Season-End Awards Announced for Milbank Track and Field Teams

Eric Townsend, head coach of the MHS track and field teams, announced the season-end award winners for 2022.  Awards were tabulated by placing-scores throughout the entire season: 

MOST VALUABLE TRACK AND FIELD BOY ATHLETE—NickBatchelor/Kaden Krause/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/Jayden Johnson  THROWER OF THE YEAR—Ryker Trevett MOST VALUABLE TRACK AND FIELD GIRL ATHLETE—Maurina Street/Siera Wenzl  SPRINTER OF THE YEAR—Siera Wenzl  HURDLER OF THE YEAR—Ashlyn O’Farrell  JUMPER OF THE YEAR—Tatum Berry/Ella Sandvig  DISTANCE RUNNER OF THE YEAR—Ashlynn Batchelor  VAULTER OF THE YEAR—Maggie Kruger/Jacy Dexter  THROWER OF THE YEAR—Averie Engebretson

2022 MAJOR LETTERWINNERS GIRLS 

SENIORS Tatum Berry, Maiah Brown, Savanna Osowski, and Emily Van Hoorn.JUNIORS Averie Engebretson, Laney Forrette, Ellie Neugebauer, Ashlyn O’Farrell, Maurina Street, and Emily Wollschlager.
SOPHOMORES Maggie Kruger, Amelia Peterson, Kynlee Speidel, Nadia Thue, and Stella Wendland. 
FRESHMEN Isabella Anderson, Tyra Berry, Addiysn Krause, Ella Sandvig, Rylee Scoular, Claire Snaza, Gemma Street, and Siera Wenzl. 
8th GRADE Ashlynn Batchelor, Jacy Dexter, and Leah Meyer .
MINOR LETTERWINNERSHarley Davis, Jenna Dexter (MGR.), Camryn Wiese (MGR.), Julia Wiik, Sophia Gastineau, Addy Hoke, Kaitlyn Huber (MGR.), Hope Karels, Cailey Sime, Katie Kruger, Josie Riveland, and Ashlee Van Hoorn. 

MAJOR LETTERWINNERS BOYS SENIORS Stevie Ash, Nick Batchelor, Maddox Hanson, Michael Karges, Will Karels, Kaden Krause, Jack Sandvig, Bennett Schwenn, Ryker Trevett, and Karson Weber. JUNIORS Luis Berrones, Sammy Femling, Aidan Foell, Sawyer Gauer, Eli Johnson, and Max Lightfield. SOPHOMORES James Batchelor, Raul Berrones, Payton Brown, Isaac Graham, Jayden Johnson, Garrett Mertens, and Grant Van Peursem. FRESHMEN Joe French, Emmett Hanson, Oliver Korth, Graham Lightfield, Moises Luna Sanchez, Mason Meister, and Bryan Meyer. 
MINOR LETTERWINNERS: Mason Cordingley, Anthony St. Martin, Jose Ramirez, Avery VanOverbeke, Josh Pederson, and Shane Spiering. 

COACH TOWNSEND’S THE 2022 SEASON IN REVIEW The 2022 Milbank Bulldog Track and Field season was a very successful seasons for both boy’s and girl’s teams. The Bulldog track teams had nearly all of their season’s bests at the last meets of the season. The team battled through injuries, illnesses, and themselves throughout the season. 

At the Northeast Conference meet, the girls’ team repeated as NEC team champions, winning by 23.5 points, and winning their third NEC team title in four seasons. The boys’ team won their sixth consecutive NEC team title, winning by over 84 points. 

At the Region 1A meet, the girls’ team won their third Region 1A team championship in a row, winning by over 100 points and scoring 201.5 points. The boys’ team again won their sixth consecutive Region 1A team title, winning by 94.5 points and scoring 224.5 points. 

Throughout the season, both teams qualified a number of athletes for the state track meet. Collectively, Milbank qualified 12 girls (Laney Forrette, Ellie Neugebauer, Maurina Street, Maggie Kruger, Kynlee Speidel, Isabella Anderson, Addisyn Krause, Rylee Scoular, Siera Wenzl, Ashlynn Batchelor, Jacy Dexter, and Leah Meyer). They also qualified 15 boys (Nick Batchelor, Michael Karges, Kaden Krause, Jack Sandvig, Bennett Schwenn, Ryker Trevett, Karson Weber, Aidan Foell, Max Lightfield, James Batchelor, Payton Brown, Jayden Johnson, Garrett Mertens, Mason Meister, and Bryan Meyer).

