PETOSKEY – November 4, 2024 – St. Michael High School (SMHS), the only classical high school in Northern Michigan, announced today that its Gents Cross Country (XC) team placed tenth at Saturday’s Division-4 State Finals at Michigan International Speedway. It was the team’s sixth consecutive ‘top ten’ finish.
Guardians Head Coach Larry Rudnicki mused, “Much like last year, our early and mid season was a tough slog. It was hard to foresee such a positive outcome most of the way, but then it came together at Regional & State. Our guys persevered and I’m proud of them.”
For the second year in a row, Hillsdale Academy and Holland Calvary took the two podium spots. Maple City Glen Lake nipped Harbor Springs with a 6th-man tie-breaker to take third.
Cody Bradley led St. Michael, claiming seventh in 16:08, the fastest race ever for a Guardian at ‘State’, and a 34-second improvement over his time from last year. Russell Vandermus followed as ‘second man’, placing 30th in 16:46, a 23-second ‘personal best’ and a 44-second improvement over last year. Atticus Cadarette was next, placing 46th in 17:04, a 38-second improvement over last year.
“Make no mistake”, Coach Rudnicki emphasized, “Our unexpected finish was driven by our leaders – and while Cody seizing a ‘low stick’ was expected, the brilliant performances of Russ & Atty were less certain. They followed their race plans impeccably, providing optimal races which we needed.
“Russ & Atty came through the mile in 56th & 61st places, and from there improved by 26 & 15 places, respectively, catapulting our team from the low-teens up into tenth.”
Bradley earned All-State XC honors for the second time, while Vandermus did so for the first, grasping the final rung on the podium. The Guardians had two All-State runners for the fourth straight season as the duo joined past All-Staters Sam Paga, Hammond Law, Mac Moore, and Lynus Cadarette.
Cole Wesley and Cooper Feagan completed the scoring at 199th and 208th, respectively. Ronan Weed and Carl Nolan also competed for the Guardians.
Rudnicki continued, “Our young, less experienced runners grew immensely this season, and while the State Finals can be overwhelming to first-timers, our guys hung in and ‘did enough’ to reach the top ten, a realistic goal for this team. The State experience – entering and performing in an arena of that size and scope – will benefit them in future seasons and for the rest of their lives.”
In the Girls race, Jane Manthei placed seventh in 19:04, the highest finish and fastest time ever for a Guardian lady, and a 22-second improvement over her time from last year. Manthei, a senior at Harbor Light Christian, confidently executed a patient race plan, working her way up the field from the high-twenties at the half-mile, to eleventh at the mile, to sixth at the two-mile, from where she battled over the last mile-plus to claim her seventh-place finish. (St. Michael XC is a Co-op with Harbor Light Christian.)
Coach Rudnicki gave tribute, “Jane has been with us since the start of our Ladies XC program, providing its most-recognized face and setting all of its standards. She will be dearly missed. It’s hard to imagine the team and our program without her! Thank you, Jane!”
Veronica Paga also competed for St. Michael, placing 81st in 21:19, her best-ever State finish and 43 seconds faster than last year.
Full results are available at mhsaa.com/sports/boys-cross-country.
“Many thanks to our parents for their encouragement and support this season, as well as to Assistant Coaches Nick Pulver and Kevin Weed for their camaraderie and help. I’d also like to thank our generous benefactors, without whom we wouldn’t have a program at all. Finally, ‘thanks be to God’ for another season immersed in His goodness. May He continue to richly bless us. Go Guardians!”
St. Michael High School is High School with a Higher Purpose and a proud member of the Chesterton Schools Network. 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 more information on SMHS, please visit the school website at stmichaelchesterton.org.