ECHO PUBLISHING’S 2018 SPRING
Dan Determan / Echo Journal
State qualifiers and alternates from last season’s Patriot track teams include: Front row, from left: Addisuone Harrington, Carley Chaney, Cassidy Chaney and Mirjana Ganley. Back row: Robbie Hendrickson, Reid Pierzinski, Addie Hubbard, Britt Kratochvil and Karli Skog. Not pictured: Kristin Skog and Grace McGuire.
Patriots hope to build on track success By Pete Mohs Publisher The Pequot Lakes Patriots boys’ and girls’ track and field teams have set the bar high after each program finished second behind at last year’s Class A state meet. The Patriot boys were runners-up behind this year’s senior Reid Pierzinski, who earned state titles in the 110- and 300meter hurdles and teamed with graduates Ben Nelson and Cody Huss and sophomore Robbie Hendrickson to capture the 4x400 relay championship. “We’re set up for success with our good numbers and quality athletes,”
said Pequot Lakes coach Dave Guenther, whose squad also finished second at the Section 6A and Mid-State Conference meets. “Many of our boys have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for their turn to prove themselves. “Many programs have to rebuild, but at Pequot Lakes we’re fortunate in the fact that we can reload because of our depth.” Letterwinners include: seniors Reid Pierzinski, Jack White, Addie Harrington; juniors Sam Person, Kameron Lee, Joseph Keiffer, Nickolas Barth, Nick Gylienblad, Jaydn Benzick and Colton Anderson; sophomores
Russell Pierzinski, Zach Jorgens, Max Johnston and Jacob Faacks; and freshmen Carter Sjoblad and Bode Magnuson. “Our throwing department looks stronger than I expected with additions like Jim Johanneck, Logan Hill and Nick Gylienblad to go with our regulars like Jack White, Nick Barth and Jacob Faacks,” Guenther said. “Reid Pierzinski will be exciting in his events while Addie Harrington and Jayden Benzick are strong in the pole vault.” Also last year at state, Pierzinski was fourth in the triple jump and Harrington was 12th in the pole vault.
“Our core athletes like Brooks Anderson, Robbie Hendrickson, Max Johnston, Bode Magnuson, Carter Sjoblad, Zach Jorgens and Russell Pierzinski are pushing for events,” Guenther said of the competition. “I also like the numbers that (coach) Jeff Brever has in the long distance events.” Assistant coaches for the boys and girls are Brever, Kathy Allen, Bud Bjornaraa, Kathy Allen, Jana Lueck and Chip Larson.
PATRIOT TRACK: Page S4
PEQUOT LAKES TRACK APRIL 6 - Pequot Lakes at Pierz, 4 p.m. 10 - Pequot Lakes at Bemidji State, 1 p.m. 13 - Pequot Lakes at Brainerd, 4 p.m. 17 - Pequot Lakes at Park Rapids, 4 p.m. 20 - Pequot Lakes at Crosby-Ironton, 4 p.m. 24 - Pequot Lakes Invitational, 4 p.m. 27 - Pequot Lakes at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, 4 p.m. 27 - Pequot Lakes at Hamline University, 5 p.m. MAY 3 - Pequot Lakes at Wadena-Deer Creek, 4 p.m. 8 - Pequot Lakes at Fergus Falls (True Team), 1 p.m. 15 - Pequot Lakes at Crosby-Ironton (Mid-State), 4 p.m. 24 - Pequot Lakes at Sauk Centre (Subsection), 4:30 p.m. 31 - Pequot Lakes at Fergus Falls (Section), TBD
Dan Determan / Echo Journal
The 2018 Pequot Lakes girls track and field team. Front row, from left: Sheena James, Anikka Seewald-Olson, Rachel Friberg, Janey Ziegler, Karli Skog, Britt Kratochvil, Addie Hubbard, Mirjana Ganley, Carley Chaney, Nicole Young and Desera Engholm. Back row: Sophia Nordby, Sydney Wgeishofski, Ellie Flaws, Kenzie Lampi, Brianna Tulenchik, Ashley Foster, Cassidy Chaney, Whitney Fink, Kate Bolz-Andolshek, Ella Pfeiffer, Lydia Hubbard and Afton Crocker.