Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland/Southland
Head Coaches: Rebecca Young (boys), Aaron Thauwald (girls).
2024 Season: GMLOKS’ girls won their fifth straight 1A True Team title and were state runner-up by 1.5 points. The GMLOKS boys took third at the 1A Meet and made state by “Wild Card,” their fourth straight state appearance. They took seventh. Individually, Sam Snitker was 1A and state champ in the High Jump. Tate Goergen was 1A and state runner-up in the 800-meters. The girls 4×200 (Lydia Redman, Gracie Foster, Breeley Galle, Chantle Reiland) was 1A runner-up and took third at state. Reiland was 1A champ in the 100 and 200, taking fifth and sixth at state while also competing in the Long Jump. Lexy Foster was 1A champ in the Shot Put, taking sixth at state. Galle and G-Foster each qualified for state in the 100-hurdles, taking seventh and eighth. Snitker and L-Foster graduated.
Seniors: (girls) Chantle Reiland, Grace Soltau, Lauren Queensland, Nevaeh Shaw, Brynn Sathre; (boys) Emerson Willford, Bailey Drees, Seth Howard, Gavin Hubka, Zach Reiland, Obi Watson, Malachi Young, Connor Popenhagen, Kaleb Younker.
Juniors: (girls) Lydia Redman, Kaylie Betts, Eliahna Watson, Kaelynn Howard, Caisa Kolling, Naomi Warmka, Keyawin Stier, Gracie Foster, Diana Garcia, Emma Lewison, Breeley Galle, Avery Stroup; (boys) Kaaleem Reiland, Michael Johnson, Carter Glynn, Cole Reid, Brede Nelson, Kameron Horgeshimer.
Key Underclassmen: Tate Goergen (So.), Bently Wiersma (So.), Nathaniel Drees (So.), Cody Howard (So.), Brynna Nelson (So.), Amelia McCabe (Fr.), Rylee Holst (Fr.), Brynlee Koenigs (8th).
Kids to Watch: GMLOKS returns five state entrants who qualified in 10 total events. Chantle Reiland is probably the most acclaimed returning track and field athlete of the five “Journal Sports” t/f conglomerates. She has 10 career state qualifications including four state titles (4×200 thrice, 100-meters in 2023). She qualified in four events last year with three state podium appearances. The entire 4×200 returns, as Lydia Redman, Gracie Foster and Breeley Galle join Reiland. They will look to get the 4×200 back to winning state titles after last year’s third place finish. Galle and Foster each also qualified for state in the 100-hurdles. They (Galle 6th 300-H, 7th Triple Jump; Foster 6th T-Jump, 8th 300-H) were each top eight in sections at two other events. Galle has six career state qualifications total (three 4x200s, two 300-hurdles, one 100-hurdle). On the boys’ side, Tate Goergen is the defending state runner-up in the 800-meters. He will look for a title with state champ Jayce Kiehne of LFCMC graduating. Elsewhere, Lauren Queensland (4th High Jump), Caisa Kolling (4th Discus), Kaleb Younker (5th 300-H, 8th 110-H), Amelia McCabe (5th Pole Vault), and Naomi Warmka (7th 1,600) all return after finishing top eight at sections. Three-fourths of the section fifth place boys 4×400 (Carter Glynn, Goergen, Younker) returns. Nathaniel Drees and Zach Reiland return from the 1A sixth place 4×100. Drees, Glynn and Goergen return from the 1A sixth place 4×800. L-Redman (100), Brynna Nelson (400, 4×400), Avery Stroup (P-Vault), Brynn Sathre (Discus), Z-Reiland (200), Drees (400), Glynn (1,600), Cody Howard (300-H), Brede Nelson (P-Vault), Bently Wiersma (Long Jump, T-Jump), Kailyn Schneider (4×100), and Brynlee Koenigs (4×100) also competed at sections. All the section qualifying girls 4×400 (Queensland, Nelson, Warmka, Rylee Holst) returns. L-Queensland (2021 > 4×800) and Glynn (2023, 4×800) are former state relay team qualifiers.
Lanesboro/Fillmore Central/Mabel-Canton
Head Coaches: Lori Anderson (girls), Alex Aiken (boys).
2024 Season: LFCMC’s boys and girls each made True Team state by Wild Card. The boys were 1A runner-up and took sixth at state. The girls took tenth of 12 at state. The girls have made state seven straight years, the boys six. Individually, Jayce Kiehne won the 800-meter 1A and state titles. The boys 4×00 (Kiehne, Mason Howard, Luke Ruen, Isaac Snyder) took sixth at state. Lucas Nikoloski took eighth in the Discus. Boston Wright (Pole Vault), Autumn Rakosnik (3,200), Kammry Broadwater (Discus), the girls 4×400 (Broadwater, Kinley Soiney, Sahara Morken, Lillyan Kiehne) and 4×800 (Rakosnik, Morken, Broadwater, Kiehne) each also made state. Graduation hit LFCMC hard, as state qualifiers J-Kiehne, Howard, Ruen, Snyder, Nikoloski, Wright and Broadwater all moved on.
