By: Bill Bray & Timothy Kays
THE REPORTER
METAMORA: May 16 – The Wauseon Indians girls track team and the Archbold boys track team claimed NWOAL championships on May 16 at the annual league meet held at Evergreen High School.
It was the Blue Streaks sixth straight championship dating back to 2009. 2009 was the last time the Indians won the girls title and with the 2014 championship, Wauseon has claimed seven NWOAL titles.
The Locomotives of Montpelier finished ninth in the girls meet and seventh in the boys meet scoring 11 and 44 points respectively.
The Liberty Center girls had their typical strong showing in the distance events thanks in large part to junior Brittany Atkinson. The talented junior anchored the victorious 4×800 relay team with a time of 9:53.2. She and Wauseon’s Taylor Vernot went head to head in the 1600 meter run, the most hotly contested race of the night. The two star distance runners put on a final burst only to see Atkinson nip Vernot at the finish line with a time of 5:06.56 to 5:07.09. Both times were below the league mark of 5:11.15 set by Vernot last season, and her 2014 time established a new Wauseon school record. Montpelier’s Hannah Jenkins ran in 13th position in 7:07.88.
Vernot came back later to win the 800 meters in a league record 2:19.94 this time outdistancing Olivia Kundo of Liberty Center’s 2:23.88. Makayla Hildebrandt of Montpelier finished 14th in 3:14.47.
In the 3200 meter it was the dynamic duo again with Atkinson winning her second individual title in a league record 11:04.49. Vernot crossed the line second in 11:15.97. Jenkins of Montpelier was 13th in 15:24.73.
Stick with distance races, the boys 4×800 meter relay went to Archbold with a time of 8:22.1. Wauseon was fourth in 8:43.8 while Montpelier was sixth in 8:50.4.
Wauseon’s Quintin Reiser was a multiple winner for the second straight season. The Indians’ junior ran to the win in the 1600 with a time of 4:29.50. His teammate Caleb Blanchong was 10th in 5:03.22. Jared Rediger from Montpelier ran 11th in 5:07.42 while his running mate Alec Waterston was 14th in 5:15.32.
Reiser sped to victory in the 800 meters as well in 2:01.63. Sam Rings of Montpelier was ninth in 2:10.98. Kody Wyse of Wauseon was 11th in 2:11.47 and Michael Blake was 13th in 2:13.42 for the Locomotives.
Reiser made it his second straight three-peat league meet with a 10:06.36 in the 3200 meters. His team mate Justin Morguet was seventh in 10:28.83. Montpelier’s pair of freshmen, Jared Rediger and Alec Waterston finished 10th and 11th respectively with times of 11:12.43 and 11:15.14.
Turning to the sprints, Wauseon’s Seneca Wyse and Haley Archibeque crossed the line third and fourth in the 100 meters. Wyse was clocked in 12.92 and Archibeque finished in 13.13. Montpelier’s Megan Steele was 14th in 14.62.
Wyse took second in the 200 meters in a time of 26.03. Archibeque again followed her teammate with a third place finish in 26.66. Montpelier’s runners were 13th and 14th as McKenna Quaderer ran the distance in 29.41 and Lita Banks finished in a time of 29.90.
Wauseon’s Seneca Wyse got a pair of victories for the Indians. The state placer from last season, Wyse ran to victory in her specialty, the 400 meters with a time of 59.86. Archibeque again running with Wyse, finished fifth in 1:02.58. Miranda Pelland and Megan Steele paced the Locomotives with a 12th and 16th place finish. Their times were 1:07.77 and 1:09.43.
Wyse’s other victory came in the long jump. The Wauseon sophomore exploded for a leap of 17′ 1.5″ to set a new school record. Her team mate, Marin Schaffner, was third with a jump of 16′ 4.5″. Montpelier’s placers were Ashley Gill with a jump of 14’7″ good for 10th and Stacy Moor who finished 16th with a jump of 5′ 9.5″.
In the boys sprints, Archbold’s Levi Wyse dominated the three races. Montpelier’s top finisher in the 100 meters was Simon Wang who finished 12th in 11.80. Robert Ruppert ran 18th for the Locomotives with a time of 12.90. Wauseon’s two sprinters, Spencer Clausen and Corry Byers finished 13th and 15th respectively with times of 11.87 and 12.06.
