Hilltopper tracksters have lofty goals this year

By Missy Klatt

GLENWOOD CITY – Rick Tiberg, Glenwood’s 4th year head coach has set some lofty goals for his team this year.  The first being to try and make a run for the conference title with both the boys and the girls’ team. Second to get as many state qualifiers and third to repeat as state champions. The state champions he is referring to is the 4×100 relay team consisting of Jake Nelson, Jake Kopaz, Carson Strong and Darian Multhauf.

Besides the 4×100 team, the Toppers also sent a boys 4×200 and 4×400 relay team, which also consisted of Nelson, Kopaz, Strong and Multhauf.  On the girls’ side, the 4×800 relay team consisting of Taylor Drinkman, Emily Bethell, Megan Speiser and Liz Wink made their way to state. Liz Wink made it to state as well as an individual competitor in the 400 meter dash.

Of the above mentioned, Taylor Drinkman is the only one lost to graduation while Emily Bethell will be sidelined due to a hip injury suffered during cross country season. Other Toppers lost to graduation were Allen Croes and Austin Wannemacher, both throwers, Corey Klatt a distance runner and Denisa DeSmith, a sprinter.

With a large group of returning letter winners and over 20 new team members, the Toppers look to be competitive in many events this year.  For the boys, the senior team of Nelson, Kopaz, Strong and Multhauf have set their sights high as they try to make it to state and capture the state title again in the 4×100.  They are also looking to improve in the 4×200. Other returning seniors consist of Ethan Kahler as a hurdler/sprinter, Quinn Taylor will compete in sprints and long/triple jumps, Pete Hill as a hurdler and high jumper, Owen Wagner will take to the air as a pole vaulter and middle distance runner, and  Matthew Bauman and Kyle Myers will run middle distances. 

Senior girls returning this year are Liz Wink and Megan Speiser, both middle distance runners, Makayla O’Brien as a pole vaulter and middle distance runner and Biri Mendez as a thrower. Other returners from last year are Hanna Strehlo as a hurdler/sprinter, Delaney Quinn as a sprinter/thrower, Tressa Peskar as a sprinter, Bethany Ullom as a sprinter/high jumper and Halle Cook as a thrower.

Other boys returning to the team are Jordan Klatt as a thrower, Jabin Hojem as a distance runner, Zach Raska as sprinter and Bryce Nutter and Aaron Holmquist as middle distance runners.

New to the team this year are the trio of exchange students, Julia Dinkel, Alina Spister and Marie Schmidt, all who ran cross country this past fall. They will be joined by freshmen Annika Bauman, Myah Eliason, Kinzie Strong, Yasmin Mendez, Lexi Wannemacher, Bella Rassbach, Gabby Moede, Kristin Dayton, Marie Garcia, Jalissa Hager, Lily Gilbert, PJ Watson, Andy Grant, William Eggert and Henry Wallin. Also joining the team for the first time are sophomores Elijah Simmons and Cody Weeks and junior Dakota Dean-Immerman.

Besides all the new team members, the Hilltoppers will also have two new assistant coaches in Randy Ketola and Carrie Blanchard.

Coach Tiberg is looking forward to this track season, stating “it will be very exciting to see if we can accomplish our goals.” He goes on to say that to coach this group of athletes is such a privlilege, they work so hard trying to make themselves better.

The Hilltoppers will start their season with an indoor meet at UW-Stout on Saturday, March 24th.

Girls Roster

Seniors: Makayla O’Brien, Megan Speiser, Elizabeth Wink, Biridiana Mendez.

Juniors: Hanna Strehlo, Delaney Quinn, Alyssa Multhaf, Tressa Peskar, Julia Dinkel, Marie Schmidt.

Sophomores: Alina Spister, Bethany Ullom, Hallie Cook.

Freshmen: Annika Bauman, Myah Eliason, Kinzie Strong, Yasmin Mendez, Lexi Wannemacher, Bella Rassbach, Gabby Moede, Kristin Dayton, Marie Garcia, Jalissa Hager, Lily Gilbert.

Boys Roster

Seniors: Carson Strong, Darian Multauf, Jake Nelson, Jake Kopaz, Matthew Bauman, Pete Hill, Ethan Kahler, Quinn Taylor, Owen Wagner, Kyle Myers.

Junior: Dakota Dean-Immerman

Sophomores: Jordan Klatt, Cody Weeks, Jabin Hojem, Zachary Raska, Bryce Nutter, Aaron Holmquist, Elijah Simmons.

Freshmen: Henry Wallin, William Eggert, Andy Grant, PJ Watson.