Seniors: (girls) Audra Otto, Ava Jacobsen, Bailey Erwin, Brooklyn Simon, Sahara Morken; (boys) Weston Collins, Greg Kennedy, Maddex Rindels, Landon Sethre.
Juniors: (girls) Aubrey Daniels, Elizabeth Clarke, Sari Rein, Lillyan Kiehne, Kyla Hellickson, Kinley Soiney; (boys) Jaxon Huntington, Gryffen Rein, Kenny Hutchinson, Sander Vatland, Brody Niemeyer, Davis Penhollow, Cody Serfling.
Key Underclassmen: Parker Krage (So.), Autumn Rakosnik (Fr.), Charlotte Ferrie (8th grade).
Kids to Watch: Autumn Rakosnik (3,200 1A runner-up) is the sole returning individual state qualifier, a three-event state qualifier last year. Three-quarters of the state qualifying 4×400 (Rakosnik, Sahara Morken, Lillyan Kiehne) and the state qualifying 4×800 teams (Rakosnik, Morken, Kiehne) return. Kyla Hellickson (5th High Jump), Brody Niemeyer (6th Shot Put), and Greg Kennedy (4th 4×200) are other section top six returning placers. Every member of the girls section qualifying 4×100 (Charlotte Ferrie, Aubrey Daniels, Soiney, Bailey Erwin) and 4×200 (Daniels, Soiney, Sari Rein, Erwin) teams return. Three-fourths of the boys 1A qualifying 4×800 (Maddox Rindels, Jaxon Huntington, Landon Sethre) returns. Brooklyn Simon (800) and Parker Krage (Pole Vault), also return after competing at sections.
Rushford-Peterson/Houston
Head Coaches: David Jewison and Dale Moga
2024 Season: RPH’s boys took fourth at the 1A True Team Meet, the girls tenth (of 21). The boys were TRC runner-up while the girls took sixth (of 10). Individually, Lauren Honken (Pole Vault) took third at state. Aubry Boldt qualified in the 100-meter hurdles, the Triple Jump, and the Long Jump, taking sixth and eighth in the first two. Ryan Prinsen (800) took fifth. Quintin Betthauser (300-hurdles) and Gregg Gile (Triple Jump) also were state qualifiers. Gile won the 1A Triple Jump title. Of that group, only Honken and Prinsen graduated. Betthauser is not out for track and field though.
Seniors: (girls) Ellasyn Carrier, Chloe Duffield, Kiara Johnson, Kyra Kotsmith; (boys) Cadel Carter, Gregg Gile, Matthew Hengel, Casey Herek, Aden Kulas, Matthew Sprague, Foster Wilcenski.
Juniors: (girls) Elaine Griffin, Aubry Boldt, Cambria Bauer, Nadia Happel, Ava Helgemoe, Aspyn Knutson, Cadence Koehler, Jorja Meyer, Ludovica Pomponi, Quinn Potter, Gretta Sasso, Shelby Smith, Hannah Tuveson; (boys) Christo Badenhorst, Landon Dahl, Treyton Hegland, Ross Heiden, Logan Kinstler, Caden Mattson, Aaron Ploetz, Isaac Rasmussen, Hunter Rislov.
Key Underclassmen: Chace Drazkowksi (So.), Vada Larson (So.), Brennan Kunst (So.).
Kids to Watch: Hurdler and jumper Aubry Boldt is RPH’s top returnee. The long athlete was a three-event state entrant last season (100-hurdles, Triple Jump, Long Jump). She has five career state track and field qualifications total. Gregg Gile is the defending 1A champ in the Triple Jump, a state qualifier. Additionally, Jorja Meyer (3rd Discus, 6th Shot Put) and Chace Drazkowski (4th Shot, 8th Discus) each made the podium in both throw events at sections last year. Casey Herek twice finished top seven at sections in the hurdles a year ago (6th 110-H, 7th 300-H). Distance runners Matthew Sprague (7th 800) and Hunter Rislov (7th 4×400) also finished highly at the 1A meet. Sprague made state as part of the 4×800 in 2023. Vada Larson (1,600), Aaron Ploetz (1,600), Cadel Carter (Pole Vault), and Matthew Hengel (Discus) also competed at sections. All four members of the 1A meet qualifying 4×800 (Isaac Rasmussen, Brennan Kunst, Sprague, Treyton Hegland) return.
Chatfield Gophers
Head Coach: Jeff DeBuhr
2024 Season: The girls took sixth at the 1A True Team meet, the boys 10th (of 21). The girls took fifth at the TRC Meet, the boys 8th (of 10 teams). Individually, Chatfield’s girls 4×100 and 4×200 teams (Lauryn Daniels, Savannah Peterson, Evy Goldsmith, Jaelyn LaPlante) each won 1A titles and finished as runner-up at state. LaPlante also qualified for state in the High Jump and 200-meters. Daniels and Goldsmith graduated.
