Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Bryce Gidel of Humboldt competes at Sheldon Park Monday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

HUMBOLDT — There isn’t a single day that goes by where Bryce Gidel doesn’t think about the state cross country meet last October.

Gidel, a sophomore, placed 34th after entering the meet with high hopes following a spectacular freshman campaign.

Running at her home meet here at Sheldon Park Monday, Gidel raced to another title and helped the Wildcats sweep both the boys and girls team championships.

“I always think about that (state) race,” said Gidel, who is ranked third in Class 3A. “I have the race bib on my mirror and think about it every day.

“I just want that meet again to get my shot at redemption.”

Humboldt, rated fourth, scored just 31 points on Monday as Gidel, Gabby Kent, Lauren Erickson and Elizabeth Hildreth all finished in the Top-10.

Algona was second overall with 127 points, followed by Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, Emmetsburg and St. Edmond rounding out the Top-5.

Gidel had no trouble clearing her way around the difficult course, clocking a time of 19:46, which was almost 14 seconds ahead of Aubrie Fisher from IFA/A, who is ranked 13th.

“It’s so nice to run at home and have so many people cheering you on,” Gidel said. “We really appreciate all the support from Humboldt.

“It was kind of nerve-racking looking out the window and seeing it pour rain all day. I know this is a muddy course and I didn’t want it to end up being more of a mud run than a cross country race.”

Kent, ranked 19th, finished fourth in 20:41 and Erickson was right behind in fifth (21:11). Hildreth placed 10th, and Isabella Luu finished in 11th.

“There really is no way to describe what the girls are doing,” Humboldt head coach Dean Clasen said. “You like winning (meets), but we are looking down the road and are just trying to put together our best meet each time out.”

Joseph Kunert, Quinton Orr and Denny Pederson gave the Wildcats a measure of redemption by all placing in the Top-10. Kunert was the individual runner-up to Clear Lake’s Sam Pedelty, with Orr finishing fifth in 17:57 and Pederson ninth in 18:40.

“It’s really hard to double-up in a meet this size; I can’t think of a time when we’ve been able to do it,” Clasen said. “Last week, Clear Lake got us by 13 points at their place, so to do the opposite to them was really good.

“Joe and Quinton just continue to be strong, but Denny ran better (Monday), Devon (Coon, 11th) gets stronger with each race and Noah (Helmer, 18th) just keeps getting better, too.”

Clear Lake is currently ranked ninth overall in 3A, with Humboldt coming in at No. 14.

Algona’s Trey Engen, ranked 27th, placed third behind Pedelty (rated 16th) and Kunert in 17:46, with Southeast Valley’s Patrick Breitsprecher earning sixth overall in 18:08.

Jill Vonnahme of Pocahontas Area claimed bronze honors in 20:30, with Emmetsburg’s Raven Brown earned sixth overall in 21:15.

HUMBOLDT INVITATIONAL

(Monday at Sheldon Park)

Boys Team Standings

1. Humboldt, 46; 2. Clear Lake, 59; 3. Carroll Kuemper, 130; 4. Algona, 136; 5. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, 188; 6. Eagle Grove, 190; 7. Fort Dodge, 198; 8. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 203; 9. St. Edmond, 259; 10. Boone, 276; 11. Southeast Valley, 280; 12. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 293; 13. Pocahontas Area, 322; 14. Hampton-Dumont, 347; 15. Emmetsburg, 369; 16. Manson Northwest Webster, 392.

Individual Top-10

1. Sam Pedelty, CL, 17:32.20; 2. Joseph Kunert, H, 17:35.72; 3. Trey Engen, A, 17:46.29; 4. Eric Faught, CL, 17:52.45; 5. Quinton Orr, H, 17:57.90; 6. Patrick Breitsprecher, SEV, 18:08:51; 7. Jared Tigges, CK, 18:33.48; 8. Tyler Putney, CK, 18:34.19; 9. Denny Pederson, H, 18:40.91; 10. Jed Tracy, SE, 18:41.52.

Humboldt — 2. Kunert; 5. Orr; 9. Pederson; 11. Devon Coon, 18:43.11; 18. Noah Helmer, 19:04.49.

Algona — 3. Engen; 18. Zach Ortloff, 19:02.14; 33. Collin Yi, 19:38.05; 35. Brandon Steil, 19:41.39; 49. Nick Tiili, 20:04.15.

Eagle Grove — 16. Jon Koester, 18:59.65; 17. Spencer Espejo, 18:59.84; 27. Derek Graham, 19:23.50; 64. Jacob Arbaugh, 20:42.13; 70. Austin Hill, 20:54.34.

Fort Dodge — 22. Eric Crawford, 19:11.82; 29. Justin Vaughan, 19:24.47; 39. Jonathon Madden, 19:43.72; 53. Joshua Meier, 20:12.53; 61. Jonathan Brandt, 20:35.07.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows — 15. Hayden Klaver, 18:59.43; 25. Alex Rosenbaum, 18:18.00; 34. Luke Rapp, 19:40.91; 55. Ben Rapp, 20:14.88; 78. Caleb Krueger, 21:12.67.

