-2.
No. 2 singles first round: Abby Orscheln lost to Margaret Cleveland (Stoutland #1) 6-0, 6-0.
No. 1 singles consolation round: Becki Hamlett lost to Kelsy Hawkins (Richland #1) 6-0, 6-2.
No. 2 singles consolation round: Abby Orscheln lost to Mallory Warren (Richland #2) 6-1, 6-2.
No. 1 doubles first round: Sydney Stamy and Brooke Doolittle defeated Summer Porch and Andrea Hernandez (Stoutland #1) 6-2, 6-2.
No. 2 doubles first round: Nadine Bogdon and Allison Swopes lost to Gabby Kern and Keali Dickerson (Osage #2) 6-3, 6-1.
No. 1 double second round: Stamy-Doolittle lost to Abby Naudet and Lindsey DeGraffenreid (Osage #1) 6-4, 6-2.
No. 2 doubles consolation round: Bogdon-Swopes defeated Hanah William-Taylor Decker (Stouland #2) 6-0, 6-1.
No. 1 third-place match Stamy-Doolittle defeated Kern-Dickerson (Osage #2) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3.
No. 2 fifth-place match Bogdon-Swopes defeated Paige Knots-Tiffany Pemberton (Richland #2) 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-4.
MHS SOFTBALL: Host Bowling Green posted 5 runs in the first inning Saturday and scored 5 more runs in the fourth for an 11-1 varsity victory over the Lady Bulldogs.
Courtney Fischer suffered the short-game loss. The lone run for 1-4 Mexico came in the first on a Whitney Whittaker walk and a Liz Crews triple.
“This was a tough loss,” MHS coach Christina Gerber said. “We put the ball in play consistently, but we just couldn’t seem to find the gaps.”
Vanessa Hays had 2 singles, Kayla Winterbower 1 single and Delaney McNeil a sacrifice fly for the Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Bobcats won the JV game 8-0. Paislee House had two hits for Mexico, Jasmin Kelly a single and Stephanie Batty a single.
MHS GIRLS GOLF: In Friday’s makeup of the rained out Paris Invitational at Mark Twain Country Club, Southern Boone ran away with the team title, totaling 371, but the Lady Bulldogs proved the best of the rest, scoring 469 for second place in a field of 6 full teams.
SoBoCo’s Naomi Starr was medalist with 39-43/82 for 18 holes and Mexico’s Shea Colley was runner-up with 41-48/89. Other Mexico rounds were Ashten Travis 52-57/109, good for a seventh-place medal, plus Ashley Bridgford 68-66/134, Kelsay Spurling 66-71/137 and Sydney Beauchamp 74-70/144.
“Once again, our experienced players were solid,” MHS coach Lindsey Yancey said. “And our beginners turned in unexpected low scores.”