Coach Townsend Announces Year-End Awards and Recaps Season

Both Milbank Bulldog Track and Field teams can point to 2021 as one of MHS’s most successful seasons in recent years. Their season stretches past graduation and the last day of school to the state meet. Now that the runners and their head coach, Eric Townsend, have had a chance to catch their breath, Coach Townsend announced the track and field teams’ season-end awards and recapped this year’s highlights.

The year-end awards were tabulated using placing scores from the entire season:
Most Valuable Track and Field Girl Athlete –Madi Thue Sprinter of the Year —Laney Forrette/Madi ThueHurdler of the Year —Elsie Seffrood Jumper of the Year —Rachel Schulte Distance Runner of the Year —Ashlynn BatchelorVaulter of the Year —Greta Snaza Thrower of the Year —Averie Engebretson
The year-end awards were tabulated using placing scores from the entire season:
Most Valuable Track and Field Boy Athlete —Bennett Schwenn Sprinter of the Year —Bennett Schwenn Hurdler of the Year —Max Lightfield Jumper of the Year—Bennett Schwenn Distance Runner of the Year —Nick Batchelor Vaulter of the Year—Karson Weber Thrower of the Year —Ryker Trevett
“The Bulldog track teams had nearly all of their season’s bests at the last meets of the season,” Townsend said. “The teams battled some injuries, illnesses, and themselves throughout the season, but at the Northeast Conference meet, the girls’ team was crowned NEC champions. They won by 38 points. The boys’ team won their fifth consecutive NEC team title. This year, they scored 218.5 points and scored 100 points more than their closest competitor.

 At the Region 1A meet, the girls’ team won by over 60 points and repeated as the Region 1A  team champions. The boys’ team won by nearly 60 points to clinch their fifth Region 1A team title.” 

Throughout the season, the teams collectively qualified 29 athletes for the 2021 state track meet. Milbank qualified 13 girls (Greta Snaza, Amaya Street, Madi Thue, Emily VanHoorn, Laney Forrette, Ellie Neugebauer, Maurina Street, Maggie Kruger, Rachel Schulte, Tyra Berry, Siera Wenzl, Ashlynn Batchelor, and Jacy Dexter) and 16 boys (Dustin Gertsema, Isaac Johnson, Nick Batchelor, Michael Karges, Kaden Krause, Jack Sandvig, Bennett Schwenn, Ryker Trevett, Karson Weber, Sawyer Gauer, Eli Johnson, Max Lightfield, James Batchelor, Payton Brown, Jayden Johnson, and Grant Van Peursem). 

At the State Class A Track meet, Karson Weber placed third in the pole vault with a vault of 12’ 6”. Bennett Schwenn placed fourth in the 10-meter dash with a time of 11.18, won the triple jump with a leap of 46’ 3.5”, and won the long jump with a jump of 22’ 6”. Nick Batchelor placed fourth in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10:04.28, third in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:27.74, and third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:00.12. Ryker Trevett placed second in the shot put with a throw of 51’ 10”. 

The 1600 M Spring Medley team of Dustin Gertsema, Sawyer Gauer, Kaden Krause, and Nick Batchelor were state champions with a time of 3:39.72. Greta Snaza was crowned pole vault champion with a vault of 10’ 3”. Ashlynn Batchelor placed third in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11:51.67. The 3200 M Relay team of Ellie Neugebauer, Maurina Street, Amaya Street, and Ashlynn Batchelor placed fourth with a time of 9:52.86. The 800 M Relay team of Laney Forrette, Siera Wenzl, Rachel Schulte, and Madi Thue placed sixth with a time of 1:48.61. The 1600 M Sprint Medley team of Laney Forette, Siera Wenzl, Madi Thue, and Ashlynn Batchelor placed seventh with a time 4:26.99. 

“At the state meet, the boy’s team scored 66 points and finished in second place — the highest finish since 2005,” Townsend said. “The girls’ team scored 26 points and finished in 10th place. Throughout the season, 25 performances cracked the top list on the MHS Varsity Honor Roll and on the Milbank Middle School Record Board.” 

