Track and field: Lodi boys second at sectionals

Exceeding expectations, the Lodi boys’ track and field team came up a bit short in its bid for a sectional championship.

Competing at Portage on Thursday, May 23, the Blue Devils were projected to score 62 points, according to head coach Randy Skellenger. However, they racked up 74, good enough for second place, as Lodi finished 2.5 points behind first-place McFarland.

“The ladies also had a solid meet finishing 12th overall this a ton of PRs,” said Skellenger. “Points and placement aside, we had a fantastic meet overall and got a bunch of kids to state with a lot of season-best performances.”

Gavin Sargeant is returning to state in both the triple jump (46-5.5) and the long jump (22-6.75), after taking first in both events. He is the defending state champion in the triple jump, and Sargeant will be joined by teammate Bennett Nyquist in the long jump. Nyquist finished third in the event by going 21-1.75.

Overcoming wrist surgery, Ben Skellenger is also going back to La Crosse, after taking second in the pole vault by clearing 12-9.

Other individual boys headed to state include Isaiah Groskopf, who finished third at Portage in the shot put with a throw of 51-9.25, and Zach Nyquist, who placed third in the 300 hurdles in 41.06.

The Lodi boys are also sending two relay teams to state, including the sectional champion 400 relay group of Mason Lane, Jack Bozacki, Noah Houdek and Aiden Groskopf. Ben Skellenger is the alternate. The 1,600 relay team of Zach Nyquist, Brody Ripp, Walter Beld and Houdek took fourth in a time of 3:27.13, but they are going to state, as well.

For the Lodi girls, Izzy Bahe is the lone representative, as she took third in the discus with a throw of 121-10,

The state meet takes place in La Crosse Friday through Saturday, May 31-June 1, at Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex.