Patriots girls track team has 25 letterwinners

BY PETE MOHS Echo Journal

PEQUOT LAKES —

The Pequot Lakes Patriots girls track and field team has 25 letterwinners returning from a squad that finished fifth at last year’s Section 8-2A meet. “We have a large portion of our team returning, along with a handful of state participants,” said Pequot Lakes coach Jeff Brever. “We will have depth at our middle distance races and are working to build depth in some field events. I’m excited and looking forward to the seniors leading this team, and the opportunities that will present themselves throughout the season.”

The letterwinners include: Calia Chaney, Amelia Davis, Allison Gladen, Lilix Gustafson, Kayla Joyce, Isabel Larson, Hailee Polchow, Haylie Crutcher, Carlie Eggert, Erika English, Olivia Flategraff, Reese Laposky, Ava Merta, Haidyn Sangren, Hannah Sigler, Ashley Slaybaugh, Tatum Christophersen, Presley Crawford, Olivia Den Hartog, Francine Ganley, Emily Held, Sierra Larson, Kyra Rohrbach, Josie Taylor and Chelby Wothe. Last season, Pequot Lakes’ 4x400 girls relay of Gladen, Eggert, Taylor and Chaney finished second at state. Chaney also placed third at state in the 800 run and fifth in the 1,600 run. At the section meet, Chaney won the 800 title and was second in the 1,600 while the girls’ 4x400 finished second. The Patriots’ Amelia Davis won the section shot put title. Others who could contribute this season for the Patriots are Kaydence Blank, Madilynn Dupree, Sadie McGuire, Daisy Davis, Luisa Hoen, Nellie Georges, Hope Mielke, Lidia Pfeiffer, Payton Nations, Keira Strong and Brooklin Hansen.

Boys track The Pequot Lakes boys track team returns more than 10 letterwinners as they move to the new Granite Ridge Conference this spring.

“We will be learning a lot about our new opponents with the conference change,” said Brian Homan, who is starting his third season as the Patriots boys head coach. “We always expect to have a quality team, and that expectation is there this year.”

Letterwinners include: seniors Eli Hall (distance events as a state cross country champion), Riley

Peters (throws), Alex Kriesel (sprints), Shane Crowley (distance), Will Taylor (hurdles), Thomas Blomer (sprints) and Nick Holmberg (mid-distance).

“We have other players to watch like Dane Mudgett, and many other young men who have been putting in the work this off-season,” Homan said.

In Section 8-2A team competition last spring, Pequot Lakes boys were sixth while Hall advanced to state in the 3,200 run. Homan adds that Little Falls should be one of the favorites in the Granite Ridge while Alexandria, Detroit Lakes, Willmar and Cold Spring Rocori are some of the top teams in Section 8-2A. Assistant coaches for the Patriots are Dave Guenther, Justin Franke, Clayton Foster, Bud Bjornaraa, Kathy Allen and Chip Taylor. Pequot Lakes opened the season Thursday, April 4, as the Patriots finished second behind host Foley in the girls team standings while the boys were fifth. Pequot Lakes is scheduled to host the Patriot Invitational on Saturday, April 20, and the section meet Wednesday, May 29.