A surreal state moment

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Wilmot takes home a medal in boys 1,600 in state meet

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Jayden Jesse is still absorbing the aftermath of the WIAA Division 1 state track meet in La Crosse held last weekend.

Jayden Jesse (Bob Mischka/The Report)
Jayden Jesse (Bob Mischka/The Report)

The Wilmot Panthers’ senior qualified for the state meet in the 1,600-meter relay squad that included juniors Matt Cieslak and Zac Schrader along with sophomore Anthony Poco, and they earned a spot on the podium after taking sixth.

“It is surreal, all the hard work we put in, thinking we never would make it to state, but we did it,” Jesse said.

The relay team, who advanced after they notched a school record 3 minutes, 24.61 seconds in the Stoughton Sectionals, reset the record in the state finals Saturday with a new time of 3:20.43.

Since the start of the season, Jesse said the squad “shaved off about 10 seconds.”

The No. 19 seed entering the state meet, the Panthers moved to the final round after a third-place finish in the Friday preliminary, where they clocked in at 3:21.07.

Matt Cieslak (Bob Mischka/The Report).
Matt Cieslak (Bob Mischka/The Report).

However, the wait was long for the team, scheduled as the last event.

Adding to the fury was a lightning delay lasting at least an hour in La Crosse, making it much longer, drawing some anxiety among some members on the team.

“Before that delay, we got a little running in, got our bibs, and then came to find out it was delayed,” Jesse said. “There was some anxiousness.”

When the moment came, sprint coach Trey Bell noted Jesse’s performance as crucial, citing his movement around the curves.

“I think we were satisfied with what we got, and it would not have been possible without Jay,” Bell stated.

Jesse knew the curves were imperative.

“You really have to work the curves, you lose a half a second if you don’t do it right,” Jesse said.

Anthony Poco (Bob Mischka/The Report)
Anthony Poco (Bob Mischka/The Report)

While Jesse capped off his Wilmot career, the slew of underclassmen on his squad brings reasons for optimism next year, which include the return of Poco, Matt Cieslak and Zac Schrader along with alternate Jordan Jesse, a sophomore.

Given Poco’s youth on the relay squad, Jayden Jesse believes the sophomore stepped up to the challenge, putting in the needed work all year.

“As a sophomore, he brings a lot to the team,” Jayden Jesse said. “He put in the work.”

Bell agreed, stating Poco is a positive sign for the future.

“He has got a bright future ahead of him and from what I have seen from him every day, he just tries to get better,” Bell said.

Wilmot qualified two other relay teams, in addition to senior Wyatt

Zac Schrader (Bob Mischka/The Report)
Zac Schrader (Bob Mischka/The Report)

Heckel in the boys pole vault and junior Maddie Martin in the girls 400-meter dash.

Martin, who finished 10th in the preliminary round, advanced to the finals where she also took 10th.

Additionally, the junior was on the 1,600-relay squad that consisted of juniors Julia Shurtleff and Rachel Kostrova along with senior Rebecca Alter.

The girls 1,600-relay team qualified after compiling a record time at the Stoughton sectional, where they finished second at 4:01.3.

While the team did advance to the final round, Martin said there are reasons for optimism, noting freshman alternate Gretta Cieslak.

“I believe that we will be successful and I know that we will be working a lot entering the summer, and we have a lot of good talent that will be on this relay squad,” Martin said.

Heckel, meanwhile, finished 12th in the pole vault, and the boys 400-relay team did not advance to the final round.


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One response to “A surreal state moment”

  1. Bridgette Monroe Avatar
    Bridgette Monroe

    Thank you Jason for a wonderfully written article. Seems like you are the only media outlet that remembers there are 2 high schools this side of the I.