St. Edmond — 10. Tracy; 54. Ryan Duckett, 20:13.83; 62. Nate Montgomery, 20:39.22; 85. Jackson Kochendorfer, 21:48.26; 104. Jack Stackhouse, 22:47.71.

Southeast Valley — 6. Breitsprecher; 28. Coledon Bethel, 19:23.81; 67. Ben Carlson, 20:44.30; 89. Nolan Jackson, 22:01.44; 101. Ben Sebring, 22:39.04.

Pocahontas Area — 36. Chris Meyer, 19:41.70; 42. Tyson Peterson, 19:53.70; 73. Jon Kirsch, 20:59.02; 79. Nate Hanson, 21:15.90; 103. Dylan Peterson, 22:46.88.

Emmetsburg — 45. Dawson Moen, 20:00.89; 69. Cade Jacobson, 20:50.48; 84. Adam Berkland, 21:37.00; 92. Adam Deitering, 22:19.53; 96. Niklas Kulms, 22:30.50.

Manson Northwest Webster — 32. Andy Johnson, 19:26.25; 65. Quinn Lachelt, 20:42.82; 99. Kannon Graham, 22:36.32; 100. Caleb Baker, 22:37.20; 115. Jonas Jensen, 23:52.06.

Girls Team Standings

1. Humboldt, 31; 2. Algona, 127; 3. Iowa Falls-Alden/AGWSR, 129; 4. Emmetsburg, 135; 5. St. Edmond, 139; 6. Eagle Grove, 174; 7. Clear Lake, 192; 8. Pocahontas Area, 201; 9. Garner-Hayfield/Ventura, 253; 10. Hampton-Dumont, 286; 11. Fort Dodge, 291; 12. Carroll Kuemper, 306; 13. Bishop Garrigan, 333; 14. West Bend-Mallard, 341; 15. Southeast Valley, 348; 16. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows, 360; 17. Boone, 440.

Individual Top-10

1. Bryce Gidel, H, 19:46.77; 2. Aubrie Fisher, IFA/A; 19:59.05; 3. Jill Vonnahme, P, 20:30.12; 4. Gabby Kent, H, 20:41.22; 5. Lauren Erickson, H, 21:11.00; 6. Raven Brown, E, 21:15.67; 7. Patty Teggatz, HD, 21:33.57; 8. Abby Christians, GHV, 21:40.15; 9. Gabby Estlund, FD, 21:40.65; 10. Elizabeth Hildreth, H, 21:47.09.

Humboldt — 1. Gidel; 4. Kent; 5. Erickson; 10. Hildreth; 11. Isabella Luu, 21:53.10.

Algona — 17. Hailey Schmidt, 22:13.36; 23. Carley Mullins, 22:47.19; 28. Ashley Steenhoek, 23:19.44; 29. Ashley Weringa, 23:19.88; 30. Kelsey Connick, 23:23.41.

Emmetsburg — 6. Brown; 21. Gabrielle Janssen, 22:32.14; 25. Hailey Foxhoven, 22:57.78; 35. Raylene Poeppe, 23:35.66; 50. Isabelle Householder, 24:23.83.

St. Edmond — 13. Abby Landwehr, 22:06.29; 14. Riley Mayer, 22:10.00; 15. Audrey Kolacia, 22:10.17; 45. Leah Johnson, 24:04.57; 54. Sydney Schulte, 24:32.65.

Eagle Grove — 20. Megan Sampson, 22:30.41; 32. Kaitlin Sampson, 23:28.27; 41. Lea Friedl, 23:59.48; 42. Hannah Sampson, 24:00.44; 43. Alecia Anderson, 24:00.73.

Pocahontas Area — 3. Vonnahme; 26. Katie Berte, 23:08.91; 48. Annika Duittscher, 24:19.68; 49. Mollie Berte, 24:21.67; 80. Josie Sommerlot, 26:09.47.

Fort Dodge — 9. Estlund; 44. Alexis Read, 24:03.40; 71. Piera McBride, 25:45.87; 77. Adyson Bork, 25:55.95; 100. Isabel Beekman, 27:57.08.

Bishop Garrigan — 36. Emory Miller, 23:38.19; 59. Bailey Kollasch, 24:49.13; 67. Livia Miller, 25:18.00; 76. Isabelle Davis, 25:54.57; 107. Olivia Hall, 29:06.11.

West Bend-Mallard — 37. Julia Fehr, 23:42.22; 69. Abigail Messner, 25:36.90; 72. Emma Thatcher, 25:48.19; 78. Hannah Laddusaw, 26:03.42; 96. Kallie Eggers, 27:16.63.

Southeast Valley — 27. Katara Jondle, 23:14.55; 51. Alli True, 24:24.00; 89. Emily Hemmestad, 26:55.16; 95. Morgan Farnham, 27:08.23; 101. Marlie Johnson, 28:00.30.

Clarion-Goldfield/Dows — 47. Stephanie Castro, 24:17.65; 74. Katherine Lopez, 25:53.01; 82. Angela Castro, 26:15.81; 84. Raven Kinnetz, 26:19.66; 88. Maya Jackson, 26:42.56.