MUNISING — Houghton’s cross country teams ran one for their coach while placing third in both girls and boys races at the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals on Oct. 18.

Under assistant coach Erik Johnson’s direction, the Gremlins unveiled new pink-toned uniforms at the Pictured Rocks Golf Course in honor of Cancer Awareness Month and their head coach Traci Welch, who has led the program since 1998 and recently was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“I had no idea they were doing the new uniforms,” she said. “They really surprised me. The prognosis is good right now. I felt I dealt with chemo better than most people. I’m about to start radiation, but I’d rather be with them. This helps me get through it.”

Welch has led the girls team to Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals championships twice, in 2020 and 2021, and the boys team to a Finals title in 2017.

Johnson says Welch is a real competitor. “Traci has always been an inspiration,” he added.

The Marquette girls capped this season by winning the Division 1 meet for the fourth straight time with 39 points. They were followed by Sault with 52 and Houghton with 63.

“This is much better than being at home,” Welch said. “The more I’m with them, the better. They persevered all year. They came every day, worked hard and had fun. The team camaraderie is just fantastic.”

The Gremlins girls were led by sophomores Holly Cooke in fourth (20:39.4) and Sela Niska fifth (20:41.1).

“We’re all very happy we can support (our coach),” Cooke said. “She would go to a doctor’s appointment, then come to practice for us.”

Niska believes she and Cooke share a common bond.

“She’s my best friend,” Niska says. “It’s very fun. Holly didn’t run last year. I’m glad she came out. We were right next to each other and paced off each other. We told ourselves to go out and run one for our coach.”

The Marquette boys won for the seventh consecutive year with 34 points, followed by Sault Ste. Marie with 43 and Houghton with 84.

Senior Ben Hemmer led the Gremlins with a seventh-place finish, covering the 3.1-mile course in 17:27.8. Sophomore Brandon Van Karsen took ninth at 17:40.7.

“We were running for our coach. She’s the best coach we ever had,” Hemmer said. “She comes to practice every day.

“I’m just grateful for cross country.”

Senior Jovie Williams took 16th (21:57.6) and Tessa Rautiola, who was crowned U.P. Division 1 champion a year ago, missed most of this season due to a stress fracture but was able to place 18th this time (22:05.8).

“We lost Norah (Woodruff) due to appendicitis,” Welch said. “Although, we’re glad Tessa was able to run. Tessa ran well considering she hadn’t run in about six weeks, and she was very appreciative.”

John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

PHOTOS: From left, standing for a photo, are Houghton's Lilli Gast (150), Cecilia McDonald (152), Romi Mattson (151), Sela Niska (153), Holly Cooke (149), Jovie Williams (154), and Tessa Rautiola (155). (Middle) Cooke (149) and Niska (153) run together during the UP Division 1 Cross Country Finals at Pictured Rocks in Munising. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)