MCFARLAND — The Monroe boys track team won its WIAA Division 2 regional title for a sixth straight year, dating back to 2016.
“The boys were pretty excited to win the regional meet this year,” said Scott Mosher, Monroe’s coach. “This year was definitely not a sure thing. We decided to go after some relays rather than individual events, so some of our fastest guys weren’t being utilized for team points as much as they could have. On top of that we had three conference champs competing; us, McFarland, and Dodgeville/Mineral Point.”
The Cheesemakers scored 123 points, with Sugar River finishing second at 103, one point ahead of Madison Edgewood. Monroe advances three relay teams and more than a dozen athletes to sectionals.
“We advanced fewer kids than we typically do, but everyone that we thought has a chance to make it in to the state meet is still alive,” Mosher said.
Leading the way for the Cheesemakers was Vanderbilt-commit Jason Carpenter won the 110-meter high hurdles (15.58 seconds), the 300-hurdles (41.05) and was a member of the 1,600-meter relay champion squad (3:31.03), which included Jakar Broitzman, Jordan Klocke and JT Seagreaves.
“Jason Carpenter had another strong meet,” Mosher said. “Our Sectionals is stacked in the hurdle events so it will be a challenge. Last year we had an extra qualifier make it through and all five made the podium at state.”
Seagreaves was also a part of the 400- and 800-meter relay championship teams, as were Charlie Wiegel and Lucas Sathoff. Egor Sereda and Lucas Flom also advance in the relays.
“We managed to qualify the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400. The goal by our sprinters was to forgo individual success for the chance for these relays to get to state and earn medals. They’ve put each relay in position, but still have to run their best races to get to the next level of competition,” Mosher said. “The sprint events are just as deep at this sectional as the hurdles so there is a chance that some really good teams find themselves out of the top-4.”
Senior Heath Huschitt was the champion in the 800 (2:08.74), with teammate Caden Oudinot finishing third in the same race (2:10.22).
“Personally, I was probably most excited for Heath Huschitt to advance. Heath had to deal with an injury during cross country that shut him down completely and also caused him to miss his basketball season,” Mosher said. “A lot of kids would have called it quits but Heath rehabbed all winter and had to really adjust his training this spring by mixing in a lot of biking and pool days. So for him to be a sectional qualifier and regional champion in the 800 is amazing.”
In the pole vault, Brady Schuh was second overall (11-feet, 6-inches) to advance to sectionals. In the shot put, Isaac Bunker (47-9) and Austin Fuchs (42-0.25) finished second and third to advance, and teammate Sean Rufenacht moves on in discus with a fourth-place finish (125-9).
Sugar River’s DJ Donnell (11.43) and Adrix DeVoe (11.49) were third and fourth in the 100-yard dash. Matthew Loshaw was fourth in the 800 (2:10.46) to advance. Thomas Nelson was third in the 1,600 (4:42.09), and Carter Scholey finished second in the 3,200 (10:07.23) by just 1/10th of a second.
In the 300 hurdles, Jack Erickson was second (41.93). Lawrence Vasquez (6-0) and Cade Thayer (5-10) finished second and third in the high jump to advance. Demarcus Conner (41-4) and Erickson (40-4) were second and third in the triple jump.
Conner, Donnell, DeVoe and Patrick Samon were third in the 400-meter relay (45.37). Conner, Donnell, DeVoe and Gabe Nass were second in the 800-relay (1:32.12). Bryce Babler, Nelson, Loshaw and Scholey were second in the 3,200-relay (8:28.30).
On the girls’ side, the team scorers were tight, outside of Edgewood’s dominance at the top (158). Prairie du Chien (91.5) edged Monroe (87) for second, but Dodgeville-Mineral Point (85), Sugar River (85), McFarland (84) and Platteville (83) all finished neck-and-neck.
“It was our best team performance of the season — regionals is a luck of the draw for events and competition,” Monroe girls coach Eric Jubeck said. “This year, our draw was super tough, as there were great programs at this meet. To end up ahead of teams like Sugar River, McFarland, Dodge-Point, and Platteville was an accomplishment and the girls were ready to compete.”
Monroe advances two relays and five individuals to sectionals. Jubeck said he felt bad for one runner especially.
“It was a very unfortunate draw for Jadyn Elgin. She ran the fifth fastest 3,200-meter time in our sectional, but because all five came from the McFarland Regional, she will not get a chance to move on,” Jubeck said. Elgin was nine seconds behind fourth-place finisher Julia Thompson of Dodge-Point.
