Freshman leads Lutheran North to cross country championship at Stony Creek

By George Pohly

Samantha Whitlam is leaving an imprint at Stony Creek Metropark.

The Lutheran North ninth-grader finished first in the Autumn Classic girls cross country race at Baypoint Beach on Saturday, finishing in a personal-best 21 minutes, 12 seconds a week after taking ninth place in the Algonac Muskrat Classic on the Eastwood Beach course.

“She ran a smart race,” coach Tim Grotelueschen said after the 5K at Baypoint Beach. “She was in third place for a while, and then she reeled them in. This is a challenging course. If you don’t give up, you can make up some ground, and that’s what she did.

“I saw her in grade school meets, and she did very well. She’s a great athlete. I’m not surprised that she’s doing well this year.”

Whitlam led Lutheran North to first place in the team scoring.

“The second mile was tough,” she said. “I really had to push through at the end.”

Two freshmen besides Whitlam scored for Lutheran North, which had 76 points.

The Mustangs’ first five runners finished 27th or higher.

“We’ve got a deep team this year,” Grotelueschen said. “We’re young. It’s like a totally new team.”

Junior Isabella LaPerriere, senior Gianna Cuppari, freshman Avery Stallmann and freshman Katya Anderson also scored for Lutheran North with times ranging from 22:35.7 to 22:56.7.

Whitlam won the Early Bird Invitational hosted by Lutheran North on Aug. 26. She finished in 22:02 to help the Mustangs win the team championship.

“I’m trying to get down to 20 minutes,” she said.

Lutheran North is scheduled to run in the Jim Cleverley Invitational at Anchor Bay on Friday.

“So far, everything is going well for us,” Grotelueschen said. “This is a learning year, and hopefully they’ll continue to grow the next two years

“I’m excited for the future.”

In the boys Autumn Classic, Lutheran North senior Brewer Snay finished fourth despite not feeling well.

“That’s the most I’ve ever felt like dropping out of a race,” Snay said. “But I didn’t want to drop out of it. I finished in 17:11. I’m pretty happy with that. That’s not bad for being sick.”

Snay developed a cramp in his side during the run.

“I didn’t expect that to happen,” he said.

Lutheran North’s team finished fifth behind Grosse Pointe North, Troy, L’Anse Creuse North and Clarkston.

“Our team is doing pretty good,” Snay said.

Snay ran a PR of 16:34.4 during the Algonac invitational.

“I’m pretty much a minute ahead of what I did last year,” he said.

Snay has several goals for his final Lutheran North cross country campaign.

He’d like to make the All-Macomb County team, among other accomplishments.

“I want our team to get to states, which I think we can do,” he said. “I want to win regionals.”