BELLEVILLE - The last thing on Dan Schettler's wish list over the years has been a regional track and field title.
"I have never ever approached a regional trying to win it," the Sugar River coach said. "I've been coaching for 22 years and this is my first regional title."
It came Monday courtesy of the Sugar River boys, who had a double individual winner in hurdler Jon Beckman en route to scoring 116 points to hold off second-place Monroe (108), Madison Edgewood (105) and McFarland (99) in a Division 2 regional at Belleville High School. Brodhead-Juda was fifth with 77 points.
With all the strong teams Schettler has coached over the years, it's a bit surprising the Raiders have never won a title.
"At this point, we just want to make sure we get to the next level and for the most part we got everybody through we hoped we would," Schettler said.
Beckman dominated, his time of 15.70 seconds in the 110 high hurdles easily holding off Brodhead-Juda's Levi Frost (16.30) and Andy Goodman (17.01). In the 300 hurdles, Beckman posted a 42.33 to beat teammate Kelvin Johnson (42.72) and Frost (42.89).
The Raiders' only other event title came from Garrison Woods, who won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 5 1/5 inches. Woods (41-11 3/4) was second to Brodhead-Juda's Joey Jordan (42-2 3/4) in the triple jump. Meanwhile, Raiders distance standout Ryan McCoy finished second in the 3,200 (10:02.52) and third in the 1,600, while Wesley Morgan was fourth in the 800 (2:00.71).
"Ryan did just enough to get through. Same thing with Wesley Morgan and Jon Beckman," Schettler said. "All three of those guys are heavy hitters for us and we hope they can continue to do it on Thursday."
The Raiders also qualified three relays, the 400 unit (Cody Bigler, Max Eggenberger, Ethan Gassman and Woods) and 1,600 squad (Johnson, Beckman, Josh Stern, Morgan) both finishing second while the 3,200 team (Stern, Riley Miler, McCoy, Morgan) was third.
Monroe had three champions and won three of the four relay titles in finishing second.
The most dominating performance came from Ethan Moehn, who won the 800 by more than a second in 1:57.12.
"He just took that race over and that's going to be one of the better times run tonight in the state in Division 2," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Ethan's only a sophomore, but he runs with the maturity of a senior, which is nice to see."
The other individual champs were Cody Oudinot in the 1,600 (4:42.86) and Jake Hirsbrunner in the high jump (6-4).
"He's been waiting for that," Miller said of Hirsbrunner. "It's taken some time getting him healthy, but he's finally starting to come along. I'm glad to see Jake peaking at the right time."
The Cheesemakers sent all four relay teams to sectionals, winning the 400, 800 and 1,600 and finishing second in the 3,200.
The 1,600 unit of Skyler Stingley, Alex Barenklau, Moehn and Matt Bush posted a 3:25.82, winning by nearly six seconds over Sugar River.
"We're as excited about that relay as anything else we're doing right now," Miller said. "Matt Bush was a little sick today and he still anchored home under a 51-second split."
Seth Calaway, Dakota Phillips, Jon Becker and Forest Klug-Hanson won the 400 in 45.41 while Barenklau, Phillips, Klug-Hanson and Stingley won the 800 in 1:33.15 and.
Other sectional qualifiers for Monroe include Calaway in the 200 (second, 24.04), David Kelly in the 400 (third, 54.34), Nick Gross in the 400 (fourth, 54.56), Luke Peterson in the 3,200 (third,10:14.59) and Bryce Messerli in the long jump (fourth, 19-0 1/2).
Brodhead-Juda's 800 relay (Joey Jordan, Trent Jordan, Dillon Larson, Koel Steinman) was second in 1:33.81. The Cardinals' 400 relay (Josh Dourghtey, Goodman, Neno Heredia, Cody Stuchey) was fourth in 46.42, as was their 3,200 relay (David Earleywine, Steinman, Dylan Johnson, Larson) in 8:36.23. Stuchy advanced in the in the 200 (fourth, 24.39) and Logan Mauer moved on in the shot put (third, 41-10 1/2).