Moving on for Monroe are Lauren Coppes, who was first in the triple jump (34-11.25), Aleigh Zettle, who was second in the 200-meter dash (27.71) and pole vault (9-feet), Bre Lambert in the 400 (third, 1:02.61).
“Lauren Coppes — she won the triple jump and had a huge PR. She moved into sixth all-time at MHS in this event. She’ll need another monster jump to get to La Crosse,” Jubeck said. “Bre Lambert and Aleigh Zettle — both girls qualified for the long sprints and are in a very deep sectional — but an opportunity to get to state is the reward for such great races.”
Sierra McGuire was fourth in the pole vault (8-6), beating out sister Sophie in the tiebreaker.
“I think 9-6 or so is what it will take to get to state — let’s see how it plays out. It was a great season for our girls in pole vault, we were so fortunate to snag Coach Zettle away from the large area programs that were offering him substantial coaching contracts,” Jubeck said.
In the relays, Monroe was second in the 1,600 (4:15.94), advancing the quartet of Elery Bazley, Coppes, Zettle and Lambert. The Cheesemakers were also second in the 800 (1:49.34), with Taylor Jacobson, Brenna Aebly, Coppes and Zettle moving on.
Sugar River moves on a bunch of athletes as well. In the 100-meter dash, Grace Nommensen (second, 13.20) and Herioli Fraire (fourth, 13.30) each moved on. Mazie Paradis was third in the 800 (2:29.97), and Alora Spiegel was fourth in the 1,600 (5:47.12). Alex Atwell was third in the 100-hurdles (16.50). Ava Foley took second in the triple jump (34-9).
The Raiders were first in the 400-meter relay, with Foley, Nommensen, Atwell and Fraire (51.09) taking first. The same grouping finished third in the 800-relay (1:49.46). Camryn Arnett, Dayna Karls, Paradis and Spiegel were second in the 3,200-relay (10:19.44).
Cardinals sweep regional team titles
WALWORTH — Brodhead-Juda was the boys and girls team champions at the May 23 regional at Big Foot. The girls scored 158 points, well ahead of second-place Whitewater (100). The boys scored 119 points, narrowly outpacing Clinton (113).
On the girls side, the Cardinals advance the following athletes to sectionals:
● 200-meter dash: Stella Arn, second place (27.33 seconds)
● 800-meter run: Kalena Riemer, first place (2:31.90)
● 3,200-meter run: Madi Brown, fourth place (14:03.85)
● 100-meter hurdles: Addison Yates, first place (16.93)
● 300-meter hurdles: Gabi Ryser, fourth place (57.33)
● 800-meter relay: Stella Arn, Addison Yates, Ellie Yates, Jada Burkhalter, second place (1:50.45)
● 1,600-meter relay: Stella Arn, Jada Burkhalter, Ellie Yates, Kalena Riemer, second place (4:22.43)
● 3,200-meter relay: Madi Brown, Olivia Hartwig, Lexie Lobeck, Kalena Riemer, second place (11:39.77)
● High Jump: Addison Yates, first place (5-feet, 0-inches); Madi Brown, second place (4-10)
● Long Jump: Addison Yates, first place (15-08.75); Ellie Yates, second place (15-6.25)
● Triple Jump: Ellie Yates, second place (32-8.50); Brenley Jones, fourth place (31-00)
● Shot Put: Kiarra Moe, third place (32-6); Onni Williams, fourth place (32-2)
● Discus: Kirsten Fish, second place (96-07); Tori Urness, fourth place (93-2)
Cardinals boys advance the following athletes to sectionals:
● 100-meter dash: Blake Senobe, second place (11.53)
● 110-meter hurdles: Nathan Engen, third place (19.20)
● 300-meter hurdles: Nathan Engen, first place (44.43); Gavin Pinnow, third place (45.38)
● 400-meter relay: Isaac Saunders, Blake Senobe, Leon Saunders, Gage Boegli, first place (44.63)
● 800-meter relay: Isaac Saunders, Blake Senobe, Leon Saunders, Gage Boegli, second place (1:35.88)
● 3,200-meter relay: Joey Brown, Eric Woodward, Moar El Maatouki, Sabian Blang, fourth place (9:19.44)
● High Jump: Josiah Engen, first place (5-10)
● Pole Vault: Joe Lohmar, third place (9-6)
● Long Jump: Leon Saunders, fourth place (19-6)
● Triple Jump: Nathan Engen, fourth place (38-10)
● Shot Put: Gage Boegli, first place (43-5)
● Discus: Ephraim Corbit, fourth place (119-1)
