Eagles enjoy life in the fast lane

Andy Sherman has been coaching track and field at Sauk Prairie for 25 years. And last Friday, the Eagles’ girls did something none of Sherman’s previous teams have done — winning the Baraboo Relays. Sauk Prairie finished with 104 points and nipped runner-up Reedsburg (102) at the eight-team event. Baraboo (91), Columbus (87) and Madison La Follette (74) rounded out the top five. “What an incredible night for Sauk Prairie track and field,” Sherman said. “I am still in awe of the performances and the effort and competitiveness that was shown.” Sauk Prairie had a number of memorable performances. Catherine Gregg won the 3,200-meter run and Lexi Been was second in the 100-meter dash. The Eagles’ 400-meter relay team of Kaya Wilson, MariElla Viola, Olivia Schultz and Lexi Been finished first. Sauk Prairie’s 800-meter relay team of Wilson, Viola, Maggie Hartwig and Been was also first. The Eagles’ 1,600-meter relay team of Kaya Howard, Taylor Snyder, Hartwig and Sydney Moore was second. And the quartet of Natalie Curtis, Elena Homar, Catherine Gregg and Charlotte Gregg was also second in the 3,200-meter relay. The foursome of Mackenzie White, Ella Weigel, Howard and Charlotte Gregg was second in the 1,600 sprint medley relay. Moore, Kylie Hutchins, Homar and Curtis combined to finish third in the distance medley. Anna Buffardi won the discus relay, while Olivia Lewis and Leah Engelby tied for sixth in the high jump relay. Audrey Anding was seventh in the long jump relay, while Sara Nehring and Reagan Chrisler tied for eighth in the pole vault relay. The competitiveness of our girls at the end of the meet really played a part in winning the meet, and it proved that every performance and point matters,” Sherman said. “We needed a 4x4 team (Howard, Snyder, Hartwig, Moore) to put us in position to possibly win and they found four that were willing to put it on the line to help us out.  “And boy did they come through. Not only did they get in it to help us score points, they ran so well that they placed second.” The Eagles’ boys finished in sixth place with 60 points. Madison La Follette won the event with 130 points. Sauk Prairie’s 400-meter relay team of Jack Simonis, Sam Logterman, John Fabian and Michael Blau was third. The Eagles’ 800-meter relay team of Sean Goodwin, Logterman, Tom Pethan and Blau was third. Sauk Prairie’s 4x110 meter shuttle hurdle team of Trent Backenberg, Jack Simonis, Taylen Young and Micah Boerger was third. The Eagles’ 400-meter relay throwers of Nick Dunnum, Jacob Sherman, Nolan Vils and Eamon Walsh was third. Blau won the high jump relay and was fifth in the 100-meter dash. Vils was second in the shot put relay and fifth in the discus relay. Eamon Walsh was fifth in the pole vault relay, while John Dietmann was eighth in the 3,200-meter run. “Both teams competed so well and we saw how important everyone is to the team,” Sherman said. “I know many think of track and field as an individual sport, but (Friday) proved that every individual matters when it comes to winning team awards. I saw a lot of growth in all areas of both teams.”