Finding strengths is what will propel Knights onward

By Ginna Young

With only so many meets left in the season, the Cornell-Lake Holcombe track program has to buckle down and get as much from each experience as possible – as long as the weather cooperates.

April 23 Chetek-Weyerhaeuser Meet

After their previous meet was canceled, the Knights were ready to get out on the track at Chetek.

“The cold and windy conditions were rough on the kids, but we got in some good performances, nonetheless,” said coach Sean Schmidt.

Taking top honors for the boys, was senior Trent Nitek, who placed first in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 11.01, while junior Chase Burgess was sixth in that event (11.96). Placing fourth in the 800-meter run, was sophomore Alex Dixon (2:25.96), who also was seventh in the triple jump (32-07.5), and sophomore Logan Jaedike finished fifth in the 400-meter dash (58.66).

Senior Will Peterson also placed in the top 10, coming in seventh in the discus throw (110) and ninth in shot put (36-06).

On the girls’ side of things, sophomore Megan Paff was third in shot put (31-08.5) and 10th in discus (74-08), while freshman Katya Kuc took sixth in the pole vault event (6-06) and senior Lauren Samardzich ended eighth in the 400 dash (1:08.64).

“Meets allow us to flex what we’ve got, but without meets, we can’t get into that rhythm of progression as well as we’d like to, so Tuesday’s meet was critical to see where we’re at,” said Schmidt. “There’s still progress to be made, but we’re in a good place right now.”

April 27 Bruce/Rice Lake Meets

The squad split up for their next assignment, with the majority heading to Bruce, while two headed to Rice Lake to compete individually.

“We decided to send Trent and Chase to Rice Lake, and the rest of the team to Bruce, because Trent and Chase are two outstanding sprinters, who needed the extra tough competition at a meet like Rice Lake, and they definitely showed up to the challenge,” said Schmidt. “At Bruce, the rest of the team was a mixed bag, with some great ups and frustrating downs.”

For the girls, Kuc claimed first in the pole vault (7-06), while freshman Brooklyn Anders took second in the 100 dash (14.64) and Paff was right behind for third in that event (15.07). Sophomore Hannah Kinard also placed eighth in the 100 dash (15.37), while Paff was fifth in the discus throw (82-02.5) and shot put (26-04).

Kuc also placed sixth in shot put (26-01.25) and Anders ended in seventh in the 200-meter dash (33.90).

On the boys’ side, Peterson took third in discus (101) and fourth in shot put (32-10), while sophomore Ronin Minnick was fourth in the 800 run (2:41.33) and eighth in the shot put event (27-01.5). Senior Zach Schurtz placed ninth in long jump (13-09.5) and the 200 dash (28.63), and 10th in the 100 dash (14.43).

At Rice Lake, Nitek was third in the 200 dash (22.81) and Burgess was 18th in the 100 dash (12.16).

“With just a couple weeks until conference, I already know who’s showing up and who’s not,” said Schmidt,” so at this point, I’ve just got to plan our meets around the kids who show up every week, to do their best.”