Grant Bartlett back-to-back 2A State Champion

Despite cold temperatures and no small amount of snow, the determined Saratoga Panther long-distance runners returned from Douglas on Friday with plenty of reason to celebrate.

The boys cross country team returned home as 2A State Runner Ups while sophomore Grant Bartlett secured a back-to-back individual championship and his twin brother, Grady Bartlett, was back-to-back runner up. Additionally, the girls cross country returned home as 2A State Runner Ups as well, the first time in nine years.

"You hate to think that weather would impact performance, but I really think that the weather was beneficial to us," said Head Coach Rex Hohnholt. "We didn't get to run on the course on Thursday night, but we went for a run down in Douglas once we arrived. That same snow that was there during the meet was already on the ground and (it was) still snowing. I thought it was important for the kids to know what it felt like to be in that cold (and) the wet."

According to Hohnholt, following the pre-race run, he told both teams that they could think about the snow on the course one of two ways; as a benefit or as a detriment. 

"I think, more than anything, it was positive and I think we handled it very, very well. I really believe it was the biggest reason why we were where we were," Hohnholt said. 

Boys

Grant Bartlett faced his fair share of competition over the season, often falling just short of the top spot in other races throughout the state and event at the Shana Ward Memorial Invite earlier this fall. Upon reaching Douglas, however, Grant appeared to hit the gas as he finished the race with a time of 18:33 to come in 1st place and become a repeat State Champion.

Grady Bartlett, often just seconds behind his twin brother, came in 2nd place with a time of 18:39. For Grady, such a placing is important as he missed nearly a month of competition and practice.

"Grant is such a great leader, Grady is a great leader. If you don't have those in your program, you don't experience success," said Hohnholt. "Those two, they weren't going to be denied. They have so much pride and so much work ethic. To see Grady overcome missing that month early in the season and for him to get back to his normal position, it was great to see."

While Hohnholt is certainly proud of his two top finishers, the head coach is often known to talk about the importance of the following placers in a race. Those familiar with Hohnholt's philosophy know that he places emphasis on the 4th man or 5th man of the team in determining a group's success.

"You can't do anything more for Grant and Grady. One is first and one is second, if one switches places it doesn't have an impact on the meet," Hohnholt said. "But your third man, your fourth man and your fifth man; they catch the next guy (and) it makes an impact on the meet."

This year, the 3rd man was Brayden Barkhurst who came in 12th place with a time of 20:24. The 4th man was Kelton Johnson, who came in 17th place with a time of 21:15 and the 5th man was Calvin Condict, who placed 22nd with a time of 21:32.

"Brayden Barkhurst runs his best race of the year, Kelton Johnson runs his best race of the year. Calvin (Condict), he ran great," said Hohnholt. "He thinks he's the one who let everybody down and he didn't. He ran a great race and we just fell short, we fell short as a team. He didn't fall short as an individual, we fell short as a group."

Technically, Saratoga and Tongue River tied for 1st place in Douglas. Comparing placings, however, Tongue River's 5th man beat Saratoga's 5th man to break the tie in Tongue River's favor.

"On the boys side, Tongue River was odds on favorite to win it. They were loaded," Hohnholt said.

Grant and Grady Bartlett, along with securing the two top spots at the 2A State Championship for the second year in a row, have also earned All-State Honors for the second year in a row.

Girls

"They shouldn't have been in the running. Here they were only 15 points out of the State Championship," said Hohnholt. "On paper, you could have asked anybody in the state, they weren't looking at Saratoga, Wyoming and for the results to come out half the coaches in the state had to be absolutely shocked."

The last time the Saratoga Girls Cross Country team secured a 2nd place spot at the State Championship was in 2011. Since then, they have either placed in 6th or 7th place or did not have enough runners to place as a group. This year, with seniors Amber Stubbs and Kaitlyn Campbell joined by Marilee Williams and Jaden Campbell, they were able to surprise everyone.

"It's just sheer determination. These girls took a lot of pride in having that chance, that ability to finally score and having something besides individual honors to challenge yourself for," Hohnholt said. "They came such a long way as a group."

Williams earned herself a top spot as she finished in 5th place with a time of 24:40. Stubbs came in 8th place with a time of 25:10, Kaitlyn Campbell came in 17th place with a time of 26:22 and Jaden Campbell came in 33rd with a time of 29:15.

Williams and Stubbs also earned All State honors.

Hohnholt had high praise for Williams, who is in her freshman year. According to the head coach, while Williams appeared to want to come into the program as a follower she moved into the leadership position. That leadership, along with the senior leadership of Stubbs and Kaitlyn Campbell, led to the high placing for the girls team.

"I just marvel at how much determination our kids have in these State Championships and what kind of pride they show up with," said Hohnholt. "It's just an honor to see the work they put into it and gives them the rewards that they receive."