The Versailles Republican Sports

October 27, 2011

Gary Franklin Photo Pictured above is 2011 sophomore Oldenburg Academy Lady Twister cross country team member Jackie Unkrich.

Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters XC team run ends at semi-state competition

Gary Franklin, Sports Writer

A very powerful and exciting team to watch and follow would be putting it mildly when surveying the accomplishments of coach Merle Hines' Oldenburg Academy Lady Twister cross country team runners.
The 2011 Lady Twisters stepped up to meet the task at hand after a season ending in injury to #3 senior runner Bridget Bruns.
Positive to the Lady Twister's probabilities for next season, is the fact that they only lose one runner, senior Ann Kuntz.
A few of the team's accomplishments over their regular cross country season included first place finishes in five of their first nine meets in 2011, and championship wins at Richmond, Rushville, Martinsville, Indiana All-Catholic and South Dearborn Invitationals.
OA Lady Twister extended XC season performance summary
South Dearborn HS
hosted XC Sectional
The Lady Twister team finished first in the 2011 South Dearborn HS hosted IHSAA XC Sectional with an outstanding team score of 47, to earn the right to run in the Greensburg HS hosted IHSAA XC Regional team competition.
The sectional championship victory was the second straight for the OA Lady Twister XC team and only the second in the school's history.
The OA girls XC teams, behind the esteemed leadership of coach Merle Hines, has qualified for regionals in 22 consecutive seasons and advanced to semi-state in 13 of them. That record includes a semi-state run in 2010.
Deserving of special recognition is senior team member Ann Kuntz who ran for her third consecutive sectional first place finish.
Superb accomplishment!
Oldenburg Academy Lady Twister individual finishes:
1. Ann Kuntz Sr.
20:12.0
2. Sarah Billingsley Soph.
20:18.3
3. Meredith Maier Soph.
20:37.1
4. Rachel Billingsley Soph.
20:56.5
37. Courtney Unkrich Soph.
24:39.5
67. Jackie Unkrich Soph.
30:25.9 70. Laura Wilson Fr.
31:02.2
Greensburg HS
hosted XC Regional
The Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters finished fourth in the Greensburg HS hosted IHSAA XC Regional as a team with a score of 99 to earn the right to run in semi state team competition.
Oldenburg Academy Lady Twister individual finishes:
5. Ann Kuntz Sr.
19:12.83
12. Sarah Billingsley Soph.
19:30.71
18. Meredith Maier Soph.
20:30.34
19. Rachel Billingsley Soph.
20:33.19
45. Courtney Unkrich Soph.
23:23.97
66. Jackie Unkrich Soph.
28:17.42 67. Laura Wilson Fr.
29:55.63
Carmel HS
hosted XC Semi State
Ending a terrific season with an accumulative team score of 394, the Oldenburg Academy Lady Twisters could only master a fifteenth place finish among the 20 teams competing in the Carmel HS hosted IHSAA XC Semi State meet ran on Saturday, October 22.
Oldenburg Academy Lady Twister individual finishes:
39. Ann Kuntz Sr.
19:51.70
54. Sarah Billingsley So.
20:07.60
81. Meredith Maier So.
20:54.70
84. Rachel Billingsley So.
21:00.40
136. Courtney Unkrich So.
24:59.50
138. Jackie Unkrich So.
29:10.50 139. Laura Wilson Fr.
32:16.10
Our congratulations to coach Hines and the OA Lady Twisters on a very fine cross country season and extended season run!
Other area XC runner finishes in semi state competitions
Running in the boys meet at the Carmel HS hosted IHSAA XC Semi State:
Batesville Bulldog
12. Hayden Merkel Sr.
17:01.20
Running in the Brown County HS hosted IHSAA XC Semi State:
Switzerland Co. Pacer
99. Braden Burk So.
17:36.30
Switz. Co. Lady Pacer
56. Robin Furnish So.
20:49.60
Sw Hanover Lady Rebel
82. Cass Lawson So.
17:36.30
Sw Hanover Lady Rebel
87. Savannah Reuda Fr.
21:26.60