All-Staters Tetil, Herron Spark Each Other's Pursuits to Push Pace for Caro XC
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
September 9, 2026
Luke Herron opened the 2026 cross country season with a dominant win at the Mike Jackson Invitational at Croswell-Lexington.
But after winning by 55 seconds, the competition wasn’t quite over for the Caro senior. He still had to beat his friend and classmate, Violet Tetil.
“We did kind of come up with a little joke,” Herron said. “I said, ‘You know, Violet, I beat the second-place guy by like a minute, so you have to see if you can beat the second-place runner by a minute, so we can see who can have the better winning margin. I think she was like somewhere over 30 seconds, and I was a little under a minute, so it was close.”
Tetil won her race by 41 seconds, giving Caro a sweep of the individual titles, and Herron a slight second victory.
But more importantly, both were well ahead of themselves on the same course a year ago with times of 15 minutes, 49.2 seconds and 19:10, respectively. That bodes well for another special season from the returning all-state runners.
“That’s kind of a testament to them, the commitment to putting time in during the summer,” Caro coach Jeff Schember said. “That makes the difference for kids that are going to be really good. They’re pretty fit right now. They’ve got a lot of work under their belt.”
Beyond the times they are putting up, and titles they are winning, the duo is also providing a blueprint for their teammates.
“They can relate to it,” Schember said. “I have sophomore boys, and Luke as a freshman, low 17s was his best time. They’re like, ‘If I can get into the low 17s, I have the potential with that work ethic to get there.’ I hope they see that. Violet went on a whole other level the past couple years. So, I hope they see that and are driven to wanting to be like that.”
Herron and Tetil already have established themselves as two of the best distance runners in Caro history.
Tetil, who placed 12th at the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final a year ago, is the school-record holder with her time of 18:50.5, run at Ubly in October of 2025. She also holds the track records in the 3,200 meters (11:30.82), 1,600 (5:10.61), 800 (2:15.01) and 400 (58.63).
She was runner-up in the 800 and sixth in the 1,600 at the LP Division 3 Track & Field Finals this past spring.
“I think that I was more motivated from (track), but I did have a later start to my summer (cross country) training because I went to the New Balance Nationals,” Tetil said. “I think doing that also motivated me a little more, like, ‘Oh, I’m actually pretty decent.’ I didn’t get a PR, but I was really close to my PR (in the 800). The atmosphere was amazing.”
When she was able to turn her focus back to cross country, Tetil came at her training not just with motivation from her success, but also from a new angle.
“I added a few things like weightlifting and strength training that made me a little bit stronger and able to withstand more mileage,” she said. “Last year, I kind of had a hard time with a positive mindset in races, so I think I kind of built up a more positive mindset, and that helped me get through the (Mike Jackson) race. I didn’t really set myself any goals or anything, I just wanted to go out and race and see how I could do. I didn’t even know what time I was running until the last mile of that race, so that was pretty cool to see that I was able to run a minute faster than last year.”
Watching Tetil get to this point has been motivating for Herron.
“Her perseverance in the sport has been amazing to see,” he said. “It’s crazy how she’s been able to take it all on and get better. She has a winter sport, she plays basketball, so it’s been amazing to see her balance all of that.”
Herron was sixth at the 2025 Division 3 Cross Country Final, and has the second-fastest cross country time in school history with his personal best of 15:39.1. That’s about 10 seconds off the school record set by three-time Finals champion Yami Albrecht. Passing Albrecht would certainly be a thrill for Herron, who didn’t start running competitively until his freshman year. But he isn’t letting that chase define him.
“It would be pretty awesome, I think, to be able to do that,” Herron said. “But I will say, I run for myself, and I’m not running for a record. I know that would be great, but I would love to just be able to be pleased with what I’m able to do. (The record) is not a thing that I lose sleep over, but I will say the state meet is something that I’ve always looked forward to. Yami was a three-time state champ, so I obviously can’t win three state championships anymore, but I’m getting closer to just being better than I was last year. My goal is to just better myself each and every year and prepare myself for what the next steps are.”
He hopes those next steps involve running collegiately, and he appears to be on track for that. He said Hillsdale College and Cedarville University are the two schools he’s most interested in at the moment. Tetil also has had interest from Hillsdale, as well as Wayne State and Bowling Green.
Before they take that leap, however, they still have plenty of work to do in a Caro uniform, as both are eyeing a top-five finish (or better) at the Division 3 Finals on Nov. 7 at Michigan International Speedway.
“I think it would mean a lot because we’re really good friends and we talk to each other all the time,” Tetil said. “So, I think it would be very motivating (to see Herron run well), because I mean even at some of the smaller races, if I finish on top, he’ll tell me good job, and then I’ll say, ‘Well, now you gotta beat that.’ So, yeah, there’s always motivation in that.”
