Elk Mound track and field teams aiming for improvement in the 2023 season
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
THE ELK MOUND boys’ and girls track and field teams have good numbers as they prepare to compete for conference championships and more this season. Front row (L to R): Yolo Deldado, Claire Steinhorst, Taylor Frinack, Isabelle Baier, Allie Robel, Marley King, Kaydyn Nielson, Lydia Levra and Aleya Hadenfeldt. Second row (L to R): Perry Jenson, Jesse Moyer, AJ Miller, Grady Larson, Londyn Jenson, Carly Mohr, Kate Mohr and Leahna Peterson. Third row (L to R): Lucas Hanson, Jay Meyer, Dalton Banaszak, Riley Krall, Rownan Soul-Stewart, Graycen Banaszak, Sam Hemenway and Keason Seyller. Fourth row (L to R): Trevor Best, Aidan Schiferl, Tobey Westcott, Dane Hanson, Ian Hazen, Jackson Gehweiler, Jack Buchholtz and Brody Niven. Back row (L to R): Keinin Miller, Landon Kasakaitas, Gavin Sundeen, Brooks Burcaw, Caleb Beskow, Body Folczyk, Kaeden Burlingame and Sam Heath. —photo by Shawn DeWitt
by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
ELK MOUND — After a second-place finish for the boys and third place for the girls in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference meet a year ago, Elk Mound head coach Jeremiah Fredrickson is hoping his teams can compete for a conference championship this year, along with getting a large contingency through the sectional to compete in the WIAA state meet.
The Mounder boys were also third in the Division 3 regional meet a season ago while the girls placed sixth
Several athletes competed at the sectional level for the Mounders; Ian Hazen who was a first-team all conference runner in the 3,200 meters, along with three of the four relay teams and the girls 4×400 meter relay but only the boys 4×800 meter relay team qualified for state.
Second-team all conference were Grandt Mueller in the high jump for the boys and Aleya Hadenfeldt in the 100 m dash, Lydia Levra in the 400 m dash and Kate Mohr in the 100 m hurdles for the girls.
Gone through graduation are Korbin Verdon, Anna Roder and Olivia Schreiber who were all sprinters, mid-distance runner Cason Pederson, all around performer Will King and top distance runner Kyra Hadenfeldt.
With over 40 boys out for the team, depth will certainly be an asset, according to Fredrickson. They are not as deep for the girls but have some top performers that should make them competitive in all of their meets
Returning letter winners include: Aleya Hadenfeldt, Kate Mohr, Marley King, Lydia Levra, Carly Mohr, Kaydyn Nielson, Jackson Gehweiler, Lucas Hanson, Ian Hazen, AJ Miller, Aidan Schiferl, Tobey Westcott, Alex Woodford, Bodie Folczyk, Tyler Gagner, Jesse Meyer, Cooper Reese, Carson Streifel, Braedon Thatcher, Grandt Mueller and Brooks Burcaw.
A number of freshmen should help the Mounders including Isabelle Baier, Taylor Frinack and Allie Robel for the girls and Teegan Wright, Rownan Soul-Stewart, Joseph Muszynski, Grady Larson, Perry Jenson, Sam Heath, Jack Buchholtz, Trevor Best and Dalton Banaszak for the boys. Fredrickson also expects to get some help from upperclassmen when the power lifting season ends.
Distance runners should be a strength for the boys team but they should also have depth across the board, and for the girls, sprinters and hurdlers will help lead a young group that lacks depth but all have a great attitude and are willing to listen and try anything.
Goals for the team always include getting better individually and having an enjoyable experience while building lifelong habits to be well rounded individuals.
Statistically, both teams plan to compete for the conference championship and hope to get a lot more athletes to state.
Fredrickson, who begins his fifth year as head coach for the Mounders after being an assistant coach for 15 years, expects Mondovi and Glenwood City to be tough in conference for both the boys and girls. Their numbers and coaches do a good job preparing the athletes to compete, he commented.
2023 Roster
Boy’s
Seniors: Jackson Gehweiler, Lucas Hanson, Ian Hazen, AJ Miller, Aidan Schiferl, Tobey Westcott and Alex Woodford.
Juniors: Caleb Beskow, Kaeden Burlingame, Bodie Folczyk, Tyler Gagner, Riley Krall, Jay Meyer, Jesse Moyer, Grandt Mueller, Shawn Pinder, Cooper Reese, Carson Streifel, Gavin Sundeen, Braedon Thatcher and Graycen Banaszak.
Sophomores: Brooks Burcaw, Sam Hemenway, Londyn Jenson, Landon Kasakaitas, Keinin Miller and Keason Seyller.
Freshmen: Dalton Banaszak, Trevor Best, Jack Buchholtz, Sam Heath, Grady Larson, Joseph Muszynski, Brody Niven, Rownan Soul-Stewart, Teegan Wright and Perry Jenson.
Girl’s
Seniors: Aleya Hadenfeldt, Kate Mohr and Cece Soto.
Juniors: Ella Audorff, Marley King, Lydia Levra, Carly Mohr, Kaydyn Nielson, Chelsey Yang and Addy Young .
Sophomores: Yolo Delgado, Savannah Nechanicky, Clare Steinhorst and Lenna Peterson.
Freshmen: Isabella Baier, Taylor Frinack, Mya Kasper, Allie Robel and Payton Burcaw.