County track teams race into spring

The Northland overcame a record-setting snowfall in February by having one of the driest months of March in history. That, in turn, allowed area running tracks to melt and local high school teams to get outside and do their thing.

The teams are ready to hit the road running this weekend and next week, and the Pine Knot News has put together a small-school preview to give our readers a chance to know their local teams.

CARLTON

The Bulldogs track program has 21 girls and 22 boys out for their teams this spring, according to coach Nicole Paulson. Carlton will rely on the leadership of Jayden Swanson, who returns after making the state meet last year in the triple jump.

"We expect big things from Jayden again this year; he led the boys team in points last year and is also strong in the 100," Paulson said. "Junior Adam Hey looks good for longer events including the 4x800 relay and his classmate, Ben Talarico, is showing promise in the discus. Sophomore Seth Mlodozyniec has worked hard to be competitive in the 800 and freshman Jayden Watson is strong for us in the sprints."

On the girls side, the Bulldogs have a number of athletes who should score points on a regular basis this season.

"Senior Remington Laveau will be strong in the 200 and our girls 4x400 relay team will definitely earn points with sophomores Elizabeth Hey, Arianna Griak, Ella Palmer and freshmen Morgan Laveau and Alexis Thompson. Alexis did well last season at the section final in the 300-meter hurdles and she's looking for a trip to state this year," Paulson said.

Coach Paulson is also excited about freshman Trent Bagne, who looks promising in the mile and 2-mile for the boys. Junior Matt Santkuyl should stand out in the high jump and freshman Alaina Kiehl has looked strong in the girls throwing events.

BARNUM

According to girls coach Jill Litfin and boys coach Rich Newman, Barnum's numbers are pretty high with a combined 60 athletes in grades 7-12 out for track. There are more boys than girls out this season.

Returning state competitors include senior Sam Goodwin in the shot put and discus, junior Alexis Bonneville in the discus, and freshman Reese Miletich in the girls 100-meter dash.

"On the boys team we are looking to Sam Goodwin and Garret Coughline to score points in the throwing events," said Litfin. "Tyler Nynas, Keith Carlson, Donovan Davis and Max Moors should score points in the mid-distance; Everett Fitzsimmons, Reed Kornovich and Austin Grover in the sprints, and Aiden Litfin, Donovan Davis and Dakota Litfin in the jumping events."

"On the girls team we are looking to Makenzee Schleret in the 400, Esther Vogt in the 800, Reese Miletich in the 100, and Lexi Bonneville and Kendal Miletich in the throwing events to score points for us," Litfin said. "We look for Brooke Doran to score points in the jumping events and our relays."

CROMWELL-WRIGHT

The Cardinals' numbers are nearly identical to Carlton's turnout this year, with 20 boys and 21 girls out this season.

According to longtime coach Dave Foster, the Cardinals return a number of performers who made it to the state meet last season.

"Anja Schoenberg, a junior, has competed in the sprint events at the state meet for four years in a row," Foster said. "Another junior, Shaily Hakamaki, has been to state the past three years and last year she placed in the long jump and the triple jump."

Three of the four sprinters who finished fifth at the state meet last year in the 4x100 relay return in seniors Cameron Cahoon and Kannon Korpela as well as junior Ben Hanson.

"These boys return from the 4x100 fifth-place finish at state," Foster said. "They also qualified in the 4x200 and they should be a part of a competitive 4x200 and 4x400 relay team this season."

Foster also has another top returner, Lacie Zoller, back this season. Zoller finished fourth in the sectionals in the discus.

Foster is in his 19th season as coach of the Cardinals.

SOUTH RIDGE

The South Ridge Panthers have strong numbers this season according to coach Jeremy Polson.

Included in the returning contingent of athletes are Jayton Nelson in the discus, Matt Kilbourn in the shot put, and Tristan Johnson in the triple jump. All three athletes made the sectional meet last season.

On the girls' side, the section 4x100 relay team returns - Makayla Mellesmoen, Sophie Lenz, Taylor Medjrich and Joey Lakoskey, who also ran in the sectionals and state meet last season.

"We lost one girl from this relay team, but we used five girls last season between sections and state," explained Polson.

Also look for Jillian Sajdak and Taina Koivisto to be big again in the 3200-meter run, while Kenadi Olson will return in the 100-meter hurdles and the high jump as well as Elle Ridged in the discus.

ESKO

Esko had huge numbers report on opening day with a grand total of 63 boys and 57 girls in grades 7-12.

The Esko boys team has numerous state meet participants returning, according to boys coach Gary Beaudot.

"Senior Sam Rengo participated in the 800-meter run as well as the 4x800 and the 4x400 relays," Beaudot said. "Lucas Bourgeault, who is a senior, was on last year's 4x800 team, and Aaron Moore also went to state in the 4x100, the 4x200, and the 4x400 teams."

While the boys team has numerous state performers returning, the girls team does not have that luxury. They do have a number of athletes who will vie for state this season.

"Emily Rengo and Sarah Strueber will be strong in the sprints and Ingrid Hexum will be strong in the distance events," said Esko girls coach Jessica Reckinger. "Allison Thornton will score points in the hurdles and high jump; Orie Randall will do the same in the pole vault; Ayisha Adamu will score in the triple jump, and Zoie Johnson will be strong in the shot put and discus."

Key to the future for the Esko girls is the huge number of younger athletes who have decided to make track their sport.

"The girls track team has 19 seventh-graders, which is the most I've seen in my five years," Reckinger said. "I am excited to see what these new girls can do for our team."

WRENSHALL

Wrenshall coaches Nick Moran and Kevin Oleson expect a large junior class to lead the boys team this season. The Wrens have 34 athletes, 20 boys and 14 girls out for the team this season.

"We have a large junior class this season and two of them made it to the sections track meet last season: Kaden Oleson in the 1600 and Dylann Ebarb in the 110-meter hurdles," Moran said. "We also have a few returners who were just on the edge of making the sections last year."

Those athletes were Christian O'Conner, Tim Swenson, Kris Kaspari and Austin Larva in the 4x100 relay.

"Seventh-grader Jack Riley, who had a strong cross-country season, will be running the 3200 and the 1600 for us," Moran continued. "On the ladies' side, look for Maggie Sowada, a freshman, to be strong in the sprints and hurdles for us. Also, sophomore Sam Nyberg, junior Taylor Brice, freshman Abbie Resberg and senior Cheyanne Carlson are returning throwers who have shown lots of potential."

According to Moran, practices have been going well and the weather has been cooperative.

"We are expecting our section runners from last season to make an appearance again as well as a few other individuals," Moran said. "We always expect our athletes to do their best and work hard to improve their times and distances."