PLATTEVILLE — To say BSMS saw a higher level of success later at the Six Rivers Conference Champion would be an understatement. Of the 33 total events with an entry, the Knights had first place athletes in 15 of them. The resulting points all-around saw BSMS claim first on the boys (147) and the girls (164). The former squad did so by a wide margin over Black Hawk (112) and River Ridge (105.5), with Belmont (36.5) in seventh, while the latter edged out Cassville/Potosi (159.5), with River Ridge (100) and Argyle/Pecatonica (81.5) a distant concern. The Braves improved to fifth with 72 points ahead of the Warriors (43.5, 7th).
“Conference track is interesting because you don’t necessarily put everyone in their best events,” Knights head coach Kyle Kern said. “It’s about total points as well as where you think other teams are going to score points, and trying to cut into those. It’s a true team effort.”
This was especially true on the girls’ side, where Auderer (100, 12.99; 200, 27.10), Williams (800, 2:34.77; 1600, 5:41.04), and Ragotzkie (100m hurdles, 16.78; 300m hurdles, 50.11) led a majority of the BSMS girls’ running events individually, but were unable to separate themselves comfortably from Cassville/Potosi.
The 4-by-400 crew was composed of Davis, McKinley Russell, Vanessa Vosberg, and Chloe Thyen, and they ran a 4:25.66 to ultimately place second. Other top performances for the Knights included Alexis Alt in the discus (110’0”) and shot put (37’11”), and Chloe Thyen in the high jump (4’10”).
The boys were similarly effective. Sam Klang accounted for a fourth of the co-op’s points as he took first in the 100 (11.09), 200 (22.72), 400 (52.66), and the long jump (20’0.25”). Josh Richardson took over on lengthier runs, posting first in the 1600 (4:49.90) and 3200 (10:44.42). The pair were responsible for all of the BSMS gold performances, with Elliott Searles posting the boys’ only silver in the pole vault (12’0”).
The 100 record was previously set by River Ridge’s Aidan Gage in 2023 (11.12), while Dyllan Johll of Cassville set the 200 record back in 2016 (22.76).
The Warriors’ time at UW-Platteville saw the boys finish first in a handful of events, while the girls left with just one silver. The boys’ running side was ruled by Shane Wand in hurdles, as the senior placed first in the 110-meter (16.12) and 300-meter (42.73) variants. Field events were more varied, but only just, as Aiden Mosley (discus, 133’1”) and Dax Paquin (shot put, 45’1”) took home conference titles individually. The girls were represented at the top by runner-up Makayla Curran in the triple jump (32’8”).
Redbirds break conference records
DARLINGTON — Every area squad hit the road for meets over the last nine days, with the Redbirds being the most active crew of the bunch.
Darlington started off at home as it hosted the SWAL Late-Season Meet on May 12. The girls had a higher level of success, scoring four champions to the boys’ three.
Alaina McGowan was the only individual runner of the bunch, posting first in the 200-meter dash (28.31). Both the 4-by-200 (1:53.92) and 4-by-800 (12:11.92) relay teams followed at first respectively, while Catie Hartwig ensured a non-running first via the discus (107’9”). The former relay team was composed of Hartwig, Madi Welacha, Brenna Edgerton, and McGowan, while the latter featured Adalee Berget, Dulce Martinez, Lily King, and Marta Roelli.
The boys saw successes in similar events, though Mason Wiegel’s first in the 100-meter dash (12.33) was the lone individual top finish. Relay crews for the 4-by-100 (45.12) and 4-by-200 (1:35.16) also earned gold. Peyton Dempsey, Ryder Fitzsimons, Calum Crist, and Zeke Zuberbuhler completed both relay squads.
