Mount Vernon-Lisbon junior Grady Olberding decided to shift gears.
With about a mile to go at the WaMaC Invitational on Thursday, Oct. 12, at Antioch Christian Church in Marion, Olberding got going.
He ended up taking the boys individual title in 16 minutes, 13 seconds, about 16 seconds ahead of second-place Tommy Tyynismaa of South Tama County.
“(Tyynismaa) beat me at the past two meets we raced at,” Olberding said. “With a mile left to go, I felt good, and the other people around me were kind of dying off. My coach said if I felt good, just go for it.”
Olberding separated from the lead pack.
MVL Coach Kory Swart said it was a smart move by the junior.
“Tommy is a mid-distance animal,” Swart said. “If Grady waited until 100 meters to go, he’d be taking a big risk.”
“Crossing that finish line felt good,” Olberding said.
Hit by illness, the boys finished runner-up as a team, two points behind Solon. The Mustang girls repeated as WaMaC champions.
No. 4 MVL scored 58 points, and were followed by No. 5 Solon (69), No. 16 Marion (88), Center Point-Urbana (109), No. 6 Clear Creek Amana (133) and No. 11 (2A) Williamsburg (158).
Eastin Whisner led the Mustangs with a runner-up finish in 20 minutes, 5 seconds. Addison Dabroski of Marion won the girls’ 5K race in 19:34.7.
Also finishing in the top ten for the Mustangs were Evelyn Moeller (seventh) and Emrie Johnson (10th). Abbie Moss (17th) and Kiersten Swart (22nd) rounded out the scoring.
“Eastin ran phenomenally,” Swart said. “She was leading the way for us.
“But to get three in the top 10 was really good. It helped us get the win.”
Even with Olberding finishing first for the MVL boys, the Mustangs knew it’d be tough to get the title sweep.
The Mustangs were missing No. 3 runner, senior Klayten Perreault, who was out sick.
“To be honest, that was a bit of a bummer for the boys,” Swart said. “But they knew they still had a shot at winning, and gave it their all.”
No. 13 Solon was the team that came through to upset No. 6 Mount Vernon-Lisbon. The Spartans had 85 points, edging the Mustangs by two points.
“Finishing second is only going to make us better and push us at the district meet,” Olberding said. “Them taking the conference title was kind of harsh. But it makes us work even harder.”
No. 11 Clear Creek Amana was third (98), followed by No. 12 South Tama (100), No. 7 (2A) Vinton-Shellsburg (140), No. 17 Center Point-Urbana (154), No. 19 Grinnell (156), No. 20 Marion (159) and No. 4 (2A) Williamsburg (196).
“We knew everyone would have to run a tight race,” Swart said. “Solon snuck some guys in there and got the win.”
The Mustangs tried for revenge this week. The Class 3A state qualifier was Wednesday, Oct. 18, in Solon.
“I know they will be motivated,” Swart said. “I Know their best race is yet to come.”
Wamac Invitational
Girls Varsity 5K
Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 58; 2. Solon 69; 3. Marion 88; 4. Center Point-Urbana 109; 5. Clear Creek Amana 133; 6. Williamsburg 158; 7. Benton Community 167; 8. West Delaware 182; 9. Vinton-Shellsburg 216; 10. Grinnell 260.
Top 3 – 1. Addison Dabroski (Marion) 19:34.7; 2. Eastin Whisner (MVL) 20:05.4; 3. Grace Estling (CPU) 20:07.2.
MVL – 2. Whsiner; 7. Evelyn Moeller 20:24.0; 10. Emrie Johnson 20:41.2; 17. Abbie Moss 21:00.7; 22. Kiersten Swart 21:18.0; 32. Cora Smith 21:52.5; 39. Rose Pisarik 22:09.6;
Boys Varsity 5K
Team scores – 1. Solon 85; 2. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 87; 3. Clear Creek Amana 98; 4. South Tama County 100; 5. Vinton-Shellsburg 140; 6. Center Point-Urbana 154; 7. Grinnell 156; 8. Marion 159; 9. Williamsburg 196; 10. West Delaware 197; 11. Benton Community 301; 12. Independence 362.
