Milaca’s Taylar Bockoven is Class 2A pole vault champion

Teen is the first Wolves athlete to win a track and field state championship since 2015

In a stunning display of athleticism and determination, Milaca sophomore Taylar Bockoven clinched the title of state champion in pole vault at the MSHSL Class 2A track and field meet on Friday, June 7.

Bockoven qualified to compete in long jump, the 4x100-meter relay, and pole vault.

She cleared the lower heights on her first attempts and peaked at 12 feet, which allowed her to earn first place. In the process, she broke the school record she had set at the Section 5-2A meet earlier this year and secured her place at the top of the podium. Bockoven is Milaca’s first state champion since 2015.

“Bockoven has been training for this all year and it is wonderful to see her efforts pay off,” Wolves girls track and field head coach Wendy Hakes-Anderson said. “Being a state champ is impressive.”

The Milaca team had six girls qualify in seven events at the state meet.

Lilly Voss qualified in the high jump by clearing 5-1, which is the state qualifying height at the section meet. At the state meet, Voss cleared 4-11 and took 23rd out of 32 high jumpers.

Bockoven qualified in the long jump with the distance of 17-3, which allowed her to break another school record. At state, Bockoven jumped 16-3.5, which had her place 20th out of 33.

Milaca’s 4x100 relay team returned to the state meet for the third consecutive year. They had three returning athletes: Bockoven, Frannie Freese and Samantha Meyer. The new addition to the team was freshman Addison Arens. They ran a smooth preliminary race, but the competition was fierce and the team didn’t make the finals.

Milaca’s wheelchair athlete Emily Scheidegger continued to improve her times and received medals in all three of her races. She earned second place in the 400m, third place in the 200m, and fourth place in the 100m races. Scheidegger and the coaches made connections with other wheelchair athletes and coaches that can help them next year.

As the season concludes, Bockoven’s name will be remembered not only for her state title but also for her contribution to the Milaca team. All these female athletes continue a legacy for Milaca’s track and field team that could inspire the next generation of athletes.