The 58^th Annual Boys Cross Country State Finals

November 1, 2003 / Indiana University CC Course, Bloomington

Wagner Leads Columbus North To Second Straight Championship

With one of the lowest point totals by a team in state meet history, Columbus North easily outdistanced the rest of the field and captured its second straight state championship in the 58^th Annual Boys Cross Country State Meet at the Indiana University Cross Country Course in Bloomington.

The Bull Dogs, behind overall state champion Christian Wagner, placed four runners in the top 21 to accumulate just 43 points, the sixth lowest total in 58 years and the best since 1980 when Bloomington North tallied just 34 at South Grove Golf Course in Indianapolis. It was also the widest margin of victory between the top two teams since that 1980 meet.

Wagner, a senior and last year’s runner-up in this race, turned in a time of 15:37.4 to lead a pack of Columbus North runners that included senior Ryan Dixon in 11^th (16:01.7), junior Aaron Smith in 19^th (16:14.0), senior Ben Milroy in 21^st (16:15.6) and sophomore Eric Cave in 40^th (16:36.2). Like last year’s title team, the Bull Dogs were coached by Rick Weinheimer.

Among the top five teams, Fort Wayne Northrop finished as the runner-up with 146 points and were followed by last year’s runner-up Carmel with 167, Huntington North with 171 and Hamilton Southeastern with 193.

Following in Wagner’s footsteps among the top five individuals were Batesville senior Rob Grote in second (15:44.1), Fremont senior Alan Hiner in third (15:51.0), Pendleton Heights sophomore Brock Hagerman in fourth (15:52.3) and Shelbyville senior Sean Hudson in fifth (15:55.4).

Complete Final Results

Batesville’s Rob Grote Named Winner Of Maas Mental Attitude Award

Rob Grote of Batesville High School was selected by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the recipient of the Charles F. Maas Mental Attitude Award.

The award goes to the senior in the state finals meet that best demonstrates mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability during the four years of high school. It is named in honor the late Charles F. Maas who served as IHSAA Assistant Commissioner from 1973 to 1984.

Grote finished second this year’s state meet after a 19^th place finish a year ago and owns the school record for 5,000 meters. He earned All-State honors for the second straight year and previously has been selected to the All-State Track Team as a sophomore and junior.

Within his school, he has served as Class Vice President the last two years, served as Newspaper Editor for three years and been on the Yearbook staff for two years. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and taken part in the Kiwanis Student Leadership Academy.

He ranks second in his senior class of 146 students and plans to attend Princeton University to study Internation Relations. He is the son of Jim and Maureen Grote of Batesville.

Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, presented a $1,000 scholarship to Batesville High School in the name of Grote.

Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available

Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the Midwest’s Leader in Sports Action Photography, for images captured during Saturday’s state championship meets! Action photos as well as 20-20’s Ultimate Sports Poster will be available for purchase later in the week following the state finals.

IHSAA State Championship Merchandise

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

State Finals Programs Available

Couldn’t be in Bloomington for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, send a check for $5.00 made payable to the IHSAA, a note with your return address and brief description of your request and mail to: IHSAA Programs, PO Box 40650, Indianapolis, IN 46240-0650. Sorry, no credit cards. To further inquire, e-mail Assistant Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org.