Henderson, Gubser jump to first wins; Raiders 4th, Redmen 5th at Marshfield

Rib Lake’s Jed Henderson nudged past Medford’s Evan Paul atop the high jump standings, Raider Logan Gubser just got by Paul in the long jump and several more Raiders and Redmen posted some strong results in Tuesday’s season-opening Marshfield Tigers Indoor Boys Track and Field Invitational.

Medford used seven top-three finishes to score 68.5 points and place fourth in the team standings, while Rib Lake had five top-three finishes while scoring 47 points and placing fifth in the 13-team meet.

The field events were an area of strength for Medford.

Gubser, a first-year senior in the program won his first high school long jump competition with his best leap covering 19 feet, 6.25 inches, while Paul jumped 18-7, 4 inches better than third-place finisher Garrett Bracewell of Marathon. Rib Lake’s Gus Zuleger was 13th at 16-2.75.

Henderson cleared a personal-best 6 feet in the high jump to claim Rib Lake’s lone win of the meet. He won the tiebreaker over Paul, who also hit 6 feet for the first time and placed second, and thirdplace finisher Xander Curtice of Stratford.

Medford’s Gage Losiewicz, a state qualifier last spring in the pole vault, started his 2024 season with a second-place finish in that event as he cleared 11 feet, while senior teammate Adam Kowalski took third at 9-6. Marathon’s Jacob Smith was the winner at 12 feet.

Also in the field events, Zuleger took fifth for Rib Lake in the triple jump at 313.25. Medford’s Axel Brushaber was 10th at 27-9.5. Medford’s Logan Langdon was 16th (29-1.5) and William Bartnik was 17th (27-11.5) in the shot put, while Rib Lake freshman Clinton Peterson was 20th in his first meet at 18-3.

On the track, Rib Lake got secondplace finishes from two of its expected leaders for the season. Jack Regier, a junior, finished the 880-yard run in 2:21.26. He trailed Owen-Withee’s Mason Gay by 6.49 seconds and was 0.97 seconds ahead of Colby’s third-place runner Max Adams. Henry Regier took 10th in 2:35.66, while Medford’s Nevyn Gripentrog (2:51.37) and Silas Briggs (2:55.2) were 17th and 19th.

Kaleb Scott, a sophomore for the Redmen, snuck under the minute mark in the 440-yard dash with his time of 59.5 seconds, just 0.64 seconds behind Gay. Hayden Koester added an eighthplace point for Medford in 1:02.62, while Brushaber was 13th at 1:07.43.

Medford’s top finish on the track came from its mile relay team of Caleb Scoles, Jordan Lavin, Koester and Gubser, who took second in 4:09.97, just behind Marshfield’s time of 4:06.1. The Raiders’ team of Paxton Rothmeier, Will Daniels, Jason Scott and Isaac Kautzer took fourth in the four-lap relay at 1:18.51. Marshfield won that race in 1:15.23.

Rib Lake entered just one relay and took third in that race, the two-mile relay, despite a dropped baton. Kaleb Scott, Henry Regier, Highfill and Jack Regier finished in 9:42.13 to trail Marshfield (9:25.25) and Marathon (9:31.53). Medford’s team of Anthony Seidel, Peyton Ried, Evan Pagel and Brandon Curtis was fifth in 10:16.03, just behind Colby (10:12.4).

Kautzer was third in the 60-yard dash at 6.86 seconds, just behind Marshfield sprinters Kaleb Neuenfeldt (6.7) and Keegan Fredrick (6.76). Scoles was 10th in 7.18 seconds, while Rib Lake’s Demetrio Garelli (7.76) and Isaiah Hubbard (7.91) were 24th and 25th. Daniels got fourth in the 60-yard hurdles in 9.18 seconds and Rothmeier tied for seventh at 9.87 seconds. Bracewell won in 8.64 seconds.

Henry Regier was third for Rib Lake in the mile run at 5:34.78, nearly catching runner-up Tanner Shortt of Columbus Catholic (5:33.46). Owen-Withee’s Colton Paczkowski won in 5:05.6. Highfill was sixth for the Redmen in 5:47 and Medford’s Hunter Briggs was 10th at 6:06.47. Kowalski got the sixth-place points for Medford in the 220-yard dash at 28.16 seconds, just ahead of Zuleger (28.52). Garelli (29.19) and Jason Scott (29.88) were 14th and 15th.

Varsity team scores were: 1. Marshfield, 112.5; 2. Marathon, 90; 3. Owen-Withee, 74; 4. Medford, 68.5; 5. Rib Lake, 47; 6. Amherst, 28; 7. Colby, 27; 8. Stratford, 26; 9. Columbus Catholic, 22.5; 10. Abbotsford, 20.5; 11. Pittsville, 13; 12. Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 10; 13. Greenwood, 4.

Among the top local JV finishes, Medford’s four-lap relay team of Lavin, Bartnik, Langdon and Alan Scheel was fourth in 1:29.27, Rib Lake’s Truman Smith was sixth in the 880-yard run at 2:40.94.

Medford’s and Rib Lake’s girls teams will be at Marshfield today, Thursday. Medford’s full squad will be at the UWStout Northern Badger Large Schools Classic Friday. Rib Lake will be in Merrill for boys competition Tuesday and girls competition on March 28.