"I have never ever approached a regional trying to win it," the Sugar River coach said. "I've been coaching for 22 years and this is my first regional title."
It came Monday courtesy of the Sugar River boys, who had a double individual winner in hurdler Jon Beckman en route to scoring 116 points to hold off second-place Monroe (108), Madison Edgewood (105) and McFarland (99) in a Division 2 regional at Belleville High School. Brodhead-Juda was fifth with 77 points.
With all the strong teams Schettler has coached over the years, it's a bit surprising the Raiders have never won a title.
"At this point, we just want to make sure we get to the next level and for the most part we got everybody through we hoped we would," Schettler said.
Beckman dominated, his time of 15.70 seconds in the 110 high hurdles easily holding off Brodhead-Juda's Levi Frost (16.30) and Andy Goodman (17.01). In the 300 hurdles, Beckman posted a 42.33 to beat teammate Kelvin Johnson (42.72) and Frost (42.89).
The Raiders' only other event title came from Garrison Woods, who won the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 5 1/5 inches. Woods (41-11 3/4) was second to Brodhead-Juda's Joey Jordan (42-2 3/4) in the triple jump. Meanwhile, Raiders distance standout Ryan McCoy finished second in the 3,200 (10:02.52) and third in the 1,600, while Wesley Morgan was fourth in the 800 (2:00.71).
"Ryan did just enough to get through. Same thing with Wesley Morgan and Jon Beckman," Schettler said. "All three of those guys are heavy hitters for us and we hope they can continue to do it on Thursday."
The Raiders also qualified three relays, the 400 unit (Cody Bigler, Max Eggenberger, Ethan Gassman and Woods) and 1,600 squad (Johnson, Beckman, Josh Stern, Morgan) both finishing second while the 3,200 team (Stern, Riley Miler, McCoy, Morgan) was third.
Monroe had three champions and won three of the four relay titles in finishing second.
The most dominating performance came from Ethan Moehn, who won the 800 by more than a second in 1:57.12.
"He just took that race over and that's going to be one of the better times run tonight in the state in Division 2," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Ethan's only a sophomore, but he runs with the maturity of a senior, which is nice to see."
The other individual champs were Cody Oudinot in the 1,600 (4:42.86) and Jake Hirsbrunner in the high jump (6-4).
"He's been waiting for that," Miller said of Hirsbrunner. "It's taken some time getting him healthy, but he's finally starting to come along. I'm glad to see Jake peaking at the right time."
The Cheesemakers sent all four relay teams to sectionals, winning the 400, 800 and 1,600 and finishing second in the 3,200.
The 1,600 unit of Skyler Stingley, Alex Barenklau, Moehn and Matt Bush posted a 3:25.82, winning by nearly six seconds over Sugar River.
"We're as excited about that relay as anything else we're doing right now," Miller said. "Matt Bush was a little sick today and he still anchored home under a 51-second split."
Seth Calaway, Dakota Phillips, Jon Becker and Forest Klug-Hanson won the 400 in 45.41 while Barenklau, Phillips, Klug-Hanson and Stingley won the 800 in 1:33.15 and.
Other sectional qualifiers for Monroe include Calaway in the 200 (second, 24.04), David Kelly in the 400 (third, 54.34), Nick Gross in the 400 (fourth, 54.56), Luke Peterson in the 3,200 (third,10:14.59) and Bryce Messerli in the long jump (fourth, 19-0 1/2).
Brodhead-Juda's 800 relay (Joey Jordan, Trent Jordan, Dillon Larson, Koel Steinman) was second in 1:33.81. The Cardinals' 400 relay (Josh Dourghtey, Goodman, Neno Heredia, Cody Stuchey) was fourth in 46.42, as was their 3,200 relay (David Earleywine, Steinman, Dylan Johnson, Larson) in 8:36.23. Stuchy advanced in the in the 200 (fourth, 24.39) and Logan Mauer moved on in the shot put (third, 41-10 1/2).
