For the first time in 32 years, the Stanley County Buffaloes will stampede through the State B Cross-Country Meet.

The Buffaloes made their reservations for the state meet Wednesday with a second-place finish at the Region 4B Cross-Country Meet in Gettysburg. The Buffaloes finished with a total of 25, only trailing region champion Sully Buttes’ score of 16. Ipswich also qualified for the state meet with a third-place finish.

The Stanley County cross-country team poses after qualifying as a team for its first state cross-country meet since 1981.Pictured are head coach Scott Van Den Hemel, from left, Shay V., Austin B., Seth V., Brevin K., Shale K. and Kelsey V. (Courtesy photo)

“The region meet was very nerve-racking,” Stanley County head coach Scott Van Den Hemel said. “The boys set a goal at the beginning of the year of finishing in the top-two at regions. The boys getting second was giant step forward for our program.”

The Buffaloes’ rejuvenation was assisted by competing at a familiar course when the chips were down. The Buffaloes were at Gettysburg a week ago, giving them a good indication of what the region meet would bring.

“They looked calm and relaxed before the meet, but my insides were churning,” Scott Van Den Hemel said. “The boys really stepped up to the challenge. We ran this course just seven days ago and each of the boys ran a minimum of 25 seconds faster than they did last week.”

The Buffaloes were led by Austin Brown, as the first-year competitor finished fifth with a time of 18:46.

“It is hard for me to remember that this is still Austin’s first year,” Scott Van Den Hemel said. “I told him that the team needed him to be up front, and he did what was asked of him. Getting fifth in your first region meet is a huge accomplishment.”

Trailing Brown was senior Seth Van Den Hemel. He finished eighth with a time of 18:55, giving him a tremendous swan song to region competition.

“I was really proud of Seth,” Scott Van Den Hemel said. “This was his fifth region meet, and he was still missing that trip to state. You could see the tension on his face. He really wanted this.”

Seth Van Den Hemel and Brown’s success Wednesday was nothing new, but the Buffaloes needed their third runner to step up to the plate to make their state meet dream a reality. Shay Van Den Hemel did just that.

Shay Van Den Hemel finished 12th with a time of 19:14, giving the Buffaloes a quality effort from the third position. Brevin Klemann also had an impressive outing by taking 20th in 19:33.

“All year, we have been stressing that our third runner needed to get closer to Seth and Austin. Lately, that gap had gotten a little bit bigger. Shay took

Stanley County eighth-grader Shay V. runs during Wednesday's Region 4B Meet in Gettysburg. Van Den Hemel finished 12th in the individual standings. (Courtesy photo)

 the challenge personally and gave the team what it needed. He passed four kids the mile and didn’t get passed. Those team points were huge,” Scott Van Den Hemel said. “Early in the year Brevin had some knee issues, and we had to have him take a week off. That almost killed Brevin, but he trusted us and did what we asked of him. (Wednesday), he delivered his best race of the year.”

The Buffaloes state-qualifying effort was rounded out by Shale Kramme’s 23rd-place finish in 19:52. Kramme’s outing is impressive, considering the fact that he is also juggling football along with cross-country.

Sully Buttes’ region championship was highlighted by a second-place finish from Josh Lamb and a third-place finish from Ethan Weinheimer.

Brian Pickner took 11th, Josh Gilliland finished 25th and Reed Feller took 34th to round out the Chargers’ title run.

Not to be left out, the Lady Buffs’ one-woman show also made some history Wednesday.

Sophomore Kelsey Van Den Hemel clinched her school-record tying third appearance at the state meet though a time of 17:02 and an 11th-place finish.

“I was really happy with how Kelsey ran. When you only have one girl running the region meet is all about just getting in the top-20. Now, we can concentrate on the getting her legs as fresh as possible for the state meet. Each year she has placed higher than the year before. Hopefully, we can continue to move up the ladder,” Scott Van Den Hemel said.

Kelsey Van Den Hemel was the lone Lady Buff to compete in the event, but she certainly wasn’t alone.

“This year I have really stressed doing things as a team. Kelsey sometimes is a little left out by being the only girl, but the boys did something about that. I turned around after leaving the starting line before Kelsey’s race and the boys had Kelsey in a huddle, and they were having a team moment. It really made me proud that they felt she needed to know that they were there for her,” Scott Van Den Hemel said.

The Buffaloes and Lady Buffs will look to continue their terrific season Oct. 25 at the State B Cross-Country Meet in Rapid City.

© 2013 Capital Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.