Tabb Gype got a sixth place finish in the 200 meters for Wauseon. The junior covered the distance in 23.82. Clausen was 11th in 24.81. Dallas Royer of Montpelier was seventh in 24.07 while Zac Mason finished 16th in 25.73.
Rounding out the boys sprint races, Gype and Mason Creager of Wauseon finished third and fourth in the 400 meters. Gype ran the race in 52.46 while Creager finished in 53.41. Montpelier’s Jordan Birdsall and Jake Dewire ran 13th and 15th with times of 56.90 and 59.55.
In boys relay action, Wauseon took the fourth spot in the 4×800 relay. The team of Tyler Wilson, Kody Wyse, Quintin Reiser and Justin Morguet ran the distance in 8:43.8. Montpelier’s team of Jake Dewire, Michael Blake, Jordan Birdsall and Sam Rings ran sixth in 8:50.4. Archbold won the race in 8:22.1.
In the 4×200 meter relay Wauseon’s boys finished fifth in 1:37.14 while Montpelier was fourth in 1:35.96. In the girls race Wauseon was third in 1:53.15 and Montpelier fifth in 1:55.41.
The 4×100 meter relay went to the foursome from Patrick Henry in the boys race in 44.19. Montpelier was fourth in 46.05 and Wauseon was sixth 46.48. Wauseon took third in the girls relay in 54.47 and Montpelier was fifth in 55.18.
State champion hurdler Carly Truckor from Evergreen won the two hurdles races contested for the girls. Truckor ran to an easy win in the 100 meter hurdles in 16.07 and won the 300 hurdles with a time of 48.79. Wauseon freshman, Halen Mealer, gave the defending state champ all she wanted in the 300 hurdles. Mealer came up just short with a time of 48.93. Senior Katee Roberts followed her team mate in third position in 50.34. Roberts and Mealer switched spot in the 100 meter hurdles as Roberts was third in 16.78 and Mealer fourth in 17.55.
In the boys hurdle events, Wauseon’s Derrick Kamp placed fourth in 15.92 and Kris Boysel was seventh in 16.97. Dylan Snyder of Montpelier placed fifth in 16.14 and Logan Hutchinson ran 14th for the Locomotives in 20.56.
Meanwhile, in the boys 300 hurdles, Kamp ran to a fourth place finish again in 42.01 and Derek Rupp was eighth in 43.60. Montpelier got a fifth and sixth place finish from Hunter Shaull and Alex Zuver with times of 42.56 and 43.00.
In the final race of the night, Wauseon took second in the 4×400 meter relay in 3:39.16 and Montpelier was fourth in 3:41.02. The Indians’ girls team captured fourth in 4:31.90 and the Locomotives were seventh in 4:38.20.
The field events, besides Wyse’s record long jump, had other record setting performances during the meet. Liberty Center’s Nick Demaline heaved the 12 lbs shot put 62’4″ to eclipse the 32 year old record held by Wauseon’s Dave Bzovi. Noah Castle also broke a long-standing record in the boys discus as he flung the saucer 176’7″ to break the 1984 mark held by Montpelier’s’ Doug Bitler. Wauseon’ Noah Stickley was seventh in the discus with a toss of 131′ 11″. Trevor Prekop was Montpelier’s only thrower with a best toss of 74′.
Castle finished behind Demaline in the shot put with a toss of 51′ 10.25″. Robbie Huss was Wauseon’s other placer with a seventh place throw of 46′. Montpelier’s Austin Cook was 16th with a 34′ 9.25″ put.
The Wauseon tandem of Brandi Thompson and Sally Frank threw to victories in the shot put and discus. Thompson won the competition with a throw of 36’1.75″. Frank was seventh with a put of 31’5″. However, the roles were reversed in the discus with Frank taking the top step of the podium with a throw of 126’5″. Thompson was third with a throw of 118′ 6″. Montpelier’s thrower Hannah Blake fouled on her throws.
Kris Boysel finished first in the high jump competition clearing 6′. Then the senior turned in a third place showing in both the long jump and pole vault as he leaped 20′ 10.75″ and 11’6″ respectively. Alec Bost of Wauseon was eighth in the long jump with a distance of 19’4.75″ and turned in a fifth place finish in the high jump with a leap of 5’8″. Montpelier’s Simon Wang was 18th in the long jump in 16’10”. Danny Hench was seventh in the pole vault with a leap of 10’6″.
