Oak Creek’s Stack earns coaching honor
Nicolet’s Dunlap dominates 200
The Oak Creek boys track team stormed through the season, winning almost every meet it entered, but the team didn’t really catch coach Rick Stack’s attention until late in the year.
The Knights won the sectional with ease, beating second-place Mukwonago by 51 points. In the process, they qualified 13 individuals and relays for the state meet, many with the potential to score points at the state level.
“To be so strong in the sectional, is what really opened my eyes to think that these kids are really starting to enjoy themselves and they’re starting to believe in what they can do,” Stack said. “I think that was key.”
Oak Creek was poised for big things with the help of the Journal Sentinel’s area boys track and field coach of the year and his
staff. The Knights scored in seven events, set five school records and finished second to Kimberly by one point.
Stack heads an all-area team that also features Nicolet senior David Dunlap, who was named the Journal Sentinel track athlete of the year at the inaugural Journal Sentinel Sports Awards last month. Dunlap defended his Division 1 title in the 200 meters, took third in the 100 and anchored the Knights’ 400 relay to one of the fastest finals times ever.
Stack’s squad produced six medal winners led by second-place finishes in the long and triple jumps by junior James Carter. He was one of the many Knights athletes who grew into prominent roles this season.
“Last year we had Caleb Ogden and he was the star and everyone knows him,” Stack said. “This year I had good athletes, but I didn’t have the standout, sure-bet, sure-fire guy who was going to go in there and get points for us. I think the kids started to realize they had to work more as a team and not count on one individual to pick them up and carry them on.”
Oak Creek staff: Head coach – Rick Stack. Assistants – Al Hilgendorf, hurdles/vault; Aaron Larson, throws; Paul Soto, distance; Phil Hegeman, jumps; Al Wright, sprints.
FIRST TEAM
100: Dwayne Ford, sr., Racine Case – A state title eluded the Eagles standout, but his time of 10.92 seconds in the prelims was the fastest run at the state meet. He took second in the final after claiming third last year. 200: David Dunlap, sr., Nicolet – The 2016 champion defended his title rather easily, running a 21.84 in the final to win by almost three-tenths of a second. His time of 21.32 at the North Shore meet was the best of the year in Division 1. 400: Ben Psicihulis, sr., Kettle Moraine – The Minnesota recruit was one of two athletes in Division 1 to crack the 47second barrier this season. He ran his season-best of 47.98 at the Myrhum Invitational and finished second at the Division 1 state meet in 48.40. 800: Rhys Koch, jr., Whitefish
Bay – The North Shore champion shook off a third-place showing at the sectional to make a run at the D1 title at state. His season-best time of 1 minute 53.62 seconds was less than a second off the pace set by state champion Nate Farrell of Janesville Craig. 1,600: Cole Sandvold, sr., Arrowhead – Under extremely hot conditions, Sandovld ground out a 4:20.51 to finish third in Division 1. His time of 4:15.32 at the Myrhum Invitational was the second-fastest in D1. He also ran faster at the sectional (4:16.89). 3,200: Drew Bosley, soph., Homestead – In an event loaded with talented seniors, this underclassman was able to take sixth in Division 1 in 9:17.82. He topped that effort a week later by running a 9:05.44 at the Midwest Distance Classic in Lisle, Ill. 110 high hurdles: Kelvon Johnson, sr., West Allis Central – After running in the shadow of his brother, Kelshawn, for most of the season, Johnson emerged as the state champion in Division 1. He ran a 14.56 in the final and a seasonbest 14.31 in the prelims. 300 intermediate hurdles: Kelvon Johnson, sr., West Allis Central – After getting the final spot in the D1 state final by thousandths of a second, Johnson emerged from Lane 10 to finish second in the final. His time of 38.11 was second-best in Division 1 by more than three-tenths of a second. 