EUGENE — After finishing behind Knappa in 2022, the Union/Cove boys cross-country team flipped the script on Saturday, Nov. 5, winning the OSAA Class 2A/1A boys state cross country team at Lane Community College.

The Bobcats, led by senior Eli Williams’ second-place showing, ended the state meet with a team total of 44 points. Knappa ended its day with 47 points.

Last season, Knappa scored 53 points with Union/Cove putting up 55 points as the Loggers went home with the title.

“We accomplished our mission this year,” Union/Cove head coach Steve Sheehy said. “This race was one of the soggiest I have seen. It was absolutely miserable, sunny out one minute and then pouring the next. These two teams have a history and I see that continuing for many years to come.”

Williams ran second in the race, finishing behind Heppner’s Grady Greenwood, crossing the line in 16 minutes, 22.6 seconds, the sixth race this season Willians has clocked a race under 17 minutes.

Teammate and Union/Cove junior Nathanael O’Reilly crossed the finish in seventh, running the soggy course in 17:20.4 on a rainy day.

The Bobcats placed three runners in the top 10, with sophomore William Mallory running just a step behind Imbler’s Adam Gordon. Mallory posted a time of 17:30.3 for 10th.

Fellow Union/Cove sophomore Mason Ritter placed 12th in the field with a time of 17:51.8 and freshman Ian Garlitz, running in the all-important fifth spot for the Bobcats, placed 25th in his first state meet with a time of 18:18.0.

The Knappa runners ended the state meet with third, fourth, 15th-, 16th- and 24th-place showings.

“William’s (Mallory) finish in the top 10 was a pleasant surprise,” Sheehy said. “Mason (Ritter) ran a great final 800 including passing a Knappa runner to give us points. Our fifth runner (Ian Garlitz) was right behind Knappa’s fifth runner.”

The state title continues a strong tradition of running in the Grande Ronde Valley and upon arriving home from Eugene, the team found themselves in a parade through both communities of Cove and Union.

“It was so great for the kids to be on the bus and the sirens going from the fire department and police departments in both towns guiding us through the towns,” Sheehy said. “By the time we hit Union, there was a huge string of cars behind the bus honking and welcoming us home and people were lining the streets.”

The state title is the first for the Bobcats since 2021, when they beat Bandon for the title, and seventh since 2008. In that same time frame, the Bobcats also have placed second five times.

Taking time to celebrate, Sheehy again sees a Union/Cove versus Knappa showdown next season.

“The rivalry will continue between these two teams,” he said. “But this year it belonged to us.”

Imbler, led by Gordon’s ninth-place finish, placed ninth in the team standings with 184 points.

Gordon turned in a time of 17:29.9 seconds, the fourth race this season the Panther has run under 18 minutes.

Freshman Ayden Lucas, participating in his first state meet, finished 38th with a time of 18:57.8 and junior Razvan Jacobson placed 59th with a time of 20:14.1. Sophomore Eli Clark-Pierce and Clinton Tarvin ran together for much of the race with Clark-Pierce grabbing 63rd followed by Tarvin in 64th.

On the girls side, Union/Cove’s Taylor Weishaar turned in a 20:51.5 to finish 24th and pace the Bobcats to a sixth-place team finish with 146 points.

Oregon Episcopal won the 3A/2A/1A title with 66 points, easily outdistancing second-place Siuslaw’s 95 points. Heppner was third with 125 points, followed by Wallowa Valley with 128.