Montpelier’s two high jumpers tied for 10th when Nate McCord and Michael Blake each cleared 5’4″.
In the girls high jump, Wauseon’s Sidney Bosell was third with a jump of 4’8″ and her sister Amy Bosell cleared 4’4″ good for ninth. Montpelier’s Morgan Erikson was 10th with a jump of 4’2″.
Lastly, in the girls pole vault, Wauseon’s McKayla Campbell cleared 8′ to finish seventh. Samantha Gray was 10th at 6’6″.
The following Wauseon and Montpelier boys’ finishes were posted by event…
2 – Wauseon – 130
7 – Montpelier – 44
Boys 4×800 Meter Relay
4 – Wauseon – 8:43.8
6 – Montpelier – 8:50.4
Boys 110 Meter Hurdles
4 – Kamp, Derrick – Wauseon – 15.92
5 – Snyder, Dylan – Montpelier – 16.14
7 – Boysel, Kristopher – Wauseon – 16.97
14 – Hutchinson, Logan – Montpelier – 20.56
Boys 100 Meter Dash
12 – Wang, Simon – Montpelier – 11.80
13 – Clausen, Spencer – Wauseon – 11.87
15 – Byers, Corry – Wauseon – 12.06
18 – Ruppert, Robert – Montpelier – 12.90
Boys 4×200 Meter Relay
4 – Montpelier – 1:35.96
5 – Wauseon – 1:37.14
Boys 1600 Meter Run
1 – Reiser, Quintin – Wauseon – 4:29.50
10 – Blanchong, Caleb – Wauseon – 5:03.22
11 – Rediger, Jared – Montpelier – 5:07.42
14 – Waterston, Alec – Montpelier – 5:15.32
Boys 4×100 Meter Relay
4 – Montpelier – 46.05
6 – Wauseon – 46.48
Boys 400 Meter Dash
3 – Gype, Tabb – Wauseon – 52.46
4 – Creager, Mason – Wauseon – 53.41
13 – Birdsall, Jordan – Montpelier – 56.90
15 – Dewire, Jake – Montpelier – 59.55
Boys 300 Meter Hurdles
4 – Kamp, Derrick – Wauseon – 42.01
5 – Shaull, Hunter – Montpelier – 42.56
6 – Zuver, Alex – Montpelier – 43.00
8 – Rupp, Derek – Wauseon – 43.60
Boys 800 Meter Run
1 – Reiser, Quintin – Wauseon – 2:01.63
9 – Rings, Sam – Montpelier – 2:10.98
11 – Wyse, Kody – Wauseon – 2:11.47
13 – Blake, Michael – Montpelier – 2:13.42
Boys 200 Meter Dash
6 – Gype, Tabb – Wauseon – 23.82
7 – Royer, Dallas – Montpelier – 24.07
11 – Clausen, Spencer – Wauseon – 24.81
16 – Mason, Zac – Montpelier – 25.73
Boys 3200 Meter Run
1 – Reiser, Quintin – Wauseon – 10:06.36
7 – Mourguet, Justin – Wauseon – 10:28.83
9 – Rediger, Jared – Montpelier – 11:12.43
10 – Waterston, Alec – Montpelier – 11:15.14
Boys 4×400 Meter Relay
2 – Wauseon – 3:39.16
4 – Montpelier – 3:41.02
Boys High Jump
1 – Boysel, Kristopher – Wauseon – 6-00.00
5 – Bost, Alec – Wauseon – 5-08.00
10 – McCord, Nate – Montpelier – 5-04.00
10 – Blake, Michael – Montpelier – 5-04.00
Boys Long Jump
1 – Snyder, Dylan – Montpelier – 21-05.25
3 – Boysel, Kristopher – Wauseon – 20-10.75
8 – Bost, Alec – Wauseon – J19-04.75
18 – Wang, Simon – Montpelier – 16-10.00
Boys Discus Throw
1 – Castle, Noah – Wauseon – 176-07
* New NWOAL Record *
7 – Stickley, Noah – Wauseon – 131-11
15 – Prekop, Trevor – Montpelier – 74-00
Boys Shot Put
