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By Mike Moore

Staff Writer

Horton — It’s been nearly two weeks, but a celebration like this will last a lifetime.

It was last weekend the Hanover-Horton boys cross country team went to Brooklyn in search of a state championship.

It was last weekend the Comets went to the Michigan International Speedway and got everything they wanted — and more.

“The kids really put it together,” coach Dean Blackledge said of his team’s state title. “When the race was over, we were all standing around as they were posting scores. When I saw inside the window and where we were going to be, I jumped and screamed. It really was bedlam for 10 minutes, or so. It was just awesome.”

Hanover finished the Division 3 race on Nov. 4 with a team score of 122.

Caro was just behind with 128, while Holland Black River had 149.

“The last 40 meters was the difference,” Blackledge said. “The guys from Caro came out of nowhere, and really, when I didn’t think we had a chance, our guys found a way to pull it off.”

Landon Melling led the Comets, placing third overall in a time of 15:54.8.

Bo Shepherd was eighth in 16:20.9, while Andy Swihart was 29th in 16:57.7, Bradley Guenther was 32nd in 17:03.9, Donovan Kennedy was 50th in 17:15.4, Garrett Melling was 58th in 17:19.3, and Dean Reynolds was 77th in 17:31.9.

“Our top two did what we expected, and there wasn’t much wiggle room there,” Blackledge said. “But our third, fourth and fifth guys really jumped up to make this happen.”

The team effort in the final was what carried Hanover all year, Blackledge said.

“It was a team effort, and I can’t emphasize enough this fact,” he said. “We had 21 boys on this team, and 14 of them didn’t run here. Yet all 21 guys had something to do with this state title. That’s how it should be, and thats how it was.”

The state title was the first in program history.

“All year long this has been the goal,” Blackledge said. “This has been avery coachable team, a very close-knit group. It’s a great group to the point where they had one mission, and they went out and did it.”

Mike Moore is a play-by-play commentator and Sports Writer for JTV Sports.

He’s also a Realtor with Real Estate One, specializing with buyers and sellers throughout Michigan, from the Jackson area to metro Detroit. You can reach him at mmoore@realestateone.com or by calling (313) 770-6365 with any inquiries.

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