Raiders relish the state experience
Carlson garners four medals at D-3 state meet
The Marathon Red Raiders brought in a mix of savy veterans and talented newcomers to UW - La Crosse and Veterans Memorial Stadium to duel with the best of the best in D-3 for the 125th WIAA state track and field tournament.
“It was fun to be back in La Crosse; it feels like we’re starting to get things back to normal again,” head coach EJ Otto said, expressing what everyone felt. “The kids got to run in front of a crowd and experience this. As far as our team? I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Spread out over three days, with each division having its own day, the Red Raiders took to the throwing pits and race track on Thursday in an attempt to win glory for their schools, their communities and for themselves.
A pair of seniors, Sam Dick and Hope Krautkramer, were returning to the state tournament after qualifying in 2019.
Hope was the sole girl representing Marathon on Thursday, and very nearly made the podium in both discus and shot put, placing inside the top ten in each.
Krautkramer’s first two throws in the shot where in the mid 30’s, but her third throw went 36-07.25. Three more throws followed, but none were better than her third. As a result of that effort, Krautkramer picked up eighth place, and earned one point for Marathon.
Krautkramer capped her Red Raider career in the discus, finishing in tenth place with a distance of 103-06.
“I’m happy for Hope. She’s put in her time here, had to miss last year, and I know she would have got down here last year,” coach Otto said. “All the accolades she got are well-deserved because she put in the time and effort.”
Seniors Jared Sweno and Matt Vandeboom joined their teammates Sam Dick and Matthew Annis to form a potent 4x100-meter relay. Their combined time of 44.86 very nearly put them on the podium, but with only the top six earning medals, the team placed eight in 44.86 seconds, missing the podium by less than three tenths of a second.
Michael Kindlarski recorded another top ten finish for Marathon. The fast and high flying junior qualified for the finals of the 110-meter hurdles by placing ninth in the prelims in 16.71 seconds.
Unfortunately, with a powerful headwind blowing in his face, Michael finished ninth in the finals in 17.58 seconds. After his race, Kindlarski said he was glad to be at state, and hopes he can return for his senior season.
“It’s really great to be here, but there’s definitely a lot of things I can improve upon personally. I’m just really hoping next year I can hit the pinnacle and really compete at the level I want to.”
He says he saw some things from his competitors that he will look to incorporate in his own technique to help get him on the podium in 2022.
“It’s also great to see what are things other people are really good at that I can use to improve on myself. I saw a bunch of tiny things that I can improve upon just by watching my competitors.”
Griffin Treankler was not able to compete last year as a freshman, so he used 2021 to show people what they missed out on. Treankler qualified for state in the 300-meter hurdles, and on Thursday he placed 14th in 44.60 seconds.
“Griffin Treankler, outstanding year, just a sophomore. He got down to state this year and hopefully next year he’s down here again and in three events. He lost a year but he’s worked hard to make up that difference.”
Junior Brett Gertschen was in La Crosse for the first time in his prep track career, and he qualified in both the shot and the discus. Gertschen’s throw of 139-02 in the discus was good enough for tenth overall. His throw of 40-10.75 in the shot got him 14th in the state.
Marathon saved the best for last, with Friday the day of the WIAA D-2 meet, but also the state wheelchair competition.
Sophomore Drake Carlson had the best results of any Red Raider at state.
Carlson placed in every event he participated in. His 23 points on the day was fifth place overall, and his best event, the one mile, led to a silver medal, as he crossed the finish line only behind defending state champion Noah Eckelberg of Columbus Catholic.
Carlson’s time of 5:30.40 was a PR, but his day was jam packed with four events. It would be a long day, but he put trust in coach Otto, who admitted this was also new territory for him.
“It’s a learning experience for myself, and I couldn’t be happier for Drake. He’s worked all this spring with the track team, and he’s had to listen to me tell him he has to do this, this and this today,” Otto said. “But you know, he’s up there getting some medals for his effort, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.”
Carlson added more hardware to his silver medal with three fourth place finishes in the 100-meters (22.32), the 400-meters (1:20.42) and the shot put (17-03.25).
For some athletes, like Hope, Sam, Jared and Matt, the completion of the WIAA D-2 meet on Friday was the final day in a Red Raiders uniform. For others, Friday was the start of something more.
“I got a lot of young kids coming back,” Otto said. “They got the feeling and found out that it’s a little nerve-wracking. But all those kids are back next year. The kids are all coachable; down the road they are going to be great in life and great in track in the coming years.”
CARLSON MAKES THE PODIUM- Marathon sophomore Drake Carlson placed in all four wheelchair events he partook in at the state tournament on Friday.SN PHOTO/MATT FREY