2 – Castle, Noah – Wauseon – 51-10.25
7 – Huss, Robbie – Wauseon – 46-00.00
16 – Cook, Austin – Montpelier – 34-09.25
Boys Pole Vault
3 – Boysel, Kristopher – Wauseon – 11-06.00
6 – Hutchinson, Logan – Montpelier – 10-06.00
7 – Hench, Daniel – Wauseon – J10-06.00
9 – Mason, Zac – Montpelier – J10-00.00
The following Wauseon and Montpelier girls’ finishes were posted by event…
1 – Wauseon – 181
9 – Montpelier – 11
Girls 4×800 Meter Relay
2 – Wauseon – 10:02.2
8 – Montpelier – 13:08.8
Girls 100 Meter Hurdles
3 – Roberts, Kathleen – Wauseon – 16.78
4 – Mealer, Halen – Wauseon – 17.55
15 – Moor, Stacie – Montpelier – 21.00
Girls 100 Meter Dash
3 – Wyse, Seneca – Wauseon – 12.92
4 – Archibeque, Haley – Wauseon – 13.13
14 – Steele, Megan – Montpelier – 14.62
Girls 4×200 Meter Relay
3 – Wauseon – 1:53.15
5 – Montpelier – 1:55.41
Girls 1600 Meter Run
2 – Vernot, Taylor – Wauseon – 5:07.09
* New Wauseon Record *
4 – Archibeque, Kylie – Wauseon – 5:39.45
13 – Jenkins, Hannah – Montpelier – 7:07.88
15 – Halferty, Tara – Montpelier – 7:29.07
Girls 4×100 Meter Relay
3 – Wauseon – 54.47
5 – Montpelier – 55.18
Girls 400 Meter Dash
1 – Wyse, Seneca – Wauseon – 59.86
5 – Archibeque, Haley – Wauseon – 1:02.58
12 – Banks, Lita – Montpelier – 1:07.77
16 – Steele, Megan – Montpelier – 1:09.43
Girls 300 Meter Hurdles
2 – Mealer, Halen – Wauseon – 48.93
3 – Roberts, Kathleen – Wauseon – 50.34
Girls 800 Meter Run
1 – Vernot, Taylor – Wauseon – 2:19.94
* New NWOAL Record *
6 – Archibeque, Kylie – Wauseon – 2:31.39
14 – Hildebrandt, Makayla – Montpelier – 3:14.47
Girls 200 Meter Dash
2 – Wyse, Seneca – Wauseon – 26.03
3 – Archibeque, Haley – Wauseon – 26.66
13 – Quaderer, McKenna – Montpelier – 29.41
14 – Banks, Lita – Montpelier – 29.90
Girls 3200 Meter Run
2 – Vernot, Taylor – Wauseon – 11:15.97
3 – Volkman, Aneesa – Wauseon – 12:04.23
13 – Jenkins, Hannah – Montpelier – 15:24.73
Girls 4×400 Meter Relay
4 – Wauseon – 4:31.90
7 – Montpelier – 4:38.20
Girls High Jump
3 – Bosell, Sydney – Wauseon – 4-08.00
9 – Bosell, Amy – Wauseon – 4-04.00
10 – Erikson, Morgan – Montpelier – 4-02.00
Girls Long Jump
1 – Wyse, Seneca – Wauseon – 17-01.50
3 – Schaffner, Marin – Wauseon – 16-04.50
10 – Gill, Ashley – Montpelier – 14-07.00
16 – Moor, Stacie – Montpelier – 5-09.50
Girls Discus Throw
1 – Frank, Sally – Wauseon – 126-05
3 – Thompson, Brandi – Wauseon – 118-06
Girls Shot Put
1 – Thompson, Brandi – Wauseon – 36-01.75
7 – Frank, Sally – Wauseon – 31-05.00
14 – Blake, Hannah – Montpelier – 26-10.00
Girls Pole Vault
7 – Campbell, McKayla – Wauseon – J8-00.00
10 – Gray, Samantha – Wauseon – 6-06.00
11 – Robertson, Misheala – Montpelier – 6-00.00
Bill Bray can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Timothy Kays can be reached at tim@thevillagereporter.com