Families rally to cheer on Pacelli’s second-place runners

By Brandi Makuski

The Pacelli boys cross country team on Saturday took second place in Division 3 WIAA state championships, trailing Kohler runners by only eight points—102 to 94.

Once the boys were awarded their second-place medals on Oct. 29, parents and supporters quickly organized a pep rally back at the Cardinal’s nest—the Pacelli Fieldhouse at 1301 Maria Dr.

Senior Adam Eiden said the team had a lot of confidence going into the meet, but after the race called it “bittersweet.”

“You still get a trophy but you’re missing out on first place, but I think we did well,” he said. “I think that was the goal for everybody was to win state but if we don’t win, we come home with a state trophy and get second and we got our goal there.”

Coach Ryan Eiden addressed the team, parents, families, and other supporters, after returning from the Wisconsin Rapids contest, and talked about the boys’ dedication to team building throughout the season.

“All I can say is ‘hill, hills, hills,'” Coach Eiden said. “We did hills every week, sometime twice a week. These boys have given up their Saturdays since the first Saturday in August. Their goal was to bring a trophy home. We got a new trophy case and now we’ve got something to put in there.”

Eiden’s voice cracked with emotion as he talked about the two seniors on the team, Gabe Hoerter and Adam Eiden.

“I started coaching in 2016 when they were in sixth grade. They’ve won Conference in sixth grade, in seventh grade, in eighth grade, and Conference champs freshmen year, sophomore year, junior year, and senior. They were Sectional champs freshmen, sophomore, junior, and as seniors, and I can’t think of a better way for them two guys, to end their high school careers.”

Eiden told the junior varsity runners in the audience that they, too, were part of the success, and that the seniors had mentored other runners on the team.