Warhawks, Warriors eye gold

WAUKESHA — Arrowhead's boys are back in town to defend their crown, while Muskego's girls aim to reclaim their spot at the top at this week's WIAA State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse.

The Warhawks defended their Division 1 team title last spring and are in search of a three-peat this Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex. They also won titles under longtime coach Chris Herriot in 2004 and 2009.

"We don't have as many pieces I think as we’ve had in the past," Herriot said. "We’ll have to be really good to come to come close to that, but we’re there, so we’ll see what happens."

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The Warriors won state championships in 2019 and 2021, and after finishing fifth last season, they’re poised for a big weekend after winning the West Allis Hale Sectional over fellow state powers like Homestead, last year's runner-up, and Arrowhead.

"It's gonna be tight," Muskego girls coach Jerome Missiaen said. "We know we can score points there. But what are we gonna do? We’re gonna relax and just enjoy the ride and be our best, and whatever happens, happens. That's the way we’ve kind of always looked at things."

Arrowhead's boys have 13 entrees in all and are the reigning state champions in the 4x200-meter relay. While the Warhawks are on the fringe based on seed time to make the finals in that event after receiving a special qualifier, they can make some noise in several other events.

It could be a fruitful weekend for junior Logan Hicks, most notably. Hicks is the top seed in both the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. He's been battling with Menomonee Falls junior Nathan Taylor, who is also in position to medal in both races, throughout the season.

"I’m a steps (between hurdles) counter, 15 to a hurdle and I think I’ve figured them out," Hicks said of the 300 hurdles. "I’m also someone who likes to come off the curve and I know Nathan likes to start fast."

Hicks finished fourth in the 300 and just missed out on reaching the podium in the 110 last season. He's come back with a vengeance in 2023, as his seed times in both events are just a fraction off the state records. Not only that, but Hicks is a member of Arrowhead's top-seeded 4x4 relay.

Other Arrowhead entrees in position to medal — or win — are freshman Jacob Siner in the 100, senior Jacob Fink in the 400, senior Nathan Klauck in the 800 — he medaled in the event last season — junior Kyle Janke in the 300 hurdles, senior Maxwell Rebella in the pole vault, as well as its 4x1 and 4x8 relays.

"All around we for the most part got the kids through that we hoped to and expected to, so now we retool and get ready for next Friday," Herriot said.

Aside from Arrowhead, top seeds in their respective events for D1 boys include Waukesha North senior Lucas Picco in the 800 and Pewaukee senior Carter Pearson in the long jump, while Pewaukee's 4x2 has the fastest time in its heat, as does Brookfield East's 4x4 relay.

Oconomowoc won the Classic 8 Conference Outdoor Championships and was just barely edged by Arrowhead at the Hale sectional last week, so the Raccoons aren't to be slept on in La Crosse, either.

"We got a lot of kids through. It was cool to see how they rose to the occasion," Ocon boys coach Andrew Lange said.

Kimberly and Wisconsin Lutheran have the most representation in La Crosse at 15 events apiece, while Mukwonago has 14 entrees. For the Indians, junior Nathan Roy is seeded third in the shot put. The offensive lineman recently announced he’ll be deciding between Minnesota, Michigan State and UCLA on June 20.

"Kimberly has a really nice team," Lange said. "It's going to be exciting to see what everyone does.

"We just want to get there and give ourselves a chance to get into that top five and score as many points as possible."

A lot of those points could come from senior distance runners Zach Vance and Hayden Triebold.

They are seeded second and third, respectively, in the 3,200 and will also run in the final heat of the mile.

"It's definitely going to be a big meet for both of us," said Vance, who finished second at state cross country in the fall. "We’ve never had to do two races at the state meet. It will be really cool, though, being able to compete both ways. It's going to be a really fun way to end our high school careers, so I’m looking forward to it."

Both missed out on the podium last year, as Vance ran the 1,600 and Triebold competed in the two-mile.

"Zach and I both wanted to get through in both the mile and two-mile this year," Triebold said. "This was probably the hardest sectional in the state for those two events.

"It's going to be fun. I think we can finish pretty high as a team. We’ll see what it takes. It would be a great way to end our high school careers."

Other defending medalists looking to take the next step and become state champions are Waukesha South senior Tyran Cook (second in high jump) and Hamilton senior Evan Herrmann (sixth in 110 hurdles).

It could very well be a repeat of two years ago in Division 1.

Muskego's girls may not have the most entrees, but they will threaten for several state titles across the events they qualified for out of the Hale sectional.

The Warriors, who finished fifth as a team at state last season, have a legitimate shot at winning all four relays. They feature the fastest seed in both the 4x1 and 4x8, while their 4x2 and 4x4 relays are each second in their respective heats. Muskego returns three members from its third-place 4x1.

"They’re great teammates for each other," Missiaen said. "I think that's the best thing about this team is that they all have great character. They’re loving and caring. Ideally, yeah, it’d be great to come out ahead with everything. But hey, all we can do is try our best and we can't control what others do."

