Bautista runs personal best to punch state ticket
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau senior Adrian Bautista knew he’d have to be at his sharpest to ensure himself a spot at this year’s state tournament. He rose to the occasion in remarkable fashion, running one of the best races in Red Hawk cross country history to punch his ticket to Wisconsin Rapids.
Bautista posted a new personal-best time of 16:42.7 — the third-best time in program history — at last Friday’s Division 2 Portage sectional meet held at Wyona Park in Wyocena.
Bautista placed seventh overall to nab one of the five individual state qualifying spots up for grabs, joining Richland Center/Ithaca sophomore Owen Drier (15:46.6), Portage sophomore Jackson Spankowski (16:30.5), Mauston senior Weston Pouillie (16:36.9) and Mauston senior Haakon Peterson (16:45.6).
West Salem junior Evan Berra (15:44.0) won the race for the sectional champion Panthers, who accrued 62 points to finish just ahead of runner-up La Crosse Logan (66) as both teams qualified for state.
Other finishers for the G-E-T boys (who placed fifth as a team with 115 points) were junior Connor McDonnell (17:49.6) in 17th, senior Ayden Aschenbrener (18:10.5) in 24th, senior Cavin Spitzmacher (18:28.4) in 31st and sophomore Logan Tibbitts (18:37.9) in 36th.
Arcadia senior Nathan Badillo posted a time of 18:29.1 to place 32nd and lead the way for his team, followed by senior Luque Emiliano (20:00.7) in 64th, senior Reese Kujak (20:15.6) in 68th, sophomore Brenden Weaver (25:32.7) in 94th and sophomore Saul Silvia (29:04.2) in 95th.
The Red Hawk girls featured senior Bella Tibbitts (22:36.8) in 37th, junior Charlee McCutchen (23:54.7) in 52nd, freshman Harper McCutchen (24:14.1) in 55th, sophomore Kinley Giemza (24:58.1) in 61st and freshman Hadassah Becker (25:04.2) in 63rd.
The Raiders had senior Ashly Sandoval (25:27.7) in 67th, sophomore Ellie Tempski (26:18.0) in 73rd, junior Shaylah Rodriguez (26:40.1) in 74th, sophomore Marleni Blas (27:44.9) in 82nd and junior Shannon Cruz Sandoval (29:25.1) in 85th.
Lodi sophomore Aubrey Schoenemann (19:09.7) won the girls’ 5k race. Sectional champion Aquinas (52 points) and runner-up West Salem (84) each advanced to state as teams.
The 2026 WIAA State Cross Country Championships are set for this Saturday at their traditional home of the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids. Bautista will represent the Red Hawks in the D2 boys’ race, which is scheduled to get underway at 2:35 p.m.
