Vaulting To State Gold Lena-STAA Senior Soars 11’3 For
First Title; Wiedemeier Caps
Career With 3rd Straight Crown
The M-O Conference colors were flying high during the Division 3 pole vault event in LaCrosse over the weekend as seniors Marlena Wagner of Lena-STAA and Jake Wiedemeier from Crivitz captured state titles.
Wagner soared 11’3 to win her first championship by 9 inches while Wiedemeier completed a rare three-peat with a 14-0 effort.
The gold winning performance put together by Wagner sparked the Wildcats to an 18th place overall team finish and 14 points. As expected, Edgar won the title with 70 points followed by St. Mary’s Springs of Fond du Lac 36.50, Wild Rose 34 and Algoma 32.50.
Gillett finished 35th with 6 points, Coleman 46th 3 and Suring 54th one point.
The fourth trip to state proved to be charm for Wagner, who finished 8th in the pole vault as a freshman, second place during her sophomore and junior seasons before pursing the gold this year.
Favored going into the pole vault, Wagner was one of three girls to clear 10-feet, two made 10’6, one 10’9 before claiming the title with an 11’3 mark. Runner-up in the event was Rachel Zastrow of Spencer (10’6) while Emily Heil of Marathon was third at 10’3.
“Marlena easily cleared 11’3 on her first try, then went after the state record of 11’9. She hit the bar on her first two attempts while just grazing it on the last one,” Wildcat coach John Holman said. “She put a lot of pressure on herself heading into state, but this was a great way to cap her high school career.”
The 11’3 mark established a new M-O Conference record, school mark as well as a personal best for Wagner.
The last Lena state pole vaulting champion was Bryan Klister in 2010 with a 15’3 effort, which remains a WIAA Division 3 state record. Becky Huberty was the last Lena-STAA girl to win a state title, that coming in the shot put during the 2010 meet.
Wagner wasn’t the only Wildcat to score at state as senior Melinda Svedja finished 5th in the discus with a throw of 110’11 for 4 points.
Kennedy Blahnik of Algoma, just a junior, claimed her third straight state discus crown with a state record throw of 154’3. JoHannah Theisen of Regis was second at 115’6 followed by Cassidy Detert of Marion 114’5 and Brooke Seubert from Marathon 113’6.
Gillett sophomore Taylor Kohls finished 13th with a 97’8 mark.
Other Gillett points came from senior hurdler Kathryn DeJung with a third place time of 16.63 in the 100 meters. After finishing sixth in the prelims at 17.26, DeJung collected 5 points for the event, which was won by Holly Denfeld of Edgar in 16.10 with Lexi Henningsen of Johnson Creek second at 16.63.
Competing in the 300 hurdles, Coleman junior Hope Process registered a sixth place clocking of 47.78.
Suring senior Stormy Gerndt ran into some stiff competition at state and came away with a tie for 7th place in the high jump at 5-feet. First place went to Haley Hazlett of Wild Rose at 5’3 while Lexi Siverling of Cadott was second with a 5’2 jump.
On a side note in the girls competition, former Niagara Badger standout Jamie Vandenberg still owns the state record in the 400 meter run (56.15) and the 800 (2:13.29). Both records were set during the 2008 meet.
Wiedemeier Pockets
Third Straight Title
For the third straight year, Crivitz pole vaulting ace Jake Wiedemeier stands on the top step of the podium for Division 3. Bound for Michigan Tech in the fall, Wiedemeier put the finishing touches on a brilliant high school career by claiming pole vault honors at 14-feet.
Seeded third heading into the event at LaCrosse, Wiedemeier beat out Andrew Fugate of Waterloo and Devan Gertschen of Marathon as both vaulters went 13’6.
“That is quite an accomplishment. In an event so technical and competitive, to go out and win it three straight years is unheard of,” Crivitz track coach Glenn Treado said. “He has been Mr. Track around here for a while and truly is a great leader. He is self-motivated and exemplifies it greatly, just loves to pole vault.”
After securing the state title at 14-feet, Wiedemeier went after the school record of 14’9, which is held by his pole vault coach Scott Banaszak.
“Trying to get the school record, we thought he had it but Jake hit the bar on the way down and just missed the mark,” Treado explained. “We got Scott Banaszak, who won state and holds the school record, to coach Jake and he has done quite a job with him. Scott really wanted Jake to get the record and was disappointed when the bar fell.”
