Benjamin Franklin once famously said “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” The Pretty Prairie High School boys cross country team making an appearance to state might need to be added to that short list. For the 10th season in a row, the Bulldogs earned a spot to Class 1A State as a team with a first place triumph at the Pleasanton Regional last weekend. Coach Jon Johnson said the past decade has been quite the ride. “I’ve been fortunate to be around a bunch of boys who’ve put the time in the summer to work and have bought into the idea of team running and taking care of your position,” Johnson said. “Our seniors are now used to going to state all four years. Not many athletes can say that. That’s always a goal in sports is to compete at the highest level of competition and that’s what we get to do.” At Pleasanton, Austin Coulter led the way with a second-place-individual showing. Trae Gehring also medaled with a 10th place performance. Last season the Bulldogs finished fifth at state. Only two runners return from that squad, but Johnson said his team got a taste of Wamego Country Club’s track earlier this season at an invitational. Although there might be some new faces for Pretty Prairie at state, Johnson likes the Bulldogs’ chances of bringing home some team hardware on Saturday and thinks they can get over the hump after a couple fifth-place finishes. “I think there’s about four or five teams fighting for that third-place plaque,” Johnson said. “It will all be who runs well.” The Pretty Prairie girls will send junior Cassie Panek to state once again. Panek, who finished 12th at state last season, is the whole team – literally. Panek is the only Pretty Prairie girl who competed in cross country this season. Thus, she practiced with the boys and even trained using their longer practice regimens. Johnson said her intense training enabled her to capture the individual Heart of the Plains League title and finish third at regionals. “She’s been going out and doing what the boys do,” Johnson said. “She’s been able to handle the load and it’s paid off. She’s hoping for a top 10 finish.” Haven girls look to finish higher at state Last season, the Haven girls finally got into state. Now, after finishing ninth in 2013, Haven isn’t just excited to just get through the door. The Wildcats now hope to finish higher today at 3A State at Rim Rock near Lawrence. “We know what to expect at state now,” Haven senior Bre Jones said. Jones paced the Wildcats to a third place team finish in their regional at Lake Afton last week with a 12th-place showing. Senior Betty Ausherman followed with a 16th-place finish, while sophomores Caitlin Schlickau and Aston Schlickau came in back-to-back at the 19th and 20th positions. Other Reno County state qualifiers In 3A girls, Hutchinson Trinity Catholic sophomore Celia Biel will look to improve on last season’s sixth-place medal. Biel finished third at the Lake Afton Regional. Hutchinson High will have two girls competing at 6A state in Lawrence today. Seniors Yazmine Wright and McKenzie Miller qualified individually last week at the Manhattan Regional. Wright placed 11th while Miller crossed the finish line 12th. On the Salthawks’ boys squad, senior Tyler Ulrich-Hicks will race at state after finishing 11th at the Manhattan Regional. In 4A girls, Buhler freshman Hannah Nuest will run on Saturday at Wamego. Hutchinson Central Christian’s Jeremy Stiebens also earned a spot to 1A State after finishing third at the Pleasanton Regional.