Colfax track teams prepare for upcoming spring sports season

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by Marlys Kruger

Sports Correspondent

COLFAX — First-year head coach Chuck Brown greeted 26 track and field athletes when spring practice began the week of March 4. With the increase in numbers from a year ago, including a few who have experience competing at the state level, coach Brown has high hopes by the end of the season his team will develop and improve enough to compete well at the conference, regional, sectional and state levels.

Gone from last season are Molly Heidorn, Nick Jensen, Ashton Yarrington and Mark Sonnentag. Heidorn was an individual qualifier for the WIAA state meet in the 1,600 and 3,200m races. She finished 11th in the 1,600 meters and earned a fourth place medal in the 3,200 meters and was also a member of the 4×800 m relay team which placed 12th. Jensen competed at the state level in the discus throw, placing 14th. All four of the athletes will be missed because of their leadership, dedication to the program and work ethic, according to Brown.

Returning are two of the members of the 4×800 m relay team; juniors Kaysen Goodell and Hannah Peterson who are hoping to qualify at the state level in the distance events as individuals. Senior Jeanette Hydukovich, a state qualifier in the discus throw, is back. Hydukovich was the runner-up in her event and returns with the goal of winning it all this year and also hopes to qualify in the shot put. She will serve as team captain along with fellow senior Kennedy Shane, who also excels in the throwing events and has had success at the conference, regional and sectional meets. Other competitors with experience include Theo Hovde, Logan Swartz and Charlie Charbonneau for the boys and Lauren Becker for the girls, with all of them seeking a state berth.

Newcomers expecting to help the team are senior Jada Anderson who is also a starter on the softball team, and Leila Hurlburt. The coaching staff is excited to see their potential on the track and in the jumping pits.

“We have returning individuals who demonstrate great leadership, dedication and work ethic to our program,” coach Brown said. “They all have athletic potential to succeed on the track this year. We look forward to working with them to develop their potential. Following COVID, we continue to have low numbers and are looking to build our program back, both in terms of quantity of student-athletes as well as quality,” he added.

Brown expects Mondovi to be a tough competitor when the Dunn-St. Croix Conference meet comes around, now that Courtney Stadter is back for the girls. For the boys, Elk Mound always has great numbers and will be a difficult opponent, he believes.

Although Brown is a first-year head coach, he has been an assistant track coach for ten seasons as well as being an assistant cross country coach for 17 years. He has plenty of experience helping him including Tina Johnson in the throws, Ally Heidorn in the sprints and jumping events, Courtney Sarauer in the mid- and distance events, Jamie Bucholz with the pole vault and all around coach Joe Doucette.

“Our goals are to continue to improve and develop our athletes so they are ready to compete at the end of the year in the conference, regional, sectional and state meets,” coach Brown stated.

2024 Roster

Seniors: Jeanette Hydukovich, Kennedy Shane, Jada Anderson, Stella Darmstadt, Drake Knutson.

Juniors: John Riebe, Nate Edwards, Logan Swartz, Theo Hovde, Rosie Sonnentag, Kaysen Goodell, Hannah Peterson, Lauren Becker, Olivia Johnson.

Sophomores: Eli Obermueller, Charlie Charbonneau, Austin Johnson, Leila Hurlburt, Clara Hydukovich, Jeni Maves.

Freshmen: Liem Schotter, Sam Ralph, Hayden Sarauer, Isaiah Sanders, James Wahl, Kendall Wilson.