By SCOTT NOVAK

Dowagiac Daily News

Visiting Gull Lake swept its Wolverine Conference cross country opener from Dowagiac Tuesday afternoon.

The Blue Devils defeated the Chieftains 17-45, while the Lady Blue Devils were 15-50 winners over Dowagiac.

Troy Elliott won the boys’ race with a time of 18:25. In fact, Gull Lake took eight of the top 10 places.

Dowagiac’s Chris Gantt finished fourth with a time of 18:49 and Kasey Proshwitz was eighth with a time of 19:45.

Dowagiac also got a 20^th place finish from Juan Meza (21:29), a 29^th place finish from Ryne Wilming (22:59), a 31^st place finish from Jason Turner (23:09), a 32^nd place finish from Matt Ernzen (23:21) and a 33^rd place finish from Tony Brooks (23:23).

The Chieftains’ Brandon Wilson and Ryan Daly were 34^th and 35^th with time of 23:234 and 23:36 respectively.

Jori Fell of Gull Lake captured the girls’ top spot with a clocking of 22:09.

The Lady Blue Devils swept the top 10 places.

The first Dowagiac runner across the line was Leana Allen, who was 18^th with a time of 27:05.

Kelsey Cleveland finished 26^th (27:43), Amanda Hassle 29^th (28:14), Samantha Mathews 30^th (28:24) and Ali Hess 32^nd (30:06).

Caitlin Shurte, Kristina Bunn, Corinne Kasper, Rebecca Luth, Kayla Yakim and Sarah Hassle took places 36 through 41.

“Opening up against Gull Lake is tough just because of their numbers,” Dowagiac coach Ken Jordan said. “The girls are getting in better shape. They still have a long ways to go, but their getting in better shape. Chris Gantt is running really well. He had a good race today. Kasey continues to run well and we have high expectations for him by the time the season is done.”

On Saturday at the Rotary Invitational, Cleveland took 29^th in the freshmen-sophomore race, while Yakim was 34^th, Bunn 35^th, Amanda Hassle 36^th, Luth 38^th, Kasper 39^th and Sarah Hassle 40^th.

In the junior-senior race, Allen was 35^th, Hess was 46^th and Savanna Lemon 48^th.

In the boys’ freshmen-sophomore race, Gantt was 20^th, Wilming 21^st, Ernzen 27^th and Brooks 29^th.

In the junior-senior race, Proshwitz finished 12^th, Turner 42^nd, Daly 49^th and Wilson 51^st.

Wolverine Conference

Dual meet

Boys’ results

Gull Lake…17

Dowagiac…45

Top 10

1. Troy Elliott (GL) 18:25, 2. Cameron Hutchinson (GL) 18:32, 3. Alex Wolf (GL) 18:41, 4. Chris Gantt (D) 18:49, 5. Brian Wiegand (GL) 18:54, 6. Nate Busbyn (GL) 19:32, 7. Austin Dunyak (GL) 19:34, 8. Kasey Proshwitz (D) 19:45, 9. Brandon Wynsma (GL) 19:49, 10. Tim Simon (GL) 20:06

Girls’ results

Gull Lake…15

Dowagiac…50

Top 10

1. Jori Fell (GL) 22:09, 2. Rachel Caise (GL) 22:14, 3. Liz Klein (GL) 22:24, 4. Carly Hutchinson (GL) 22:25, 5. Ali Butler (GL) 22:30. 6. Kelly Peterson (GL) 22:35, 7. Leah Coonrod (GL) 23:58, 8. Emmie Hardiman (GL) 25:44, 9. Mimi Remynse (GL) 26:01, 10. Hannah Lamons (GL) 25:20