Their records included:
GIRLS HONOR ROLLMadi Thue –  200 M Dash 27.20 No.8 All-time
Ashlynn Batchelor –  3200 M Run 11:38.36  No. 2  All-time and Seventh-Grade Record 1600 M Run 5:27.28 Seventh-Grade Record 800 M Run 2:29.69 Seventh-Grade Record Pole Vault 6’ 0” No. 9 All-time
Greta Snaza –  Pole Vault 10’ 6” School Record
Jacy Dexter –  Pole Vault 7’9” No. 3  All-time and Seventh Grade Record
Maggie Kruger –  Pole Vault 7’9” No. 3  All-time
Rylee Scoula –  Pole Vault 6’ 6” No. 7 All-time
Katie Kruger –  Pole Vault 5’ 6” No. 10 All-time
Siera Wenzl –  200 M Dash 27.57 Eighth-Grade Record
800 M Relay (Laney Forrette, Siera Wenzl, Rachel Schulte, Madi Thue) 1:48.61 No. 4 All-time
800 M Relay (Laney Forrette, Siera Wenzl, Greta Snaza, Madi Thue) 1:50.47 No. 10 All-time
BOYS HONOR ROLL
Bennett Schwenn –  100 M Dash 10.84 No. 3 All-time
200 M Dash 22.17 No. 2 All-time
Long Jump 22’ 7.75” School Record
Triple Jump 46’ 3.5” School Record
Nick Batchelor –  800 M Run 2:00.12 No.4 All-time
1600 M Run 4:25.05 No. 2 All-time
3200 M Run 9:55.62 No. 3 All-time
Ryker Trevett –  Shot Put 52’ 0” No. 6 All-time
Karson Weber –  Pole Vault 12’ 6” No. 5 All-time
Jayden Johnson –  Pole Vault 11’ 6” Ninth-Grade Record
1600 M Sprint Medley (Dustin Gertsema, Sawyer Gauer, Bennett Schwenn, Nick Batchelor) 3:36.67 School Record
1600 M Sprint Medley (Dustin Gertsema, Sawyer Gauer, Kaden Krause, Nick Batchelor) 3:39.72 No. 5 All-time

Townsend extended a huge thank you to all the athletes and parents, and he expressed a very special thank you to the coaches that assisted this season. Coaches included: Troy Gauer, Kelli Hoff, Ryan Conrad, John Trevett, Christine Townsend, Josh Schmeichel, Becky Johnson, and volunteer coach Amy Thue.  

Townsend also recognized the seniors on the 2021 team: Allison Leddy, Lindsey Mertens, Jessica Pillatzki, Amaya Street, Greta Snaza, Amaya Street, Dustin Gertsema, and Isaac Johnson.
2021 MAJOR LETTERWINNERS
GIRLS
SENIORS –  Allison Leddy, Lindsey Mertens (MGR.), Jessica Pillatzki (MGR.), Greta Snaza, and Amaya Street. JUNIORS – Tatum Berry, Maiah Brown, Savanna Osowski, Emily Van Hoorn, and Dani Yamaura. SOPHOMORES – Averie Engebretson, Laney Forrette, Ellie Neugebauer, Ashlyn O’Farrell, Nadia Schneck, Elsie Seffrood, and Emily Wollschlager. FRESHMEN – Aubrey Fraasch, Maggie Kruger, Amelia Peterson, Rachel Schulte, Kynlee Speidel, and Nadia Thue.EIGHTH GRADE – Tyra Berry and Siera Wenzl. SEVENTH GRADE – Ashlynn Batchelor and Jacy Dexter.Minor Letterwinners —  Shaylee Pekelder, Harley Davis, Mallory Falk, Casside Seezs, Julia Wiik, Sophia Gastineau, Kaitlyn Huber, Hope Karels, Ivy Lewno, Brooke Mumbauer, Abby Pillatzki, Cailey Sime, Jacynda Street, Stella Wendland, Hailey Zinter, Katie Kruger, Rylee Scoular, and Ashlee Van Hoorn.

2021 MAJOR LETTERWINNERS
BOYS
SENIORS Dustin Gertsema and Isaac Johnson. JUNIORS Stevie Ash, Nick Batchelor, Connor Bender, Carter Bowsher, Maddox Hanson, Michael Karges, Kaden Krause, Jace Rufer, Jack Sandvig, Bennett Schwenn, Ryker Trevett, Marshall Voeltz, and Karson Weber. SOPHOMORES Mason Cordingley, Sammy Femling, Aidan Foell, Sawyer Gauer, Eli Johnson, and Max Lightfield. FRESHMEN James Batchelor, Payton Brown, Isaac Graham, Jayden Johnson, and Grant Van Peursem. Minor Letterwinners: Evan Hausauer, Will Karels, Kellen Hoeke (MGR.), Luis Berrones, Jacob Shelstad, Dylan Bohn, Raul Berrones, Jairek Frazee, Josh Keeton, Landon Novy, Jose Ramirez, Avery VanOverbeke, and Garrett Weber.