Wiedemeier was joined at the state meet by junior sprinter Ben Fischer, who didn’t make the finals in the 100 meter dash after turning in 12.26 clocking in the prelims.
“Ben is an amazing story and did not run the 100 for most of the year. We had him in the triple, long and high jumps and toward the end of the season he asked if he could try the open 100. He did well in it and asked to run it in the regional and sectional. Making state was quite an accomplishment,” Treado added. “He had a fantastic start in the prelims, but faded after about 50-60 meters because he didn’t run the race very often. It was a successful season for Ben.”
Crivitz was the top area team finisher in 22nd place and 10 points followed by Gillett and Coleman tied for 41st with 5 while Suring finished tied for 47th and 3.50 points.
Gillett received points from a pair of senior standouts. Shane Anderson claimed 7th place in the 800 meter run at 2:01.85 while Clint Long was 6th in the discus at 140’10.
Suring sent a trio of performers to state as Cody Christensen was 8th in the 110 hurdles (16.02) and 7th in the 300 hurdles at 41.43 while Blake Strehlow tied for 8th in the high jump at 5’10.
Sophomore CJ Pillath put together a 4th place mark in the shot put with a throw of 51’0.75. Greg Ganter of Cuba City was first at 57’7.75 followed by David Kornack of Edgar 54’1.75 and Sam Schrauth of St. Mary's’ Springs 51’1.75.
St. Mary’s claimed the team title with 48 points followed by Melrose-Mindoro 46, McDonnell Central 44 and Pardeeville 38.
Wiedemeier Pockets
Third Straight Title
For the third straight year, Crivitz pole vaulting ace Jake Wiedemeier stands on the top step of the podium for Division 3. Bound for Michigan Tech in the fall, Wiedemeier put the finishing touches on a brilliant high school career by claiming pole vault honors at 14-feet.
Seeded third heading into the event at LaCrosse, Wiedemeier beat out Andrew Fugate of Waterloo and Devan Gertschen of Marathon as both vaulters went 13’6.
“That is quite an accomplishment. In an event so technical and competitive, to go out and win it three straight years is unheard of,” Crivitz track coach Glenn Treado said. “He has been Mr. Track around here for a while and truly is a great leader. He is self-motivated and exemplifies it greatly, just loves to pole vault.”
After securing the state title at 14-feet, Wiedemeier went after the school record of 14’9, which is held by his pole vault coach Scott Banaszak.
“Trying to get the school record, we thought he had it but Jake hit the bar on the way down and just missed the mark,” Treado explained. “We got Scott Banaszak, who won state and holds the school record, to coach Jake and he has done quite a job with him. Scott really wanted Jake to get the record and was disappointed when the bar fell.”
Wiedemeier was joined at the state meet by junior sprinter Ben Fischer, who didn’t make the finals in the 100 meter dash after turning in 12.26 clocking in the prelims.
“Ben is an amazing story and did not run the 100 for most of the year. We had him in the triple, long and high jumps and toward the end of the season he asked if he could try the open 100. He did well in it and asked to run it in the regional and sectional. Making state was quite an accomplishment,” Treado added. “He had a fantastic start in the prelims, but faded after about 50-60 meters because he didn’t run the race very often. It was a successful season for Ben.”
Crivitz was the top area team finisher in 22nd place and 10 points followed by Gillett and Coleman tied for 41st with 5 while Suring finished tied for 47th and 3.50 points.
Gillett received points from a pair of senior standouts. Shane Anderson claimed 7th place in the 800 meter run at 2:01.85 while Clint Long was 6th in the discus at 140’10.
Suring sent a trio of performers to state as Cody Christensen was 8th in the 110 hurdles (16.02) and 7th in the 300 hurdles at 41.43 while Blake Strehlow tied for 8th in the high jump at 5’10.
Sophomore CJ Pillath put together a 4th place mark in the shot put with a throw of 51’0.75. Greg Ganter of Cuba City was first at 57’7.75 followed by David Kornack of Edgar 54’1.75 and Sam Schrauth of St. Mary's’ Springs 51’1.75.
St. Mary’s claimed the team title with 48 points followed by Melrose-Mindoro 46, McDonnell Central 44 and Pardeeville 38.
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