Onalaska’s Manny Putz wins second-consecutive cross country state championship, Aquinas and West Salem boys finish 4th

For the second-consecutive season, Onalaska High School’s Manny Putz is a state champion.

The junior ran the third-fastest time in state history Saturday in taking the Division 1 boys cross country meet.

Manny Putz of @onalaskaschools successfully defended his State title, winning the Div. 1 individual championship for the second straight season. He covered the 5k course in 15:05.8. #wiaaxc pic.twitter.com/R0x2YKU0wD

— WIAA State Tournaments (@wiaawistate) October 28, 2023

Putz won the race in 15 minutes, 5.8 seconds. A year ago, he won state by a tenth of a second.

On the girls side, Holmen finished its second-consecutive trip to state with a 14th-place finish.

DIVISION 3
The Aquinas boys finished their sixth straight trip to the state meet with a fourth-place finish.

Senior Jonathan Skemp led the way, finishing fourth overall in 16:10.9.

The Blugolds last won the title back in 2020. In fact, they won in 2018, 2019 and 2020. This was their best finish since that last championship.

On the girls side, Aquinas finished eighth as a team led by Alexis Myre, who finished 14th (19:52.5).

DIVISION 2
Making their second trip in a row, the West Salem boys finished fourth overall — the high school’s second-best finish ever.

Sophomore Carson Gronemus led the Panthers, finishing 24th (16:45.1).

On the girls side, West Salem finished 11th, led by junior Mia Olson in 23rd (19:55.4).