Senior Kendyl Hahnen is a member of each of Muskego's sprint relays and could also podium in the pole vault, where she's seeded fourth.

"Honestly I want to go out there and I want to win," Hahlen said. "I want to win the 4x1, the 4x2, pole vault. It's going to be hard with pole vaulting these days but I want to have fun, I want to crush it and I want to win."

Freshman Ella Anschutz has become the next distance-running prodigy to emerge out of Muskego. After helping the Warriors win the state cross country title in the fall, she could very well be a driving force in them doing the same in track and field. She boasts the fastest seed in the mile, is in position to medal in the 3,200 and is also the anchor for Muskego's top-seeded 4x8.

"I’m just so happy to be able to compete the way I am and get the opportunities I have," Anschutz said. "I’m really excited to compete against the girls next week and just see what I can do. It's gonna be awesome. I’m so excited." Muskego senior Noelle Junig is also seeded second in the two-mile. Several other girls in the Division 1 field will contend for state titles and a spot on the podium.

That includes Arrowhead's 4x1, 4x2 and 4x4 relays, as they are among the three fastest seeds in their respective heats.

"Our relays did very well and our (sprint) relays are 100% freshmen, all four girls and even half our alternates," Herriot said. "So those girls are amazing. They’re 100% bought in. We’re excited about where they can go."

Senior Taylor Thimmesch, who is a member of Arrowhead's second-seeded 4x4, also has the third-fastest time in the 400.

"She is absolutely a stud," Herriot said.

Menomonee Falls junior Charley Brinks is seeded second in the 200 and third in the 100. Mukwonago is the defending state champion in the 4x2, but seeded 13th this time around, returning just half of that relay team. Waukesha West should be right with the Warriors in the 4x8, having finished just behind them at sectionals — Muskego and West were fourth and fifth, respectively, last season — while West junior Nevia Levenhagen is seeded second in the triple jump.

Mukwonago's girls have representation in 14 events, which is third among D1 teams. Based on seeds, senior Eva Koos (800) and junior Julia Missall (shot put) are in medal contention. Brookfield East senior Maddy McGath, a West Virginia volleyball recruit, reached the podium in both the shot and discus last season and is seeded fourth in the discus this year.

And that just covers Division 1. When it comes to Division 2, Catholic Memorial's boys lead the way in state representation with 11 entrees, and that's despite junior sprinter Eddie Jones being hampered by an injury. However, the Crusaders will need several of their competitors to out-perform their seeds to have a shot at the team title.

CMH's 4x1 and 4x2 relays each medaled last season and stand a strong chance of reaching the finals, but aren't the fastest seed in either of their respective heats. The Crusaders are also in the final heat of the 4x8, while junior Donovan Harbour, a Penn State football recruit, is seeded fifth in the shot put.

Others in position to podium in the D2 boys field include New Berlin West junior Graham McKenzie (fifth in 800) and Lake Country Lutheran junior Johann Rotzche (third in 110 hurdles). CMH senior Bennett McCormick, a Valparaiso wide receiver recruit, also registered an eighth-place finish in the triple jump last season.

New Berlin Eisenhower's girls, who were seventh in the D2 team standings last season, feature the second-most entrees in the field with 10 and three defending state medalists.

Sophomore Faith Wehrman, the defending D2 state cross country champion, is seeded fifth in the 3,200 and will also compete in the mile. She was second in the two-mile last season. Junior Nealee Chiroff was also runner-up in the 100 hurdles a season ago but is not among the eight-fastest seed times coming in. Sophomore Amy Peterson medaled in the long jump, but this year is seeded sixth in the triple.

On paper, nobody has a better chance of winning gold than New Berlin West senior Meghan Schultz.

She is in prime position to defend her title in the shot put as the top seed. Not only that, but the UWGreen Bay basketball recruit added the discus to her repertoire this season and is seeded second in that event. She set the Woodland Conference record in both events.

The Vikings also have the second-fastest seed in their heat in both the 4x4 and 4x2, a race in which they finished fifth last season.

University Lake School senior Kate Buerger reached the podium in the 3,200 last season and was eighth in the mile. She moves up from D3 to D2 this year, where she is seeded second in the two-mile and also looks to medal in the 1,600. CMH sophomore Analena Peterson (sixth in 100 and 200) and senior teammate Kiki Stucker (fifth in pole vault) are also in medal contention.

WHAT: WIAA State Track and Field Championships

WHERE: Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex, La Crosse

WHEN: Running and field events for Division 2 and 3 begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. (Session 1); Running and field events for Division 1 begin Friday at 4:30 p.m. (Session 2); Field evens begin at 9:30 a.m. and running events begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday for all divisions (Sessions 3)

COST: $11 per session

DIGITAL: JUST $10 PER MONTHPRINT+DIGITAL: AS LOW AS $21 PER MONTH

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