At the 2022 State Class  A Track Meet, many individuals and relays placed. Jayden Johnson placed fifth in the pole vault with a vault of 13′ 0”. Bennett Schwenn won his third consecutive Class A triple jump title with a leap of 45’ 11.75” and placed second in the long jump with a jump of 20’ 8.75”. 
Nick Batchelor placed second in the 3200-meter run with a time of 9:43.15, third in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:23.90, and second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.79. Ryker Trevett placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 48’ 15”. 

The 3200-meter relay of Kaden Krause, Payton Brown, Bryan Meyer, and James Batchelor placed second with a time of 8:16.34. The 1600-meter relay team consisting of Kaden Krause, Nick Batchelor, Garrett Mertens, and Bennett Schwenn won the state championship with a time of 3:26.08. The girls 1600-meter sprint medley team of Laney Forrette, Maurina Street, Siera Wenzl, and Ashlynn Batchelor placed eighth with a time of 4:30.30. 

At the state meet, the boys’ team scored 66 points and finished in second place for the second consecutive season, and the girls’ team scored one point and finished in 37th place.

Throughout the season, 24 performances cracked the top list on the MHS Varsity Honor Roll and on the Milbank Middle School Record Board. They include: 
GIRLS HONOR ROLL Siera Wenzl -200-meter dash -26.98 – #6 All-time. Ashlynn Batchelor – 1600-meter run –  5:16.46 –  #2 All-time and 8th Grade record 3200-meter run – 11:34.59- #2 All-time and 8th Grade record.Averie Engebretson – Shot put – 32’ 10.5” – #10 All-time. Jacy Dexter –  Pole vault – 9’ 6” – #2 All-time and 8th Grade record. Maggie Kruger –  Pole vault 8’ 6” –  #3 All-time. Rylee Scoular –  Pole vault –  8’ 3” #4 All-time. Katie Kruger – Pole vault – 7’ 0” #7 All-time. 400-meter Relay (Laney Forrette, Jacy Dexter, Addisyn Krause, Siera Wenzl) – 51.83 – #5 All-time.

BOYS HONOR ROLL Bennett Schwenn – 400-meter dash –  51.66 –  #7 All-time. Nick Batchelor –  400- meter dash – 51.76 –  #9 All-time, 800-meter run – 1:56.79 – School Record 1600-meter run – 4:23.90 –  #2 All-time3200-meter run – 9:38.91 – School Record. Jayden Johnson Pole vault 13’ 0” #3 All-time. Karson Weber –  Pole vault – 12’ 6”  -#6 All-time. Sam Rick – Pole vault – 9’ 0”  -7th grade record 400-meter dash – 57.49 –  7th grade record. Bryan Meyer – 800-meter run –  2:03.83 – 9th grade record 1600 m Relay (Harley Zemlicka, Liam Heller, Beckham Berry, Sam Rick) – 4:07.44 – 7th grade record 1600-meter Sprint Medley – (Sawyer Gauer, Garrett Mertens, Bennett Schwenn, Nick Batchelor) – 3:38.22 – #2 All-time 1600-meter Sprint Medley (Sawyer Gauer, Kaden Krause, Bennett Schwenn, Nick Batchelor) – 3:38.60 – #5 All-time 1600-meter Relay (Kaden Krause, Nick Batchelor, Garrett Mertens, Bennett Schwenn) 3:26.08 – School Record 3200-meter Relay (Kaden Krause, Payton Brown, Bryan Meyer, James Batchelor) – 8:16.34 – #3 All-time 

Coach Townsend’s final comments: Overall, it was another successful season for the Milbank Bulldog track and field teams as many personal bests were attained, personal goals were reached, team goals were set and achieved, and other team successes were reached. 

A huge thanks to all the athletes, parents, and fans. A very special thanks to the coaches that helped this season: Troy Gauer, Kelli Hoff, Ryan Conrad, John Trevett, Christine Townsend, Josh Schmeichel, Becky Johnson, and volunteer coach Amy Thue. Their hard work helped with the many successes that were reached by this year’s teams. 

Finally, a special congratulations and thanks to the seniors on this year’s squad: Tatum Berry, Maiah Brown, Savanna Osowski, Emily Van Hoorn, Stevie Ash, Nick Batchelor, Maddox Hanson, Will Karels, Michael Karges, Kaden Krause, Jack Sandvig, Bennett Schwenn, Ryker Trevett, and Karson Weber. These fourteen seniors accomplished much throughout their track and field career and their leadership will be greatly missed.