RUNNING STRONG — NRHEG’s Kyle Bayerkohler, right, battles a New Ulm runner at Waseca Friday. (Star Eagle photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva boys' track and field team opened the outdoor season with a pair of meets last week, finishing second in the Panther Invitational at New Richland Tuesday and fifth among seven teams at Waseca Friday.
Coach Duey Ferber was very pleased with the opener.
"We were very happy to get a meet in, considering lane eight still had a foot of snow on it," said Ferber. "The boys looked good. We were very pleased to take second place. We have a bunch of guys that really like to compete."
Albert Lea won the meet with 209 points. NRHEG had 86, Maple River 74, Medford 71, JWP 67, WEM 25 and LeCenter/Cleveland 19.
The Panthers, who had no first-place finishers, scored the bulk of their points with seconds and thirds.
NRHEG placewinners: Evan Ferber, second, triple jump, third, triple jump and third, 300 hurdles; Tyler Holz, second, pole vault; T.J. Schiltz, second, 3200; 4x200 relay, second (Ross Chester, Brian Billing, Geoff Ramaker, Hunter Eustice); 4x100 relay, second (Matt Webster, Ramaker, Ferber, Eustice); 4x800 relay, third (Webster, Kyle Bayerkohler, Karter Sletten, Schiltz); Ramaker, third, 100; Tyler Crabtree, third, discus and fifth, shot put; Bayerkohler, third, 400 and fourth, 800; Eustice, fifth, 100; Ryan Schlaak, sixth, pole vault; Chester, sixth, long jump; 4x400 relay, sixth (Brody Hansen, Sletten, Hans Frank, Raece Johnson).
Waseca won at Waseca, edging St. Paul Highland Park 133-126 for first. The rest: Lake Crystal/Wellcome Memorial 98, New Ulm 75, NRHEG 48, Minnesota Valley Lutheran 25, WEM 21.
Senior Tony Wacholz garnered his first varsity gold, winning the discus with a toss of 126-6.
Schiltz had what Coach Ferber called an impressive second-place finish in the 3200.
Other places: Evan Ferber, third, triple jump and fifth, 300 hurdles; Bayerkohler, third, 400 and sixth, 800; 4x100 relay, third (Webster, Ramaker, Even Ferber, Eustice); 4x200 relay, fourth (Ramaker, Billing, Eustice, Chester); Crabtree, fifth, discus; Wacholz, sixth, shot put; 4x800, sixth (Webster, Sletten, Bayerkohler, Schiltz); 4x400, sixth (Hansen, Johnson, Frank, Schiltz).
"Evan Ferber and Kyle Bayerkohler continue to score solid points for the boys," said Coach Ferber. "We saw all the boys get in a lot of work tonight. I love these unlimited entry meets at the beginning of the season. It gives us a chance to see what everyone can do."
The Panthers hosted the Panther Relays Tuesday. They compete at USC Tuesday, April 19.
