Wright sets new standard for Tigers

She obtains new school record in the triple jump

Things are slowly returning back to normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and nothing indicates that more than the triumphant return of the WIAA state track and field meet at UW La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

It’s not quite like it used to be, with the state tournament spread out over three days, with the WIAA D-3 tournament being held on Thursday, D-2 on Friday and D-1 on Saturday.

So it was that the Stratford Tigers had to wait until Friday before they got their chance to compete against the best that Wisconsin had to offer in D-2.

It was an eye-opening experience for the Tigers, who were among the smallest of the D-2 schools at state, but they didn’t let that intimidate them as they turned in some powerful performances.

None was bigger than junior Jaidyn Wright’s results in the triple jump. Her distance of 35-06.75 was seventh in the state, and one spot shy of the podium, but it did set a new school record.

“Hitting that school record was a huge deal,” Wright said via Facebook. “My coaches nonstop were telling me, ‘I know you can make it.’ And, to be able to do that for them, as well as achieve my goals for this year, is everything I could’ve wished for.”

Wright says the support she received back home, as well as the step up in competition, gave her the spark she needed to reach a distance no other Tiger has ever attained before.

“Moving to a D-2 has helped a lot, pushing me further and to put everything out there when I compete,” Wright said. “My family, coaches and team behind me in and out of season is what most allowed me to make it this far this year. Having all of them here with me is all I could’ve asked for a perfect season.”

It’s a result Wright was still struggling to process several days later, after she spent the 2019 tournament as a spectator. “Two years ago I was standing on the sidelines of the stadium watching one of my teammates compete,” Wright said. “I promised myself then I would work until I was able to be on that track myself. It has been a dream to make it there and compete with all of the girls.”

With one more year left under her belt, Wright says her results at state already have her thinking of next year.

“This year has been full of surprises and I am beyond grateful for every single one. I can’t wait to do it again, and yes, I plan to be back next year and ready for that podium!”

4x800 relay takes twelfth

The Tigers were also represented on the men’s side of things in the first flight of the 4x800-meter relay on Friday.

Elijah and Noah Lucio, Conner Weigel and Evan Danielson, along with alternates Lance Krieg and Peyton Glein, made the trip to La Crosse, and battled through some hot and humid conditions to finish twelfth in a time of 8:29.72.

The Tigers drew inspiration from missing last year, and wanted to do their friends from the Class of 2020 proud with a strong performance.

“Last year we would have been a really good track team, so I feel bad for those seniors that didn’t have a season,” Noah said. “It just feels good to make them feel better and show them that we were down here, and sort of reaching their expectations for us.”

The Tigers knew that making the podium would be tough, being a smaller school and stepping up in competition.

“But that was to be expected,” Elijah Luccio said. “We knew that we had to be in top one or two of our heat to even have a chance of placing in the top six overall. So we were just trying to push the competition a little bit, and try to get out in first.”

With everyone coming back from the relay, next year’s Tigers could very well be on the podium as Stratford will likely be a D-3 program in 2022.

“It was a great experience, getting to state in D-2. It just shows D-3 what’s coming next year,” Elijah said. “All of us are coming back next year; we don’t lose anyone. So we’re already looking forward to next season.”