WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Prescott finished last of 16 teams in the Division 2 State girls race, but there was still plenty to be proud of in the school’s first ever cross country team State appearance.

“We knew it was going to be a tough task once we got down there because the State meet is kind of a whole different level,” Head Coach Tim Philips said. “It was an honor to be there, and then it very quickly became a little bit humbling because the level of the competition is so good.”

Philips has taken individuals to the State meet in the last handful of years, yet going as a team for the first time as a school felt different.

“It’s a completely different feel,” Philips said. “You really kind of get the full appreciation for the event when you’re there with a team.

“Sure it was disappointing to finish last, but I’ve just learned as an athlete myself and as a coach that you take your knocks in a situation like that and you use it to improve,” Philips said.

Philips wants the squad to become one that appears at State annually and competes with the best.

“We’re on the way to becoming that kind of program,” Philips said.

For starters, sophomore Kyra Dix, who has etched her name into Prescott history all season long, did it again with a school record time of 19:33 to finish 18th of 152 runners. The record was previously held by Victoria Simones with a time of 19:35 in 2011. Prior to State, Simones visited a practice to talk to the team.

“They actually talked about the fact that Kyra was kind of sneaking up on her school record,” Philips said. “Kind of a neat moment, I think, for both of them.”

Junior Amber Van Loon, another key piece to the team, finished 84th with a time of 21:03. Behind them was the trio of junior Addyson Allsop, senior Katie Huppert and freshman Kyla Gotzinger all in a row in 134th, 135th and 136th. Junior Nora Boles placed 142nd and sophomore Emma Schmitz placed 150th.

Prescott’s senior class was one that has been there for every step of the way to help this year’s team make it to State, featuring hard workers from both the girls and boys teams.

“It’s tough to see that senior class go because some of them I’ve coached for their entire cross country career and they’ve been a big part of what we’re starting to build,” Philips said. “Nothing but good things to say about the work that they’ve put in.”

River Falls had senior Quin Andrews, senior Jonah Majerus and junior Olive Halvorson competing individually in Division 1. In the boys race, Andrews took 30th place of nearly 200 runners, finishing in 16:21. Majerus also had a nice finish, taking 49th with a time of 16:32. Halvorson took 56th of 190 runners in the girls race with a time of 19:48.

Ellsworth senior Noah Matzek placed 85th in the Division 2 boys race of 152 runners, securing a time of 17:42.