Seniors: (girls) Jaelyn LaPlante, Charlotte Oeltjen, Rebecca Copeman, Aviana Thompson; (boys) Jacob Stevens, Keegan Patten.
Juniors: (girls) Hannah Tweten, Grace Patten, Elizabeth Lane, Julia Goldsmith; (boys) Ivar Stavlund, Gavin Palus, Maddex Lanning, Keyan Danninger, Jakob Braune-Krickau.
Key Underclassmen: Savannah Peterson (So.), Lexi Kivimagi (So.), Lane Schmaltz (So.), Zach Whalen (So.), Logan Pearson (Fr.), Lillie Stejskal (8th grader).
Kids to Watch: Senior Jaelyn LaPlante is the Gophers’ top returnee, a four-event state qualifier last year (4×100, 4×200, 200, High Jump). She also was a two-event state relay qualifier in 2023. Savannah Peterson is the only other girl returning from Chatfield’s two-state runner-up girls sprint (4×100, 4×200) relay teams. She has also run on four state relay teams while also making sections last year in two other events (7th 100, 8th Long Jump). Lexi Kivimagi (4th 1,600, 4th 3,200),) Lane Schmaltz (5th-tie Pole Vault), Zach Whalen (5th-tie Pole Vault), Charlotte Oeltjen (6th 3,200), Rebecca Copeman (6th Pole Vault), and Jake Stevens (8th Shot Put) each finished highly at sections last year. Kivimagi and Lille Stejskal also ran as parts of the 1A qualifying girls 4×400 team. Keegan Patten (110-hurdles, 300-hurdles) and Ivar Stavlund (3,200) also competed individually at sections. Patten, Schmaltz, and Logan Pearson comprise three-fourths of last year’s boys 1A qualifying 4×200 team.
Caledonia/Spring Grove
Head Coach: Reese Wait (boys), Mitchell Bechtel (girls).
2024 Season: Caledonia/Spring Grove did not compete in the Section 1A True Team meet. The boys took 4th at the TRC Meet, the girls 10th (of 10). Individually, the boys 4×100 (Eli Staggemeyer, Gabe Curley, Owen Staggemeyer, Josh Beardmore) and 4×200 (same plus Fischer Wait) were Section 1A and state champs. Beardmore was the 100-meter 1A and state champion while also qualifying for state in the Long Jump. Jordan Tornstrom was 1A champ and state runner-up in the Discus. Wait took third in the 400 and sixth in the 200 at state. E-Staggemeyer (4th 100) and Ethan Stendel (7th High Jump) each made the state podium also while Gabe Curley (200) qualified. Their boys team were the champions of the state individual meet. The girls 4×200 (Loisah Gay, Chloe Lange, Sienna Augedahl, Nicole Banse) qualified for state. Beardmore, Curley and Tornstrom graduated. Gal runner Gay got hurt in soccer and will not compete.
Key Returnees: (boys) Eli Staggemeyer (Sr.), Owen Staggemeyer (Sr). Ethan Stendel (Sr.), Fischer Wait (Sr.); (girls) Sienna Augedahl (Sr.), Nicole Banse (Jr.), Chloe Lange (Jr.).
Kids to Watch: Speed was Caledonia’s big game last year. They will be fast again this year. The Staggemeyer twins, Eli and Owen, return after competing on state title winning 4×100 and 4×200 teams. E-Staggemeyer also took fourth in the 100 at state individually. O-Staggemeyer has ran on back-to-back state qualifying 4×100 and 4×200 teams. He also qualified for sections in the 200 last year. Fischer Wait also returns after running with the state champion 4×200 while placing twice individually at state (3rd 400, 6th 200). He has five career state qualifications. Ethan Stendel has twice made state in the High Jump including taking seventh last year. Three-fourths of the state qualifying girls 4×200 (Nicole Banse, Sienna Augedahl, Chloe Lange) and section 4th place 4×100 team (same) returns. Stendel (3rd 110-hurdles) and Banse (7th Long Jump) also finished highly at sections in other events.
Track and Field (3/22)
Luther College Indoor Meet (GMLOKS competed with Decorah, Crestwood, St. Charles, Onalaska, and La Crosse Logan. On the girls’ side, Chantle Reiland (55-meters > 7.31; 200-meters > 26.47) swept the sprints while adding a second place (Long Jump). Breeley Galle (55-hurdles), Victoria Knode (400), and Lauren Queensland (High Jump) took second. Zoe Steinkamp (800) took fourth. Kloe Meyer (Shot Put) took fifth. On the boys’ side, the 1,600-meter sprint medley (Zach Reiland, Bently Wiersma, Nathaniel Drees, Carter Glynn) took second. Rowan Sween (3rd Shot Put), Wiersma (3rd Triple Jump, 5th Liong Jump, 5th 200) and Z-Reiland (4th 55-meters) had the top individual finishes)
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