Warriors Athlete of the Week: Warriors’ Wenz finds her stride at the right time – Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD – If Dave Herath seems sad in the next few weeks, don’t worry, he’ll be happy again in the spring.

The cross country season is coming to an end and the Brainerd Warriors head coach will no longer be able to spend his days with Brooke Wenz. The senior runner has been a mainstay for the Warriors for five seasons and is peaking at the right time in her career.

Wenz ran a lifetime best of 19:12 to place fifth at the Central Lakes Conference Championship at the St. Cloud Apollo on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Wenz’s total conference time helped Brainerd finish second.

“She’s not big by any means, but she has some basic strength and she’s faster than you might think,” Herath said. “She doesn’t have the longest legs, but her greatest strength is undoubtedly her mental strength. There comes a point in every race where you wonder if you have what it takes or if you can push a little harder. This is an area where Brooke is clueless. She can stay mentally where she needs to be to continue to overcome difficult things. You can’t teach that. Brooke always had that. That’s her X factor. She’s just tougher than most kids.”

Wenz’s 19:12 is the fourth-fastest five-kilometer time in program history. It is also the seventh fastest time ever run by a senior.

“It’s always fun to have kids who have been at it a long time, especially girls, and it’s seniors who are running their fastest times,” Herath said. “That’s what Brooke is doing right now. She works so hard and is just a mentally strong kid. When the season comes to an end, you can count on them. The conference was no different. She just had a nice, strong and solid race. She continued to progress throughout the field and did a great job.”

Herath said the weather was perfect for running and the route was flat. Wenz thought this was her last best chance to beat her personal best.

“This year I had a completely different attitude towards my races,” said Wenz. “I didn’t stress about it that much. I felt good before the race and just wanted to go out and run as hard as I could. We knew the track was going to be flat and fast, so I just went out there and did my best.

“I have a hard time keeping my pace in the second mile and I’m afraid of doing too much in the first mile. So I just wanted to go out hard. I completed the first mile in 5:57, which is faster than I have done all year. I just tried to hold on mentally for the second mile and keep that pace as much as possible. I was really happy. I haven’t done PR since my sophomore year of college. I was happy with that. That was my main goal. I knew this was my chance to do it this year.”

Wenz finished 10th in 19:24.4, helping Brainerd to a second-place finish at the Perham Invite on Oct. 10. At the Becker Invite on September 26, Wenz was the third Warrior with an eighth-place finish in 22:06.1, helping Brainerd to a first-place finish.

Brainerd placed 36th as a team at the University of Minnesota’s Roy Griak Invite on September 20. Wenz finished 97th with a time of 21:03.2.

In the Section 8-3A preview Sept. 13 at Forestview Middle School, Wenz led the Warriors to fourth place with an eighth-place finish in 20:39.0.

“The conference strengthens trust in the individual sections,” said Wenz. “I felt strong the whole race. I hope that this feeling carries over to the individual sections and that the results do too.”

The senior struggled with injuries during her junior year and was only able to compete in four events before making the team. At the Class 3A state meet, she ran a time of 20.04 and placed 52nd. As a sophomore, she ran a time of 19:35 and placed 36th. It was during her sophomore season when she recorded her previous personal best of 19:15 at the CLC Championships in Fergus Falls.

“I think the last year has really taken a toll on her,” Herath said. “She trained alone in the pool day after day for a month and a half. Maybe it was more than that. She came into the season saying she was tired. Every week she looked better and stronger and stronger. She’s a mentally strong kid and it’s taken a lot on her to get through this and I think she’s just getting back to feeling really good about everything. It was definitely nice for her to be able to run with the other girls all season.”

Wenz admitted her attitude changed after last season. She said she was grateful to be able to walk. She said it helped her focus not solely on results but more on the process.

“I’m just grateful that I have the opportunity to do what I do,” she said.

The Warriors are not a strong team. Wenz and teammate Madi Miller are the only seniors. Annelise Baird and Danika Ramler are the only juniors. Having leaders like Miller and Wenz is invaluable, Herath said.

“She’s not afraid to talk to kids, tell them what’s on her mind and help them if they have questions,” Herath said. “Brooke and Madi lead by example. They are our top girls in every practice. They’ve been talking a lot since the conference was over and they moved on to section meeting. They have prepared the younger girls for what to expect and what they need to do to get fit again. Both girls are just great kids. People are attracted to them. They are not only good runners, but also good people. We will miss her. We raised them fairly young and they have been a great addition every year throughout their careers with us. It’s bittersweet as we approach the final weeks of the season. I’m glad they’re both track kids so I can coach them again this spring.”

JEREMY MILLSOP can be reached at 855-5856 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.

Sport: Cross-country running

Year: Senior

Age: 17

Height: 5ft3

Career highlight: Promotion to the second season.

Other sports: athletics

Grade point average: 4.0

Favorite course: AP Spanish

Favorite teacher: Veronica Qualley

Favorite food: Pasta

Favorite film: “Moana”

Favorite musician: Zach Bryan

Favorite athlete: Simone Biles

What other activities are you involved in: Manager of the Nordic ski team

Which sport would you have liked to have practiced: gymnastics

Who inspires you: Parents

Future plans: Attend a four-year college majoring in exercise science

Parents: Matt and Trista Wenz

Ty Nelson, football, rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, threw for 123 yards on 13 of 19 passes, returned an interception for a touchdown and added four tackles against St. Francis.

Chad King, football, returned an interception for a touchdown and added five tackles against St. Francis.

Aralyn Marcelo, girls swimming and diving, won two individual events and helped Brainerd win two relays against Sartell.

Mya Tautges, girls swimming and diving, won two individual events and helped Brainerd win two relays against Sartell.

Avery Duerr, girls swimming and diving, won two individual events and helped Brainerd win two relays against Sartell.

Boys cross country track Ben Stadum placed third at the Central Lakes Conference meet, earning all-conference honors and leading the Warriors to second place.