MIGHTY TOSS — NRHEG senior Tony Wacholz threw the discus a season-best 149 feet, 9 1/2 inches for the Panthers’ lone gold medal in the Sub-Section 5A boys’ track and field meet at Mapleton last Tuesday. (Photo by Chris Schlaak)
SMOOTH EXCHANGE — The Panthers’ Geoff Ramaker, right, hands off to teammate Brian Billing during the 4x100-meter relay at Mapleton last Tuesday. (Photo by Chris Schlaak)
By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
After heaving the discus 149 feet, 9 1/2 inches, Tony Wacholz exchanged high-fives with his coach and teammates.
They were well deserved.
The season-best toss was good for the Sub-Section 5A boys’ track and field championship for the NRHEG senior.
“Tony is on fire,” said NRHEG coach Duey Ferber. “He was the sold sub-section champ for our boys tonight.”
But it wasn’t the only Panther highlight.
Wacholz’s toss at Mapleton last Tuesday earned him a spot in Saturday’s Section 2A meet at Mankato, where he’ll be joined by seven other NRHEG boys.
Also advancing to section for NRHEG is the 4x100-meter relay team of Ross Chester, Geoff Ramaker, Brian Billing and Hunter Eustice, which placed second in 47.55, edging USC/AC by 1/100th of a second.
Kyle Bayherkohler was second in the 400, clocking 54.86.
Other section qualifiers: Chester, third, long jump, 18-4; Evan Ferber, third, triple jump, 37-8.75; T.J. Schiltz, fourth, 1600, 4:54.67 and fourth, 3200, 10:48.21; and Ramaker, fourth, 200, 24.33.
Other non-section-qualifying NRHEG places: Ferber, sixth, high jump and eighth, 300 hurdles; Raece Johnson, eighth, 400; Wacholz, eighth, shot put.
Winning the meet was USC/AC with 220.25 points, followed by Waseca with 204, Maple River 102.75, NRHEG 87.75, JWP 74.5, St. Clair 70 and WEM 49.75.
The Section 2A meet is Saturday, June 4 at 10 a.m. at Mankato West High School.
