PETOSKEY – October 27, 2022 – St. Michael High School (SMHS), Northern Michigan’s only Classical Catholic high school, is pleased to announce that its Boys Cross Country (XC) team will complete its remarkable season this Saturday (10/29) at its Regional meet in East Jordan and next Saturday (11/05) at the State Finals in Brooklyn.
The second-ranked Guardians enter its Regional (28-4), which is unquestionably the strongest in Division-4, looking to secure its second-ever title, but will have to ward off the defending champions, third-ranked Johannesburg-Lewiston, along with a solid and seventh-ranked Harbor Springs team. The D-4 Boys race is at 9:30am at East Jordan Community Park, located at 810 Maple Street (M-32), just south of town.
“Thanks be to God for the incredible season we’ve had so far!” proclaimed fifth-year Head Coach Larry Rudnicki. “I anticipated having a strong team this fall, but the guys have exceeded all expectations. I credit the grounded, confident leadership of seniors Mac Moore and Zach Maendel for a program culture focused on pursuing excellence, being terrific teammates, and giving any and all glory to God. These guys have done everything I’ve asked of them so far this season and I couldn’t be prouder!”
Following the Gents race, the Ladies XC team will compete at 10:50am as they seek to punch their ticket for a return to the State Finals for a second straight season. The top three teams in the Regional race will qualify for State. The SMHS Ladies team is led by sophomore Jane Manthei.
St. Michael has been a ‘top-ten’ finisher at the Boys XC State Finals for the past three years and is striving for its highest finish ever next weekend. The Boys XC team is the largest in school history and includes eight freshmen, four of whom will represent SMHS at the Regional and State Finals.
Coach Rudnicki concluded, “I invite you to join us at Saturday’s Regional at East Jordan. Even if you can’t make it, I ask that you please pray for us and for all fall sports teams at St. Michael as they wrap up their respective seasons!”
St. Michael High School is High School with a Higher Purpose and a proud member of the Chesterton Schools Network, the largest and fastest-growing network of its kind in the country. Established in 2013, the St. Michael mission is to nurture and elevate a new generation of joyful leaders educated in the Classical tradition and truth of the Catholic faith. For information on SMHS, visit the school website at www.stmichaelchesterton.org.