By Mark Blentlinger
On September 28, Schoolcraft’s cross-country teams competed in Otsego’s Bulldog Invitational. The Golden Eagles faced teams from Centreville, Bangor, Bronson, Parchment, Quincy, Bloomingdale, Delton-Kellogg, Fennville and Comstock. Both Schoolcraft teams finished in 2nd place: Centreville took 1st place in the boys’ teams with Bronson in 1st for the girls. Ariana Pillot finished in 5th place with a time of 21:21.85, followed by Olivia Bays finishing 10th with a time of 21:55.51. For the boys, Dante Pillot was champion of the invitational with a time of 17:09.81, and Ace Drewyor finished in 11th place, crossing the line at 18:40.35.
The Portage Invitational, held October 5, is arguably the largest cross-country event in the state with 4 divisions of high school runners and 4 divisions of junior high school runners. In the Division III race, 40 boys’ teams with 443 runners competed. Jackson Lumen Christi topped all teams. Schoolcraft Finished in 17th place. Senior Dante Pillot finished in 25th place at 16:51.5, Ace Drewyor took 109th with a time of 18:13.5 right in front of Eli Martin at 18:14.3. Senior Conner Candler finished 122nd 18:21.2. The girls had 38 teams, and 376 runners competed. Pewamo-Westphalia took the number 1 spot while Schoolcraft finished in 21st. Ariana Pillot took 48th place 20:48.1, Alyda Leep finished her day in 122nd 22:28.3, with Avery McCrum in 123rd 22:28.5
The SAC High School Championship was held October 10 at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin. Fourteen SAC teams entered for the boys and 10 for the girls. The schools were competing for not only the team championship but also an individual championship. To the sound of the starter’s pistol for the boys’ race, 103 runners took off. Saugatuck took the SAC Team championship while Marek Bultkiewicz topped all boys, finishing in a time of 15:47.12. Schoolcraft’s Dante Pillot finished in 13th place 17:14.84, while Ace Drewyor finished in 25th 18:04.32, and Connor Candler finished 33rd 18:34.32. In the girls’ race, Gobles took the top spot while Schoolcraft finished in 5th place. Ariana Pillot finished in 16th 21:01.79, Addison Blodgett 19th place 21:33.38, Alyda Leep took 28th 22:14.80, and Samantha Pavlak 32nd 22:27.16.
Both Schoolcraft teams competed in the Kalamazoo Christian Comet Invitational on October 19, with 11 teams competing for the top spot for both the girls’ division and the boys’ division. Kalamazoo Homeschool Sports took the boys’ championship. Schoolcraft finished in 7th place with Dante Pillot finishing in 27th place at 17:43.40, followed by Ace Drewyor in 29th 17:52.13, and Eli Martin in 35th place 18:01.43. The girls team also finished in the 7th position with GR-South Christian taking the top spot. Ariana Pillot finished in 17th place 20:57.08, 26th was Addison Blodgett, 21:29.72, and Alyda Leep took 41st, 22:03.78.
Runners competed in the Lower Peninsula Regional 22-Division III at Portage West Middle school on Saturday October 26.