Top 3 – 1. Grady Olberding (MVL) 16:13.0; 2. Tommy Tyynismaa (STC) 16:29.8; 3. Brick Kabela (Solon) 16:31.7.
MVL – 1. Olberding; 6. Dawson Scheil 16:44.4; 19. Seamus O’Connor 17:33.0; 23. Wesley Sadler 17:44.4; 38. Sawyer Feldman 18:07.9; 48. Chasen Caskey 18:34.4; 55. Graham Vavricek 18:48.6.
JV Girls 5K
Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 24; 2. Solon 40; 3. Marion 94; 4. Clear Creek Amana 104; 5. West Delaware 116; 6. Williamsburg 186; 7. Center Point-Urbana 202; 8. Benton Community 227.
Winner – 1. Edith Dawson (MVL) 21:59.8.
MVL – 1. Dawson; 2. Miranda Sellner 22:09.3; 5. Audrey Tucker 22:27.5; 7. Anna Vavricek 22:35.7; 9. Maeve Korgmann 22:55.3; 10. Hailey Bock 22:59.9; 14. Carie Johnson 23:37.1; 17. Kylie Pyatt 23:45.6; 20. Clare Nydegger 24:17.6; 25. Emara Perreault 24:36.3; 26. Reagan Slaymaker 24:40.7; 29. Allison Teague 24:47.2; 30. Caroline Rupe 24:48.5; 31. Sierra Snyder 24:51.4; 45. Josie Bothell 25:37.0; 63. Ingrid Morf 27:11.7; 64. Emily Bock 27:17.7; 65. Anna Stephens 27:19.1.
JV Boys 5K
Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 44; 2. Clear Creek Amana 69; 3. Solon 80; 4. Center Point-Urbana 105; 5. Grinnell 111; 6. Williamsburg 132; 7. West Delaware 181; 8. Marion 190; 9. Benton Community 290; 10. South Tama County 298; 11. Vinton-Shellsburg 308.
Winner – 1. Isaac Larson (CPU) 18:29.3.
MVL – 2. Teague Krob 18:34.7; 4. Stratton Ellyson 18:48.7; 5. Luke Stephens 18:52.2; 6. Cayden Scheil 18:55.4; 27. Brody Speidel 19:55.7; 38. Xander Riniker 20:20.5; 40. Kyler Happel 20:21.9; 42. Anthony Armstrong 20:22.2; 66. Gavin Hove 21:11.4; 77. Tate Petersen 21:27.8; 78. Cole Butteris 21:29.8; 79. Cade Happel 21:30.4; 81. Aiden Morrill 21:35.3; 94. Elliott Moehlman 21:55.1; 95. John Bishop 21:59.9; 106. Nathaniel Lewis 22:41.3; 107. Marquez Ireland 22:41.7; 111. Nate Poduska 22:52.0; 123. Beckett Johnson 23:53.6; 131. YeongHo Bishop 24:47.8; 134. Noah Webster 25:09.8.
Swart praised the Mustang JV teams that swept the team titles. Sophomore Edith Dawson won the girls JV race, and senior Teague Krob was runner-up on the boys side. Senior Audrey Tucker finished fifth and broke the 23-minute mark.
