Demco closes out high school career with 18th place at state
By Dan Truttschel
Sports correspondent
Big Foot senior Alexandria (Zanzie) Demco ended her high school cross country career in the same place she closed out her freshman season – on the state’s biggest stage.
And in between then and now, she certainly made a mark on the program.
Demco closed out the season Saturday with an 18th-place finish in 20:09.32 at the WIAA Division 2 State Meet at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
“I was very proud of her and her progression all year,” Big Foot coach Tim Collins said. “We had focused on the state meet all year. Earlier this year, she did not always place high in invites and some people panicked.
“We did not care how she did in early September. We cared about late October. She was a pleasure to coach as she followed the path.”
Collins said Demco was able to overcome nerves and typical late-October weather conditions to put her best foot forward in her final meet.
“Her state meet went as well as expected,” he said. “The weather certainly was not great, but she didn’t let it bother her.”
Gale-Ettrick-Trempeleau junior Dana Feyen won the individual state title with a time of 18:39.68.
As a freshman, Demco placed 37th at the state meet with a time of 20:09.6 – so her improvement from the start of her career to the end was something special, Collins said.
And now that she’s wrapped up her time in the program, the Chiefs have to try and find a way to replace her leadership, both on and off the course.
That won’t be easy, Collins said.
“Replacing her leadership will be next to impossible,” he said. “She is not a vocal leader, but her work ethic and (the fact that’s she’s) coachable is contagious.”