Paul Costanzo served as a sportswriter at The Port Huron Times Herald from 2006-15, including three years as lead sportswriter, and prior to that as sports editor at the Hillsdale Daily News from 2005-06. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, Tuscola, Saginaw, Bay, Arenac, Midland and Gladwin counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Caro’s Violet Tetil, left, and Luke Herron run their races at the 2025 Lower Peninsula Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway. (Middle) Tetil (811) charges toward the finish line. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
Preview: Taking The Final Step to 1st
November 4, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
The 991 racers at Saturday’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Boys Cross Country Finals include more than a few who have come close to claiming championships the last few seasons, but are seeking their first.
Corunna’s Noah Jacobs has won every race this season, but is hoping his final Cavaliers event ends with a first MHSAA title after he came in second in his race a year ago. Alpena’s Mitchell Day is in a similar situation, and Saugatuck’s Zach Pettinga will attempt to take the final step while moving to a bigger division. On the team side, Novi and Bear Lake/Onekama are hoping to leave Michigan International Speedway with first titles since the late 1990s and after recent years in the hunt.
See below for a glance at team and individual favorites in all four races. Click for all Finals qualifiers, a map of the course and links to buy tickets and watch the Finish Line camera on MHSAA.tv, and come back to Second Half later Saturday for coverage of all four meets. The first race begins at 10 a.m., with the final awards presentation slated to end at 4 p.m.
DIVISION 1
Reigning champion: Rockford
2015 runner-up: Northville
2016 top-ranked: 1. Novi, 2. Saline, 3. Northville.
Novi is seeking its first MHSAA title since 1999 and first top-two finish since coming in runner-up in 2006. The Wildcats have back five runners from last season’s third-place team and finished 33 points ahead of No. 3 Northville in winning last week’s Regional at Willow Metropark; junior Gabriel Mudel was second (15:54) and seniors Scott MacPherson (16:02) and John Landy (16:03) were sixth and seventh, respectively. Saline is seeking its first MHSAA title ever – and last finished in second in 2007 but came in sixth a year ago with four runners who will be back this weekend. All four finished among the top 10 at the Erie Metropark Regional that Saline won by nine points ahead of No. 6 Ann Arbor Pioneer; junior Anthony DeKraker (16:24) was third, senior Aidan Carichner (16:38) was fourth, senior Evan Koerschner (16:47) was sixth and senior Connor Meehan (16:52) was 10th. Northville was runner-up to Novi at their Regional despite its highest individual placer coming in 13th; senior Ben Cracraft was 14th at last year’s Final and followed sophomore Nicholas Couyoumjian at the Regional as they finished 14th and 13th, respectively, in 16:09 and 16:06. They are the only two back from last year’s Finals lineup that featured five seniors.
Individuals: Alpena senior Mitchell Day has improved from 94th to 14th to runner-up in this race the last three seasons and is a likely favorite as the top returning placer. He won his Regional at Bay City Western in 15:48. But Rockford junior Cole Johnson was less than two seconds behind finishing third last year (and won his Regional by 15 seconds last week in 15:58). Dearborn senior Riad Rababeh also is back after finishing eighth and winning his Regional last week in 15:52. Other Regional champions were Portage Central senior Gannon Foley (15:58), Okemos junior Saano Murembya (15:36), Oak Park senior Cameron Cooper (15:52), Fenton senior Andrew Bond (16:31), Fraser senior Steven Stine (15:46) and Rochester Adams senior Matt Schram (15:49).
DIVISION 2
Reigning champion: Fremont
2015 runner-up: Otsego
2016 top-ranked: 1. Fremont, 2. Grand Rapids Christian, 3. Corunna.
Fremont moved up from second in 2014 to win last year’s title without counting a senior’s time, and six of seven runners are back at MIS this weekend led by senior Matthew Zerfas, who placed fifth individually in 2015. He finished second at his Regional in 16:12 behind junior teammate Ben Schmidt (16:01) and with teammates Sam Kaastra (16:22), Sam Stitt (16:24) and Cole Hamilton (16:37) also among the top nine. Grand Rapids Christian beat Fremont for the title in 2014 and fell back to sixth last season but with no seniors in the lineup. Justin Varineau paced the Eagles last year coming in seventh individually, and he’s expected to move up this weekend after adding to a dominating season with a Regional win in 15:42, 19 seconds ahead of the field in Allendale. Sophomore teammate Victor Jura was fifth (16:10) and senior Aaron Brink (16:26) was ninth among the group that included No. 6 Fruitport and No. 9 Spring Lake. Corunna senior Noah Jacobs is considered the top runner in Michigan regardless of division, and he’s hoping a first individual title will help the Cavaliers to their first team win since 1997 and top-two finish since 1998. Jacobs finished 56th, fifth and then second at the last three Finals and ran a 15:05 at the Shiawassee County Invitational two weeks ago before running 15:54 to win his Regional at Delta College. He was one of four Cavs among the top nine at Delta, along with junior Dakota Hundley (16:32.31), sophomore Ben Jacobs (16:32.57) and sophomore Charlie Bruckman (16:47).
