AOTW: Wrangell cross-country puts itself on the map with state title sweep

WRANGELL, Alaska (KTUU) - There is a town of just over 2,000 residents in Southeast Alaska where — if you were to just walk down the street — any resident you encountered would have about a 1 in 400 chance of being a top-10 finisher at the state cross-country championships.

That stat is courtesy of the Wrangell High School cross-country team, which sent 10 runners to the 2025 ASAA State Championships in Palmer on Oct. 4, five of whom were able to crack the top 10 in their respective races, and two of whom won their race.

“We are a small town, so it does mean quite a bit for us,” freshman Jenna Meissner said after winning the Division III girls race in her first season.

“I’m just proud of everyone on our team.”

Indeed, Meissner’s accomplishment was merely the cherry on top of a day ripe with team success. Two more of Meissner’s teammates finished in the top 10 of the girls race, giving the tiny town the overall team win.

The achievement marks Wrangell’s first-ever state title, not just in girls cross-country, but in any girls sport.

“The first year I ran, we only had one girl on our team,” Wrangell senior Boomchain Loucks recalled. “So it means a lot.”

Loucks is the other Wrangell Wolf who captured an individual title on that rainy Saturday, topping the Div. III boys field for his second state win.

“Last race, I have to leave it all out there,” he said about his pre-race approach. “I was really nervous, but as soon as I started the race, I was like, ‘Wow, I feel pretty good, I just gotta grind it out.’”

“Grind” being a fitting operative word for the running phenom whose parents named him after a logging implement.

“Boomchain’s super special to me and to the program,” Wrangell cross-country head coach Mason Villarma said. “He’s been the best Wrangell runner in history.

“I’m grateful to him for elevating the program and the culture.”

Jordan Rodenberger also contributed to the reporting of this piece.

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