Flying Pig XIV and Interscholastic Championships

Jessica, Matt, Joe, Cate, and John Barrett went to Cincinnati, Ohio, for the Flying Pig/Interscholastic Championships on the second weekend of April. Jessica, Matt, Joe, and Cate ran as a Junior Varsity school team, while John ran as a Primary school individual, since there was no one else to make a team with him.

Friday was a middle distance race--not part of the Interscholastics--so Matt and Joe decided to run Green (there were some highly ranked young men coming, which meant a great opportunity for competition!), and Cate ran Yellow to add to her ranking races. Jessica ran Orange courses and John ran White for all three days. The Green (ISVM and M-18) was moderately difficult for Matt and Joe, but both ran clean races--finishing 3rd (Joe) and 6th (Matt) out of a field of 45. Jessica placed 5th out of 13 on the JV female Orange course. Cate thought that the Yellow was harder than others she has run, but she finished 2nd out of 13 females. John got lost twice--one minor mistake and one major--and finished 3rd that day.

Saturday was a long course--5.9 km for Matt and Joe, 5.3 km for Jessica and Cate, and 2.7 km for John. This first day of Interscholastics was a fairly easy Orange course for Matt and Joe, who finished 1st and 2nd out of 55 JV boys (Joe got confused finding his way to one control). This was Cate's first attempt at an A-level Orange course, and it was easier than she expected. Cate and Jessica finished 2nd and 3rd in the JV female group of 19. Almost a clean sweep for the Barrett Homeschool team on Day 1! John got turned around once, but figured it out and placed 2nd out of 6 Primary boys.

Sunday was another middle distance race--Day 2 of Interscholastics, with much more difficult courses than Day 1. Matt was sick with a stomach virus, but kept moving and finished 14th that day--2nd place for the overall two-day competition. Joe had a mistake-free run and finished first that day and first overall in the JV male category. Both girls got lost a few times on their "very difficult" Orange course, finishing 5th (Cate) and 9th (Jessica), but still managed 2nd (Cate) and 5th (Jessica) places overall. John had a perfect run on Sunday, and finished 2nd that day and 2nd overall in the IS Primary male category.

Despite the troubles on Day 2, we finished first in the Interscholastic JV school competition (14 teams total), bringing home two huge trophies. (Mostly due to Joe's urging and threats--he wanted that trophy so badly, and his siblings didn't want to let him down!) With almost 400 people, it was the biggest A-meet we had ever entered. Thank you, PTOC, for the chance to compete with some of the best young orienteers in the country, with challenging terrain and courses! We'll bring the trophies and maps to some of the upcoming meets. We can hardly wait until next spring to defend our title as ISJV champs!!!! (Unless we decide to compete as a Varsity team!)

Jessica, Matt, Joe, Cate, and John

Indian Cave State Park - Important info

1. US 73 is closed between Falls City, NE and the park. Enter Indian Cave SP from the north: Exit 110 from I-29, US 136, Brownville, NE. Go west on US 136 from Brownville for 1.2 miles, turn left (south) on State Route 67, drive 9.2 miles to State Spur 64E, turn left (east) and drive 5.2 miles to the park. After paying the day-use per car fee of $4.00, take the second left (one-way road) down the hill to the St. Deroin picnic area.

2. There is a $4.00 per car day-use fee. Pay at the self-service station at the park entrance.

3. Note the updated schedule: The Rogaine is now a 10-hour day event: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. The 3-hour Score O schedule remains the same: 1:00 - 4:00 pm.