400 relay: Nicolet (juniors Karmari Clayton and John Ford and seniors Dakari Williams and David Dunlap) – The Knights team, which was ranked No. 1 in the state for most of the season, lived up to expectations by winning the final in 41.89. That was short of Green Bay Preble’s meet record of 41.50, which was set in the prelims in 2013, but the Knights time was the fastest time in the final since 1999. 800 relay: Muskego (senior Austin Hewitt, juniors Sam Scholz and Justin Kotarek and sophomore RJ Bosshart) – The Warriors team, which also took second in the 400 relay, ran away with the Division 1 title in this event. Their time of 1:27.04 was .57 seconds better than the runner-up. 1,600 relay: Kettle Moraine (junior Jack Chard and seniors Chris Marshall, Sam Delany and Ben Psicihulis) – Psicihulis’ strong anchor leg resulted in a Division 1 state championship. Their time of 3:18.10 marked the second straight day they set a school record. 3,200 relay: Oconomowoc (seniors Alexander Carter, Taishki Ikeda, William Ullrich and Parker Ellis) – The tandem, which ran together just twice this season, made the most of their time together. They were the top qualifier at state and then won the title in 7:45.88. Shot put: Javaree Jackson, sr., Wauwatosa West – Jackson rose to the occasion when faced with his toughest competition. Before taking third in Division 1 with a personal-best mark of 59-81⁄4, Jackson’s had a seasonbest of 58-6 at the sectional and went 58-4 at Arrowhead’s stacked Myhrum Invitational. Discus:Alec Benzinger, sr., Mukwonago – After reaching 170 feet in the regional, Benzinger went 167-3 to win the sectional title and threw 160-6 to take seventh at the Division 1 state meet. Long jump:Shon Pratcher, sr., Germantown – The Indiana State recruit missed defending his Division 1 state title, but his mark of 24-31⁄2 at the North Shore Conference meet was the best effort in D1 this season. When you included his finals effort of 23-41⁄4, he went at least 23-23⁄4 feet in his final four meets. Triple jump: James Carter, jr., Oak Creek – It took a staterecord effort of 49-21⁄4 for Bay Port’s Cordell Tinch to keep Carter off the top of the podium. His jump of 48-61⁄2 was good enough for second place marked a significant jump over his previous personal best (4611), High jump: Zach Dybul, sr., Mukwonago – The Wisconsin recruit opened the year by clearing 6-9, and won with heights ranging from 6-4 to 6-6 during the outdoor seasons. He took third at state, his fourth appearance, by clearing 6-6. Pole vault: Jared Jones, sr., Kettle Moraine. His sectional effort of 15-7 is tied for the 75th ranking in the nation by dyestat.com. That was one of three straight efforts of at least 15 feet to close the season. He took second at D1 state (15-3).
SECOND TEAM
100: David Dunlap, sr., Nicolet 200: Dakari Williams, sr., Nicolet. 400: Ryan Potter, sr., Oak Creek. 800: Michael Sippy, sr., Oak Creek. 1,600: Ansel Fellman, jr., Kenosha Bradford. 3,200: Brian Jacques, sr., Oconomowoc 110 high hurdles: Kelshawn Johnson, sr., West Allis Central. 300 intermediate hurdles: Sean Moore, sr., New Berlin Eisenhower. 400 relay: Muskego (senior Austin Hewitt, junior Justin Kotarek, sophomore RJ Bosshart and junior Sam Scholz). 800 relay: Brookfield East (juniors Morris Seaton and Justin Christiansen and senior Avery Barnes and Saxton Williams). 1,600 relay: Wilmot (juniors Anthony Poco and Jordan Jesse and seniors Zac Schrader and Matt Cieslak). 3,200 relay: Oak Creek (junior Steven Potter, sophomores Tyler Kisting and Ryan Potter, and senior Michael Sippy). Shot put: Alec Benzinger, sr., Mukwonago. Discus: Hunter Quinn, sr., Watertown. Long jump: James Carter, jr., Oak Creek. Triple jump: Armani Carmickle, sr., Kenosha Indian Trail High jump: Brady Hanson, sr., Kewaskum. Pole vault: Cameron Jemison, sr., Menomonee Falls.
