Top Nine Girls Teams Heading To NXR Heartland

Sun Prairie (WI)

Last year, Sun Prairie generated a lot of buzz going into Regionals, as they seemed to be great contenders for an NXN bid. However, they ended up taking fifth, 110 points off second place Edina. This year, they come in much more under the radar, thanks to Muskego's dominance in America's Dairyland. Despite the resounding defeat in their State race, Sun Prairie's lineup still could pose a threat to the other Heartland teams. Sophomore Kate Kopotic has been having a breakout year to make up for a somewhat down season for sophomore Autumn Dushack, while senior Maddie Thompson has run consistently well. If Dushack returns to the form that saw her run 18:12 last year, Sun Prairie is within striking distance of the competition. It is also worth noting that last year, when Sun Prairie was a top regional contender, they soundly beat Edina at the Roy Griak Invitational. This year, they also came out on top over the Hornets, proving that they do have the chops to go head-to-head with Minnesota's best, provided they can peak right.