TECUMSEH — All 12 Lenawee County schools met up once again in Tecumseh Saturday to kickstart the new cross-country season with the annual Lenawee County Cross-Country Preview.
The Adrian boys and girls took the top team titles while Onsted's Mitchell Hiatt and Emmry Ross were the individual champions.
The Maples boys replaced nearly everyone from last season 's team and still came out on top.
"This group is the hardest working group I've ever had," Adrian coach Tom MacNaughton said.
On the girls side, the county is deep.
"Girls competition is super, super tough in the county this year," Onsted coach Trevor Van Valkenberg said.
Here's a look at the county schools following the preview:
ADDISON
Boys Preview: N/A
Girls Preview: N/A
Outlook: The girls brought a team of four, which didn't qualify them for a team score while the boys only had two runners. Sophomore Noah Lucas was the Panthers top boy runner, taking 54th in the preview while the girls were led by freshman Ellie Woodring and sophomore Kendalyn Perry in 33rd and 34th.
ADRIAN
Boys Preview: 1st, 40
Girls Preview: 1st, 33
Outlook: The Adrian boys have dominated the county scene, winning both the preview and county championships each year since 2021. This year it's a different group as four of their top five graduated and their No. 6 runner left for boys soccer. Junior Moises Salazar led the boys to the title taking second while sophomore Carter Fenner was fifth, sophomore Landin Fisher was 10th, senior Tyler Condin was 11th and freshman Lucas Zenkner was 15th. The girls took the title as well with senior Sophy Skeels (third), sophomore Ayda Skeels (fifth) and freshmen Madison Perry (sixth) and Karina Mihai-Grammes (eighth) were all top-10 and another freshman Klair Baker was 12th.
BLISSFIELD
Boys Preview: 3rd, 86
Girls Preview: 2nd, 68
Outlook: Blissfield's future looks bright on the girls side after taking second with group runners who will be back for a few years to come. Junior Hope Miller took second overall while fellow junior Hailey Sills as seventh. Sophomores Anna Hallett (15th) and Kaleea Braun (20th) helped lead the Royals. The boys looked good as well with senior Ian Waddell leading in fourth while freshmen Michael Weidmayer (13th), Noah Sills (16th) had strong debuts.
BRITTON DEERFIELD
Boys Preview: 8th, 227
Girls Preview: N/A
Outlook: Senior Aubrey Appleman is the Patriots top runner as she was 11th, but the girls didn't have enough for a team score. Senior Jameson Watson led the boys as he took 21st.
CLINTON
Boys Preview: 7th, 137
Girls Preview: N/A
Outlook: Last time all the county schools gathered for the 2023 championships, Clinton girls were on top. But graduation hit the Redwolves hard as they didn't have enough runners to score and the top runner was freshman Ella Claus in 18th. Senior Gabe Manchester led the boys as he took sixth while fellow senior Eric Ramsey was 26th.
HUDSON
Boys Preview: 9th, 278
Girls Preview: 5th, 123
Outlook: Senior Jayla Bright led the Tigers' girls as she cracked the top-10 at No. 10. Junior Annabelle Czeiszperger took 14th as the two will lead Hudson all season. On the boys side, Hudson graduated some strong runners as senior Connor Quigley led the Tigers in 73rd.
LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
Boys Preview: N/A
Girls Preview: 6th, 155
Outlook: The Cougars have a solid group on the girls side led by senior Izzy Brooks who was fourth overall. Senior Joel Lange took eighth on the boys side.
MADISON
Boys Preview: 6th, 128
Girls Preview: N/A
Outlook: Junior Trenton Fetter led the Trojans as he took third. Madison already has an invite title as it took a mid-week race prior to the preview. Senior Wesley Minor took 25th and junior Bryson Ballantyne was 28th as the group looks to lead Madison to a strong season. The girls have a young, incomplete group and didn't score with freshman Avery Stover leading in 39th.
MORENCI
Boys Preview: N/A
Girls Preview: N/A
Outlook: Senior Beau Shaffer represented the Bulldogs as he took 17th in the boys race, while the girls didn't have a runner.
ONSTED
Boys Preview: 2nd, 66
Girls Preview: 4th, 82
Outlook: The Wildcats' boys look strong with senior Mitchell Hiatt leading the way as the preview champion. Along with Hiatt helping Onsted make a push for the LCAA title this season are Nicklas Holmes (12th), freshman Chris Durfey (14th), senior James Bayes (22nd) and junior Hunter VanZandt (23rd). The girls team might have the GOAT in senior champion Emmry Ross while fellow senior Allie England (17th), junior Raegan Brosamer (22nd), sophomore Mattie Hallenbeck (23rd) and senior Jordyn Taylor (26th) led the rest of the team.
SAND CREEK
Boys Preview: 4th, 111
Girls Preview: 7th, 159
Outlook: The Aggies could make a case for the TCC title led by sophomore Silas Daniels (seventh), senior Caleb Johnson (18th), sophomore Grady Hazelwood (24th) and junior Nicholas Trame (33rd). Freshman Madalynn Trame (24th) leads the girls, which also includes juniors Payton Steinke (32nd) and Victoria Williams (35th) and senior Faith Beardmore (40th).
TECUMSEH
Boys Preview: 5th, 119
Girls Preview: 3rd, 72
Outlook: Madison Morris (9th) leads another solid Tecumseh group which includes junior Claire Cousineau (13th), senior Jessica Warren (16th), sophomore Maya Whelan (19th) and sophomore Camryn Nowak (21st) leading the pack. The boys are a younger group with freshman Harrison Stamper (ninth) leading the group while seniors Owen Strieter-Byron (20th) and Max Marten (27th) bring some upperclassmen leadership.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian cross country teams, Onsted individuals lead Lenawee into new season
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