HONORABLE MENTION
100: Armenrashan Ashley, sr., Milwaukee Pulaski; Armani Buckley, jr., Wisconsin Lutheran; Titonaro Bumpus, sr., Racine St. Catherine’s; Max Cooper, sr., Catholic Memorial; Cornelius Bright, jr., Oak Creek; Darios Garrett; soph., Martin Luther; Jaylen Grant, soph., Kenosha Indian Trail; Elijah Johnson, soph., Milwaukee Washington; Evan Murray, soph., Whitefish Bay; Joey Scaffidi, sr., New Berlin Eisenhower; Morris Seaton, jr., Brookfield East. 200: Cornelius Bright, jr., Oak Creek; Terryon Bumpus, sr., Racine St. Catherine’s; Dwayne Ford, sr., Racine Case; Lewis Huenink, soph., Wauwatosa East; Cade Peterson, jr., Kewaskum; Saxton Williams, sr., Brookfield East; Tyriek Thomas, sr., Racine Case; David Young, jr., Pewaukee. 400: Jacob Bisswurm, sr., Catholic Memorial; Derek Davey, jr., Elkhorn; Stephen Halusan, jr., New Berlin Eisenhower; Aaron Johnson, sr., Milwaukee Riverside; Alex Kramer, jr., Marquette; Ryan Melotik, sr., Grafton; Alex Michalsen, sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran; Michael Oechsner, sr., Catholic Memorial; Sean Pritchard, jr., Waterford; Ryan Schedlbauer, sr,, Mukwonago; Mac Stahl, sr., Ozaukee; David Young, jr., Pewaukee. 800: Michael Axtman, jr., Living Word Lutheran; Derek Davey, jr., Elkhorn; Parker Ellis, sr., Oconomowoc; Austin Rendon, sr., Waukesha South; Steven Potter, jr., Oak Creek; Cole Sandvold, sr., Arrowhead; Edgardo Valdes, soph., Shorewood. 1,600: Michael Axtman, jr., Living Word Lutheran; Drew Bosley, soph., Homestead; Spencer Muffler, sr., Waukesha North; Jake Petri, sr., Muskego; David Widenski, sr., Arrowhead. 3,200: Elijah Devries, soph., Arrowhead; Luke Guttormson, jr., West Bend West; Michael Juarez, sr., Waukesha North; Thomas Miller, sr., Homestead; Chris Sobczak, sr., South Milwaukee. 110 high hurdles: Jacob Biewer, jr., Arrowhead; Billy Dominski, sr., East Troy; Jordan Stidhum, sr. St. Francis; Kyle Wilde, sr., West Bend West. 300 intermediate hurdles: Derrek Brock, sr., Kewaskum; Billy Dominski, sr., East Troy; Corey Folds, sr., Milwaukee Morse-Marshall; John Ford, jr., Nicolet; Joe Garcia, jr., Racine Horlick; Jacob Harner, sr., Lake Country Lutheran; Ean Heller, jr., Wauwatosa West; Austin Hewitt, sr., Muskego; Kyle Wilde, sr., West Bend West. 400 relay: Arrowhead, Brown Deer; Catholic Memorial, Kenosha Indian Trail, Kewaskum, Lake Country Lutheran, Living Word Lutheran, Oak Creek, Racine Case, Waukesha West, Wauwatosa East, Wilmot. 800 relay: Arrowhead, Brookfield Academy, Brown Deer, Catholic Memorial, Franklin, Lake Country Lutheran, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee Riverside, Racine Case, Wauwatosa East, Wilmot. 1,600 relay: Catholic Memorial, East Troy, Franklin, Milwaukee Riverside; New Berlin Eisenhower, Oconomowoc. Ozaukee. 3,200 relay: Brookfield East, Cedarburg, Kenosha Tremper, Kettle Moraine; Milwaukee King, Racine Case, Slinger, Waterford, Waukesha South; Whitefish Bay. Shot put: Quin Meinerz, sr., Hartford; C.J. Goetz, jr., Catholic Memorial; Bram Miller, sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran; Matt Johnston, jr., Brookfield East; Cal Knapp, jr, Germantown. Discus: Jacob Matye, sr., Oconomowoc; Bram Miller, sr., Kettle Moraine Lutheran; Mitchell Moeller, jr., Cedarburg. Long jump: Armani Carmickle, sr., Kenosha Indian Trail; Gavin Dorrler, jr., Ozaukee; Thomas Hines, jr., West Allis Hale; Adam Lembke, sr., Waukesha West; Ty OIejnik, jr., Sussex Hamilton. Triple jump: Michael Kirkendoll, sr., Whitefish Bay; Jefferson Osunkwo, jr., South Milwaukee; Shon Pratcher, sr., Germantown; Tyler Thompson, sr., Milwaukee Lutheran. High jump: Alexander Carter, sr., Oconomowoc; Nobal Days, soph., Racine Park; Gavin Dorrler, jr., Ozaukee; Emmett Galles, sr., Kettle Moraine; Riley Keckiesen, sr., Kenosha Tremper; Sammy Miller, sr., West Allis Hale; Mitchell Stroebel, sr., Cedarburg; Tyler Young, sr., Milwaukee Riverside. Pole vault: Scott Hoffman, sr., Shoreland Lutheran; Jack Johnson, sr., Hartford; Bailey Kroll, sr., Mukwonago; Cannon Melstrand, jr., West Bend West.