Hunter Patton Concludes High School Career with All-State Finish

HURON — In a remarkable display of strategy and determination, Hunter Patton of Mitchell High School achieved his third all-state finish during the Class AA boys cross country race on Saturday. Competing at the Broadland Creek Golf Course, Patton secured an 18th-place finish with a time of 16 minutes, 28.5 seconds, effectively concluding his high school running career on a high note.

Patton’s race strategy mirrored his approach from the previous year. He began conservatively, allowing the faster runners to set the pace before gradually increasing his speed. “I went out conservative in the first mile and then I tried kicking it up. I know it’s state; people are going to be going out fast,” he explained. “I knew I had plenty of time to work my way up.”

This accomplishment places Patton among a select group of Mitchell athletes, as he becomes the fourth boy in the school’s history to achieve three all-state finishes. He joins the ranks of Brad Fockler (1980-83), Erik Person (1989-91), and Chad Feeldy (1990-93). Patton finished 23rd in 2023 and improved to 16th in 2024 before his final race.

Despite challenges earlier in the season, including a missed opportunity to run on the familiar Huron course due to scheduling conflicts, Patton’s experience proved invaluable. His confidence in the course layout became a significant advantage as he navigated the race.

Patton emphasized the importance of mentoring younger runners at Mitchell. “I’m just trying to set the younger kids up for a better cross-country season than I have had,” he stated. “We’ve got some fast runners that are not even in high school yet. So setting them up for their future and helping them is just the most beneficial thing I can do.”

In the broader context of the meet, Mitchell’s boys team finished 18th out of 19 schools, with other notable finishes from teammates. Micah Bennett placed 90th with a time of 18:02.95 and Karsten Herges came in 99th at 18:20.92. Additional finishes included Ben Gerlach (103rd, 18:27.49), Will Mullenmeister (104th, 18:28.75), Kaiden Colomb (128th, 19:58.17), and Blake Russell (129th, 20:12.41).

In the Class AA girls race, Mitchell finished slightly better, placing 16th out of 18 qualifying teams. Leading the Kernels was Londyn Schroeder, who finished 42nd with a time of 19:56.23. She was closely followed by Kapri Herges (57th, 20:13.94) and Skylar Lawson (61st, 20:22.22). Other team members included Averi Gerfen (106th, 22:04.84), Sydnie Pischel (126th, 23:50.44), Khloe Mackey (128th, 24:00.33), Amara Rinehart (129th, 25:08.81).

Chamberlain High School’s girls cross country team also made headlines with a strong performance, securing a third-place finish in the Class A race. The team, known as the Cubs, had three runners finish in the top 40, contributing to a total of 106 points. Grace Phillips, a freshman, led the charge with a sixth-place finish at 18:37.07. Coach Holly Evans noted the team’s preparation and determination to achieve their goals, stating, “Last year, not getting up on that podium as a team kind of burned us.”

“Every person said going into this race, I want to do better for my team,” Evans added.

The Class B girls race saw Kimball/White Lake finish third, amassing 27 points, with Autumn Baker (19:28.87) and Alli McCord (19:43.92) achieving all-state finishes. The Ipswich team claimed the championship title with 18 points.

At the individual level, Laura Nemec of Mitchell Christian stood out as an all-state finisher, placing 20th in her first varsity season with a time of 20:32.08. Her performance marked the first all-state finish for a Mitchell Christian girl since 2016. The Golden Eagles finished seventh as a team with 86 points.

Additional notable performances included Hudson Schmidt from Mount Vernon/Plankinton, who placed 18th in the Class A boys race, and Emrie VonEye, who finished 14th in the Class B girls race as a seventh-grader.

Overall, this year’s state cross country championships showcased the determination and talent of young athletes, setting a promising foundation for future seasons.