Individuals: Seven of the top 11 from last season are back this weekend. After Jacobs, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep senior Brendan Fraser was third last year and won his Regional in 16:27. Coldwater junior Shuaib Aljabaly has won all of his races this season except one, finishing second to Jacobs at the Portage Invitational. He won his Regional in 15:56 after taking eighth at the Final last year. Comstock Park junior Reid Parsons was ninth last year and finished Regional runner-up to Varineau this time in 16:03, and St. Johns junior Dillan Haviland missed the top 10 in 2015 by a tenth of a second but should make the mix this time coming off a Regional title in 16:11. Adrian senior Jack Schafer (15:55), St. Clair junior Brendan Parr (16:21) and Otsego sophomore Alex Comerford (16:05) also are Regional champs this fall.
DIVISION 3
Reigning champion: Lansing Catholic
2015 runner-up: Benzonia Benzie Central
2016 top-ranked: 1. Saugatuck, 2. Lansing Catholic, 3. Caro.
Lansing Catholic’s championship was scored on five runners who are all back this weekend – but the Cougars enter ranked No. 2 because reigning Division 4 champion Saugatuck is up a division this fall. The Indians’ top five, and six of seven, also are back this weekend. Senior Zachary Pettinga, the Division 4 runner-up individually a year ago, finished second at last week’s Regional in 16:20 as Saugatuck placed three of the top four (also sophomore Corey Gorgas and senior Nick Butch) and six of the top 10 at Buchanan. Lansing Catholic took places three, four, five, seven and 11 at its Regional, led by junior Ryan Schroeder (17:01). Caro could become the story of the weekend if it moves up from 14th last season to win its first MHSAA title since 1980. Four freshmen on the 2015 team are a year older, led by Yami Albrecht, who was eighth individually with now-senior Zakaria Davis coming in 16th. They finished first and third, respectively at their Delta College Regional in 15:49 and 16:54 as Caro took four of the top 11 spots.
Individuals: The graduation of a strong senior class division-wide and the addition of Saugatuck are just a few factors that could make this the most wide open individual race of the weekend. Three more top-10 finishers join Albrecht in returning – Benzie Central senior Brayden Huddleston (third), St. Louis senior Evan Goodell (sixth) and Kent City junior Fraser Wilson (ninth). Huddleston won his Regional by 43 seconds in 15:32, and Wilson won his by 25 seconds in 16:06. Goodell finished between the top Caro runners in 15:56. Bridgman senior Brian Njuguna was 13th last season but won his Regional ahead of the Saugatuck pack in 16:10. Other Regional champions were Clare senior Ben Haupt (16:28), Hanover-Horton junior Landon Melling (16:42), Stockbridge senior Jake Chapman (16:42), Sandusky senior Brandon Hughes (17:32) and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central senior Dominic Paoletti (16:19).
DIVISION 4
Reigning champion: Saugatuck
2015 runner-up: Bear Lake/Onekama
2016 top-ranked: 1. Pewamo-Westphalia, 2. Harbor Springs, 3. Bear Lake/Onekama.
Saugatuck might be gone to Division 3, but Pewamo-Westphalia moved into the favorite spot in this race after finishing 18th in Division 3 a year ago with five runners who will race this weekend. The Pirates placed all seven of their runners among the top 15 at their Regional at Sharp Park in Jackson, with senior Bryce Thelen the runner-up in 17:05. Harbor Springs was third last season with only one senior in the lineup and could take its first title since 2004 (won in Division 3) with five also back from last fall including seventh-place Jeremy Kloss. Now a sophomore, Kloss won his Regional by 39 seconds in 16:19 as teammates Max Sydow (17:22) and Zach Hunt (17:23) finished second and third, respectively. Bear Lake/Onekama is another team frequently in the mix, although seeking its first win at this meet since sharing in Class D in 1998. Four of the top six from last season’s runner-up team are back, with junior Kaiden Hejl the team's top returning placer after finishing ninth. He was third at his Regional in 16:46, with junior teammate Gary McBride (16:43) second, sophomore Trey Gilbert fourth (17:10) and senior Dyllon McLouth and junior Lane Lee also among the top 11.
Individuals: The top four from last season’s Final either graduated or are running in Division 3, leaving Kloss and Hejl to be joined by 2015 top-10 finishers Daniel Holder of Hudson (fifth) and Jacob Tanner of Holton (sixth). Tanner, a senior, won his Regional in 16:49, while Holder, a junior, ran 16:44 to finish second to Hillsdale Academy senior Noah Heckenlively (16:37) at Hudson. Cass City junior CarLee Stimpfel also broke 16 minutes in winning his Regional, in 15:52, and other Regional winners were Manton junior Jacob Cergnul (16:34), Saginaw Nouvel senior Matt Bartels (16:59), Marcellus Howardsville Christian sophomore Dylan Jergens (16:53), Portland St. Patrick freshman Ashton Walker (17:02) and Plymouth Christian sophomore Aaron Vicars (17:32).
The MHSAA Cross Country Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTO: Corunna’s Noah Jacobs, here running a 15:05 at the Shiawassee County Invitational on Oct. 22, is undefeated this season and has won all but three races over the last two. (Click to see more from Varsity Monthly.)