The Maple Lake boys and girls track teams are looking forward to another successful season thanks to a strong core of returning athletes
On the boys side, much of the same group returns that lead the team to a second place Central Minnesota Conference finish, a second place finish at the State True Team and a sub-section championship.
Among the team’s leaders will be Andrew Schonnesen, Jackson Willard, Scott Jordan and Ryan Kalinowski, the four athletes that made up the highly successful 4×800-meter relay team.
Last year, that group of boys ran to a runner-up finish at the Minnesota State High School League State Track and Field Meet in the 4×800. Schonnesen also qualified for state in the high jump.
“Our boys will be tough in field events and the mid-distance,” coach Ben Youngs said.
The girls side will be younger than the boys, with fewer seniors and less experience, but they will a solid team as well, Youngs said.
Returning for them are a handful of section place winners including Sommer Carlson who placed in the 800-meter run at sections; Halle Geyen who placed in the 3200-meter run; Jordan Sifferle who placed in the 100-meter hurdles, triple jump, long jump and pole vault; Brynn Paumen who placed in the high jump and the long jump and Mollie Graham who placed in the pole vault.
Youngs expects to have strong 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800-meter relay teams again this year as well.
On the boys side, the Irish can boast the return of section place-winners Dustin Strub in the 100-meter dash and Scott Jordan in the pole vault and triple jump.
A total 42 ninth through 12th grade boys and 38 ninth through 12th grade girls return to the team this year.
“We will be solid in distance and in sprints,” Youngs predicted, “but we will be young in those areas.”
The Irish started practice on Thursday, March 9, and are hoping that the fair weather will get them ahead in their training.
Their first meet is scheduled for Monday, March 20, at St. Cloud State University at 6 p.m.
Holdingford will be the team to beat in CMC for both the boys and girls teams this year, but there are others that will be strong this season as well including Rockford, Howard Lake, Pierz and Eden Valley-Watkins-Kimball.
Those teams are on the rise and always solid, Youngs said.
Boys and girls track schedule
• Friday, March 20, at St. Cloud State University, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 24, indoors at Monticello, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 7, at Rockford, 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 9, at Norwood-Young America, 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 16, at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 4 p.m.
• Monday, April 20, at Maple Lake, 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 23, at Maple Lake, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 28,at Rockford, 4 p.m.
• Friday, May 1, at St. John’s Prep, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 5, True Team Section at Maple Lake, 2:15 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 12, CMC at Rockford, 3:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 16, True Team State at Stillwater, 10 a.m.
• Tuesday, May 19, subsection 17A meet at Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, TBD
• Wednesday, May 27, Section 5A meet at St. John’s University, 10 a.m.
• Friday, June 5-6, State Meet, Hamline University, TBD
Boys track roster
Seniors – Alec Hausladen, Andrew Schonnesen, Austin Stuefen, Charlie Stejskal, Cullen Gallagher, Dan Upcraft, David Stokman, Dustin Strub, Hunter Hicks, Jackson Willard, Ryan Kalinowski, Scott Jordan. Juniors – Austin Becker, Chase Olson, Devin Deringer, Holden Youngs, Justin Harvey, Morgan Moeller, Nick Paumen, Ross Hickey, Ryan Cargil, Tanner Vassar. Sophomores – Aaron Reese, Ben Triplett, Brady Tongen, Erik Raymond, Josh Medley, Simon Willard, Tanner Schmid, Levi Helmbrecht, Michael Latour, Tyler Cranston. Ninth grade – Dan Miller, Henry Stecker, Jacob Fynboh, Jason Webb, Joe Elsenpeter, Kyle Scherber, Nick Borgert, Noah Hayes, Quinn Youngs, Sam Neutz.
Girls track roster
Seniors – Mackenzie Rumsey, Mollie Graham, Kayla Hoistad. Juniors – Catie Medley, Jordan Sifferle, Kelly Beissel, Maddy Neu, Marisa Hendrickson, Megan Webb, Olivia Wolff-Herda, Sadie Pingel, Sara Simonette, Sommer Carlson, Tara Holmgren. Sophomores – Emma Carlson, Halle Geyen, Kenzi Miller, Shelby Larson, Tayler Elsenpeter. Ninth grade – Brynn Paumen, Caitlin Weege, Catie Fobbe, Chloe Riviere, Emily Rasset, Grace Thiele, Hanna Stewig, Jordyn Hausladen, Kaitlyn Murphy, Kaleigh Beehler, Katelyn Fuller, Katelyn Kramer, Kora Fuller, Mackenna Brown, Maggie Miller, Margaret Graham, Megan Wasserman, Natalie Johnson, Shauni Johnson, Sienna Ortiz.
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