By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Berrien Springs can call themselves Lakeland Conference champions as both the boy's and girl's teams walked away winners at Brandywine High School Tuesday afternoon for the Lakeland Conference meet.
The Shamrocks boy's team had a team total of 54 points, Bridgman took second with a score of 74.
Buchanan, which went undefeated in the LAC all season with a 7-0 record, came in third place with 82 points.
Brandywine came in fourth with a total of 84 and Edwardsburg rounded out the top five with a total of 108.
In the girls' race, Edwardsburg took first with a score of 42. Berrien Springs grabbed the second place spot with a total of 59. River Valley took third with 74 points, Buchanan fourth with 80 and Brandywine fifth with 121.
Edwardsburg's Mike Penninger was the overall boys' winner with a time of 17:26.
Brian Wieger finished fourth for the Bobcats with a time of 17:55. Harper Sulier placed fifth for the Bucks with a time of 18:22 and Nick Wheetly placed sixth for Buchanan with a time of 18:59.
Berrien Springs' Becky Miller was the overall girls' winner with a time of 21:03.
Brandywine's Ashley Harrell grabbed the seventh place spot with a time of 22:15.
Buchanan's Erica Curti took 12th place with a time of 22:59 and Caylin Garrard took 14th for the Bobcats with a time of 23:40.
Wieger, Sulier and Wheetly earned All-Conference honors as well as Harrell.
Second Team All-Conference honors went to Brandywine's Curtis Wilson, Tyler Weedon and Garrard and Buchanan's Jon Young and Curti.
All teams now head to regionals. Dates and times are yet to be determined.
Boys' team scores
Berrien Springs 54, Bridgman 74, Buchanan 82, Brandywine 84, Edwardsburg 108, Coloma 123, Cassopolis 188, River Valley 218
Individual Top 15
1. Mike Penninger (Edwardsburg) 17:26; 2. Kyle Banish (Berrien Springs) 17:31; 3. Evan Krettek (Bridgman) 17:47; 4. Brian Wieger (Brandywine) 17:55; 5. Harper Sulier (Buchanan) 18:22; 6. Nick Wheetley (Buchanan) 18:59; 7. Kevin Parkins (Berrien Springs) 19:03; 8. Jon Foster (Bridgman) 19:18; 9. Curtis Wilson (Brandywine) 19:18; 10. Zach Gordon (Berrien Springs) 19:24; 11. Jeff Quigley (Coloma) 19:28; 12. Jon Young (Buchanan) 19:32; 13. Tyler Weeden (Brandywine) 19:41; 14. Sean Carlson (Bridgman) 19:48; 15. Ryan Bringedahl (Edwardsburg) 19:54
Final overall standings
1. Berrien Springs, 2. Buchanan, 3. Bridgman, 4. Brandywine, 5. Edwardsburg, 6. Coloma, 7. Cassopolis, 8. River Valley
Girls' team results
Edwardsburg 42, Berrien Springs 59, River Valley 74, Buchanan 80, Brandywine 121, Bridgman 151, Coloma 175
Individual Top 15
1. Becky Miller (Berrien Springs) 21:03; 2. Angie Bronicki (Edwardsburg) 21:27; 3. Jessica Forker (Bridgman) 21:42; 4. Olivia Raven (River Valley) 21:44; 5. Veronica Brubacher (Edwardsburg) 21:46; 6. Kathy Stewart (Edwardsburg) 22:05; 7. Ashley Harrell (Brandywine) 22:15; 8. Allison Cutter (Edwardsburg) 22:18; 9. Lauren Hogg (Berrien Springs) 22:20; 10. Gabby Saitz (Berrien Springs) 22:29; 11. Tricia Horak (River Valley) 22:51; 12. Erica Curtis (Buchanan) 22:59; 13. Shana Parkins (Berrien Springs) 23:39; 14. Caylin Garrard (Brandywine) 23:40; 15. Andrea Hemminger (Buchanan) 23:47; 16. Ellen Siemon (Buchanan) 23:49; 17. Stephanie Stanton (Buchanan) 23:51; 18. Nikki Allen (River Valley) 24:02; 19. Briana Somenberg (River Valley) 24:06; 20. Laura Kulis (Buchanan) 24:14
Final overall standings
1. Berrien Springs and Edwardsburg, 3. River Valley, 4. Buchanan, 5. Coloma, Bridgman and Brandywine