Lakeside boys win 8 events, claim sectional track and field title; Lake Mills qualifies for state in 3 events

WALWORTH -- The Warriors are headed to La Crosse, looking to defend their crown.

Lakeside Lutheran's boys track and field team put on another powerhouse display, winning the Division 2 Big Foot sectional by 48 points with a total of 129.

"It is hard to describe how much fun this season has been," Lakeside co-head track and field coach Justin Vanderhoof said. "Last year, I predicted the boys would set seven new school records, which I thought was optimistic, but they did it.

"This year, we have already exceeded that with nine records broken and we still have the state meet in front of us."

Numerous athletes qualified for state with top four finishes.

Junior Ben Krauklis matched his school record in the boys 100 meter dash, crossing the line in 10.78 seconds to edge out Catholic Memorial junior Marvanous Butler-Brown by three hundredths of a second for the win.

Krauklis also won the 200 in 21.81, while senior teammate Alex Reinke was second in a PR time of 22.07.

"We preach every day that our goals are to improve; to get faster; to throw farther; to jump farther or jump higher," Vanderhoof said. "Our kids embrace that and push themselves, not only individually, but they push each other.

"Ben Krauklis and Alex Reinke have been running with and against each other in the 200 for three years. Both have owned the school record at different times, yet not once has there been any tension or conflict between the two. They both support and encourage each other, regardless of who wins the race.

"That same mentality is true for the entire team and is a big reason for our success."

The 800 relay team of junior Issiah Sampson, junior Tyler Dahlie, Krauklis and senior Alex Reinke bettered their seed time by .86 of a second to win in a school-record time of 1:28.16.

The 1,600 relay team of seniors Daniel Ertman and Karsten Grundahl, Dahlie and Reinke won in a PR time of 3:22.69. Their time established a new school record.

The 3,200 relay team of seniors Cameron Weiland, Gideon Ewerdt, Mark Garcia and Karsten Grundahl won by nearly eight seconds in 8:08.39.

Grundahl won the 800 in 1:56.50.

Weiland won the 3,200 in 9:40.19 and placed second in the 1,600 in 4:25.14.

Ertman placed second in the 400 in a PR time of 49.37.

Dahlie won the high jump (6 feet, 7 inches) and finished second in the triple jump (43-6 3/4). The high jump height was a five-inch PR.

Junior Nolan Schweighardt placed third in the pole vault (13-3), establishing a new school record. He broke Brandon Schilling's mark of 13 feet set in 2013.

Lakeside Lutheran's girls were led by senior Brielle Leis, who placed third in the shot put (34-6).

"I am extremely proud of the girls and their performances this season," Vanderhoof said. "It is exciting to have Brielle going to state after not having any girls qualify last year."

The Lake Mills boys qualified for state in three events.

Junior Thomas Cassady won the shot put (52-6 3/4). Senior Nathan Brzowski took third in the 300 intermediate hurdles in a PR time of 42.07.

The 3,200 relay team of junior Saul Lopez, sophomore Max Springer, junior Max Kressner and senior Jack Phillips placed fourth in 8:21.73.

The WIAA State Track and Field Championships will be held at UW-La Crosse on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1.

Team scores - boys: Lakeside Lutheran 129, Shorewood 81, Catholic Memorial 63.50, Milwaukee Academy of Science 60, Whitewater 36, Martin Luther 35, New Berlin West 31.50, Pius XI Catholic 29, Brown Deer 26, Lake Mills 24, New Berlin Eisenhower 22.50, Kingdom Prep Lutheran 22, Big Foot 20.50, St. Thomas More 20, Clinton 19, St. Francis 17, Shoreland Lutheran 15, Jefferson 13, University School of Milwaukee 12, Brookfield Academy 10, Racine St. Catherine's 8, East Troy 5, Cudahy 3.

Team scores - girls: New Berlin West 94.5, New Berlin Eisenhower 69, Pius XI Catholic 60, University School of Milwaukee 57, East Troy 57, Catholic Memorial 47, Delavan-Darien 41, Martin Luther 27, Shorewood 26.50, Dominican 25, Jefferson 24.50, Brookfield Academy 24, Lakeside Lutheran 21, St. Thomas More 19, Big Foot 18.50, St. Francis 17, Cudahy 16, Whitewater 13, Clinton 13, Shoreland Lutheran 10, Racine St. Catherine's 10, Lake Mills 5, Milwaukee North 4, Milwaukee Academy of Science 3.