The North Branch girls track and field team punched its ticket to the Class AA True Team State Championship at Stillwater High School on Saturday, May 18, after earning a second-place finish (605) at the Section 7AA True Team meet the week prior.
According to head coach Norman Nagel, he knew his Vikings had a chance to clinch the state meet after a minor revamp into the qualifications that sets teams up at the grand stage.
“We knew we had a chance because of the wild card,” Nagel said. “Basically, it was at first the top two teams from each side [boys and girls], and then they changed it to four. We were obviously in that first spot at second, so it was great to make it there and to be a part of something special. It was a great opportunity for our kids to go down there.”
A total of 24 teams, 12 in each gender class, battled it out with each other for the right to be represented as one of the best and most complete squads in the entire state. North Branch, led by a number of key athletes – most notably junior Dakota Esget and freshman Sophia Thorsen – made positive impacts early on to keep the Vikings within a tight race with multiple schools throughout the entirety of the meet.
The girls returned to the state True Team meet for the first time since 2022, where the team placed ninth overall and barely missed the cut a season ago.
“It’s between us and Chisago Lakes every year,” Nagel said, noting the tough section.
The Vikings maintained a solid pace to begin the day’s action with a second- and third-place finish from Thorsen and Esget, respectively, finishing the 100 in 12.59 and 12.67 – both personal records. The girls would each move just a place behind in the 200, as Thorsen recorded a time of 26.43, while Esget earned a 26.66.
Nagel noted how his expectations revolved around telling the girls to just go out there and have fun, while also competing at a high level.
“I told them to enjoy themselves and have some fun, to compete, to record personal records, and just use this chance to get ready for conference next week, and sections the week after that,” Nagel said.
The girls did just that, as Esget, Thorsen, and senior Madison Whitman placed within the top seven in the 400 and 800, with Esget placing third in 1:00.15, Thorsen taking fifth, and Whitman took seventh in the 800.
Shaeyna Andreotti, a senior who’s been consistent all season long, finished in third place in the 300 hurdles in 48.63, who would also finish the 100 hurdles in third place with a 15.73.
“We were in fifth place going into the 3200, and we dropped back to ninth after that. Our kids are growing, we are closing the gap a little bit,” Nagel said.
The high jump aspect saw junior Sophia Benedict and Thorsen tie for 10th on marks of 4-08.00, with junior Derrian Dick placing 10th in the long jump finals. The pole vault event served as a friendly one for the Vikings, as sophomore Ella Dick took second, while sophomore Brooke Giese earned seventh. After the completion of all 36 events, the Vikings wound up locking in a ninth-place finish (401.5), finishing behind Simley (410) and placing ahead of Foley (387).
When asked about how this experience can serve as motivation for the girls moving forward: “This was a first-time state meet for some of our younger kids. To have them piggyback onto that atmosphere and to grow that, that’s awesome. Next year, we’re graduating six or so seniors and a ton of juniors the following year – which is going to hurt – but to get those, eighth, ninth, and 10th graders that experience, it helps a lot, especially when we have tons of promising depth,” Nagel said.
Nagel spoke on the honor of being able to represent his Vikings at one of the most competitive stages in high school sports, and what it means as a program as a whole moving forward.
“It’s awesome. I told the kids the other day – they were disappointed we ended up in the wild card – but I told them that they are still one of the best teams in the state,” Nagel said. “Regardless of the finish, that’s what the invitation is all about and really means. They should be proud of themselves. We’re really growing the track program here in my 16 years now for the girls side, and it’s exciting to see.”
The girls were scheduled to compete next in the Mississippi 8 Conference Championships on Wednesday, May 22 at Zimmerman High School. Results from this event were not available at press time.
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