Racing in the state 2A division for the first time, the Wolfpack finished third out of 59 teams at the First to the Finish Invite Saturday—behind number one ranked Kaneland but in front of defending state champ Dixon. Kaneland dominated with 71 points (low score wins in cross country), Chicago Catholic League rival Marmion was second with 185, and then came with Wolfpack with 190. Senior Jacob Flynn led the team in 13th place, running the state championship three-mile course at Detweiller Park in 15 minutes and 49 seconds. Junior Liam Linnen was 25th (16:03) and senior Harry Lesak 39th (16:17.1). Then came sophomores Brian Moore in 49th (16:24.3) and sophomore Nick Kiley in 64th (.16:39.7) to complete the five-man scoring team. But Kiley was just the first of a close Wolfpack pack, as freshman Jack Rhyner (68th, 16:40.5), junior Colin Linnen (60th, 16:40.8), and sophomore Theo Conroy (76th, 16:44.2) finished close behind. “We’ve been telling our guys that they are racing for the state championship,” said coach Ed Ernst. “We think that now they will believe that. They can get better--and they will have to get a lot better to race with Kaneland in November at the state championships.”