ners. His efforts are now ….
ners. His efforts are now part of the Hornet’s history, but for others, their legacy is only just beginning.
Sophomore Caden Healy is one of those whose name could be remembered long after he’s left Colby High. Tall, strong and possessed of rare athleticism, Healy nearly qualified for three events at state. He just missed going in the 100 and 200 meters, but earned his ticket to Veterans Memorial Stadium in the long jump.
Healy scratched on his first two attempts, but qualified for finals with his third jump after he sailed twenty feet, four and three quarters inches through the air.
Healy’s fourth jump would be his longest of the meet, landing at 20-9.5. But the competition was better, though he still placed inside the top ten, finishing ninth in the state.
Healy will have two more cracks at the podium, and with a year of experience, and a trip to state, now under his belt, expect him to compete in more than just one event in 2022.
Malayna Rieck surprised everyone when she went out for track halfway through the season. She surprised everone again when she not only won conference in the discus and shot, but when she qualified for state in the shot.
“It means the world to me. I never thought that I’d have such a knack for this sport,” Rieck said, still flabbergasted at her season. “It means the world to be here right now, and it’s only going to push me to do better and bigger things next year.”
Rieck was in the lead after the end of the first flight, in which she threw the shot 35-10.5 with her second throw. That distance would prove to be her best of the year, but like Healy, others fared better and, Rieck took tenth overall.
“Coming out after the season started and learning so much in that time!? It will be amazing to see what next year will hold for her,” Wright said regarding Rieck and her potential.
Chase wasn’t the only Oehmichen competing at state on Thursday. His sister, sophomore Willow Oehmichen, was competing as an individual in the pole vault. To give you an idea the level of that competition, three ladies all broke the state record on Thursday.
Oehmichen acquitted herself well in the pole vault, and like Rieck, she earned another top ten finish for the Hornets, placing tenth after she cleared nine feet.
“She did exactly what she needed to and is set to carry on from here for next year,” Wright said. “She worked a different pole and saw results. Great finish to her season to be there and to get back to 9’!”
Junior Trinity Severson was the last of the Hornets to compete in an individual event. Severson came in with arguably the most momentum after the sectional meet in Boscobel.
Severson won the 300-meter hurdle title with a PR of 47.19 seconds, which also happened to be the third fastest time coming into the state tournament. But when it comes to state, the margin for error is slim to none.
Severson caught the back edge of her first hurdle, and that threw her out of her rhythm.
“It’s pretty cool to run as an individual. I’m super proud of myself for making it, but the race itself was pretty disappointing,” Severson admitted when it was done. “I was on the wrong lead leg, so I jumped the rest of the hurdles with my turn leg, so that messed me up a bit.”
Severson still captured ninth in the state with her time of 48.77 seconds. A state qualifier in cross-country as well as track, Severson has already made plans to reach the podium next spring.
“I definitely appreciate this a lot more after a lost season, and I’m definitely pumped for next season.”
Willow and Severson did double duty on Thursday, kicking their day off with the 4x800-meter relay, the first track event of the WIAA D-3 state tournament.
They were joined in the relay by juniors Daisy Feiten and Mercedes Sarkkinen, and just being at state was a welcome surprise. The ladies had placed fifth at Boscobel, but their time was extremely fast, and they knew they had a good chance of making it to La Crosse.
“I was pretty mad after we finished, but then coach always said ‘Watch out for extra qualifiers,’ because we did run a really good time,” Feiten said. “It took two days to find out, and I was on my toes for the whole two days. I was so nervous, but I was so happy when I realized we got in.”
The Hornets had the seventh fastest time going into Veterans Memorial Stadium, but the heat and wind had other plans, and those factors were enough to slow the ladies down and lead to a ninth place result in 10:17.72.
It was up to Wright to put those state results into perspective, and if you’re a Hornets fan, there’s plenty to be happy about, especially for next year.
“Not only did this group make it to state but they were also part of the Regional Champion teams, and the girls also Conference Champions. To end the season at state just puts it all into perspective. All athletes finished 10th or better!! That’s in the entire state.”
Wright also reminded her athletes how monumental it is to be a state qualifier, and what it takes to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“A person can’t coach or teach what the feeling of being part of state is. They have to be there and only then can they understand,” Wright said.
Wright also expressed her delight with her athletes this year, and the high bar that they have set for 2022.
“We are really going to miss our seniors, but are so excited to see where this group will go next year after ending with an incredible and history making season that we had this year. I know I’ve said it before, but we simply can’t put into words what this team has done and what it means to us.”
FLY THROUGH THE SKY -Caden Healy propels himself across the long jump pit at the WIAA state meet last week. Healy took ninth overall.
MAKE A MARK -Malayna Rieck hurls the shot during the WIAA D-3 state tournament in La Crosse last week. Rieck went out for the sport halfway through the season, and finished inside the top ten at the state. STAR NEWS/MATT FREY
BURNING RUBBER - Colby High junior Mercedes Sarkkinen runs her leg of the 4x800 relay.STAFF PHOTO/ROSS PATTERMANN