MVL XC Agate Wamac Invitational Girls Varsity 5K Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 58; 2. Solon 69; 3. Marion 88; 4. Center Point-Urbana 109; 5. Clear Creek Amana 133; 6. Williamsburg 158; 7. Benton Community 167; 8. West Delaware 182; 9. Vinton-Shellsburg 216; 10. Grinnell 260. Top 3 – 1. Addison Dabroski (Marion) 19:34.7; 2. Eastin Whisner (MVL) 20:05.4; 3. Grace Estling (CPU) 20:07.2. MVL – 2. Whsiner; 7. Evelyn Moeller 20:24.0; 10. Emrie Johnson 20:41.2; 17. Abbie Moss 21:00.7; 22. Kiersten Swart 21:18.0; 32. Cora Smith 21:52.5; 39. Rose Pisarik 22:09.6; Boys Varsity 5K Team scores – 1. Solon 85; 2. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 87; 3. Clear Creek Amana 98; 4. South Tama County 100; 5. Vinton-Shellsburg 140; 6. Center Point-Urbana 154; 7. Grinnell 156; 8. Marion 159; 9. Williamsburg 196; 10. West Delaware 197; 11. Benton Community 301; 12. Independence 362. Top 3 – 1. Grady Olberding (MVL) 16:13.0; 2. Tommy Tyynismaa (STC) 16:29.8; 3. Brick Kabela (Solon) 16:31.7. MVL – 1. Olberding; 6. Dawson Scheil 16:44.4; 19. Seamus O’Connor 17:33.0; 23. Wesley Sadler 17:44.4; 38. Sawyer Feldman 18:07.9; 48. Chasen Caskey 18:34.4; 55. Graham Vavricek 18:48.6. JV Girls 5K Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 24; 2. Solon 40; 3. Marion 94; 4. Clear Creek Amana 104; 5. West Delaware 116; 6. Williamsburg 186; 7. Center Point-Urbana 202; 8. Benton Community 227. Winner – 1. Edith Dawson (MVL) 21:59.8. MVL – 1. Dawson; 2. Miranda Sellner 22:09.3; 5. Audrey Tucker 22:27.5; 7. Anna Vavricek 22:35.7; 9. Maeve Korgmann 22:55.3; 10. Hailey Bock 22:59.9; 14. Carie Johnson 23:37.1; 17. Kylie Pyatt 23:45.6; 20. Clare Nydegger 24:17.6; 25. Emara Perreault 24:36.3; 26. Reagan Slaymaker 24:40.7; 29. Allison Teague 24:47.2; 30. Caroline Rupe 24:48.5; 31. Sierra Snyder 24:51.4; 45. Josie Bothell 25:37.0; 63. Ingrid Morf 27:11.7; 64. Emily Bock 27:17.7; 65. Anna Stephens 27:19.1. JV Boys 5K Team scores – 1. Mount Vernon-Lisbon 44; 2. Clear Creek Amana 69; 3. Solon 80; 4. Center Point-Urbana 105; 5. Grinnell 111; 6. Williamsburg 132; 7. West Delaware 181; 8. Marion 190; 9. Benton Community 290; 10. South Tama County 298; 11. Vinton-Shellsburg 308. Winner – 1. Isaac Larson (CPU) 18:29.3. MVL – 2. Teague Krob 18:34.7; 4. Stratton Ellyson 18:48.7; 5. Luke Stephens 18:52.2; 6. Cayden Scheil 18:55.4; 27. Brody Speidel 19:55.7; 38. Xander Riniker 20:20.5; 40. Kyler Happel 20:21.9; 42. Anthony Armstrong 20:22.2; 66. Gavin Hove 21:11.4; 77. Tate Petersen 21:27.8; 78. Cole Butteris 21:29.8; 79. Cade Happel 21:30.4; 81. Aiden Morrill 21:35.3; 94. Elliott Moehlman 21:55.1; 95. John Bishop 21:59.9; 106. Nathaniel Lewis 22:41.3; 107. Marquez Ireland 22:41.7; 111. Nate Poduska 22:52.0; 123. Beckett Johnson 23:53.6; 131. YeongHo Bishop 24:47.8; 134. Noah Webster 25:09.8.
Olberding, Mustang girls win Wamac titles
October 19, 2023
About the Contributor
Ryan Suchomel, Sports Reporter
Ryan Suchomel is a sports reporter for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Sun.