When you’re trying to build something sturdy and notable, it helps to have a solid cornerstone.
As it turns out, the Wisconsin Dells High School girls track and field team has more than one.
“We have a couple of terrific senior leaders in ‘Bam’ and Karissa, and that’s what we’re going to build on this year,” Dells coach Troy Nelson said, referring to sprinter Briana Metcalfe and pole vaulter Karissa Mace.
“They both set a good example of the work it takes to be successful, and the other kids are getting the message.”
The Chiefs finished fourth in the six-team South Central Conference meet last season, and Nelson — who has coached the Chiefs’ boys and girls teams since 2003 — hopes the team can challenge for a top-three finish this spring.
Mace was the Chiefs’ only WIAA Division 2 state meet qualifier last season, finishing seventh in the pole vault after winning the South Central Conference meet. Both times, she cleared 10 feet.
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This year, after successful seasons in volleyball and basketball, Mace is ready to move the bar up a few notches.
“She’s going to be trying to get that school record (10-6),” Nelson said. “She’s a conference champ, a regional champ, she took second in the sectional and placed at state. This year, she wants to do even more.”
Metcalfe became the fastest runner in school history last year, placing second to Nekoosa’s Lexi Brost in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. She missed out on a state berth last year — which means that everything she does this year will be pointing toward getting one more chance to make it to La Crosse.
“I worked really hard on running this winter. I didn’t go out for basketball so I could work out more,” said Metcalfe, who holds school records in the 100, the 400 relay and the 800 relay and will compete next year at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. “I worked out a lot with (assistant) coach (Ryan) Stroede. The biggest thing I need to improve on is my start, getting out of the blocks.”
And that dynamic duo isn’t all the talent that Nelson has available on his 24-person girls roster this spring.
Senior Hallie Hackl-Frank is destined to be a leader of the distance crew after advancing to the state cross country meet last fall and the state powerlifting meet earlier this month. “She’ll run the (3,200) and the (1,600) for us. She’ll be dependable for us every time,” Nelson said of Hackl-Frank, who took fourth in the conference in the 800 and 1,600 last season.
Senior Abby Vandenlangenberg will join Hackl-Frank in the distance races, most likely the 800 and 1,600, Nelson said.
The Chiefs’ only other senior is first-time track participant Paige Lindner.
Leading the junior crew is Jennifer Johnson, who placed sixth in the discus at conference last year. She’ll also run sprints. Other juniors are thrower Erica Engelbretson, middle distance runner and jumper Brynne Norgard and sprinter and jumper Naomi Gammeter. Kristen Rosen is a first-time participant.
A strong crew of sophomores will include Hunter Hickey (sprints and jumps), Angie Johnson (400 and hurdles), Katie Hall (sprints and jumps), Erin Schoenbeck (part of the conference meet-winning 400 relay), Sami Conley (switching from sprints to throws this spring), Marissa Fernandez (middle distances), Janet Cruz-Olivares (throws), Sarah Quinn (jumps) and Lexy Hammerly (distance).
Freshmen include Jaden Ward (long sprints and jumps), Crystal Sanchez and Sierra Vickers (jumps) and Calista Jones.
• Boys: There is room to grow on the boys’ side of the Chiefs’ roster, with 21 athletes out for the team that finished last in the conference last year and did not advance any athletes to the sectional.
“We don’t have a lot out this year, so everyone will be doing something for us. We’ll be counting on everyone,” Nelson said.
The team is led by six seniors, all of whom will be major contributors:
• Hunter Christensen is a two-time letterwinner as a weight thrower.
• Jacob Synnott has been a four-year competitor in distances.
• Nate Fischer, a pole vaulter, took sixth in the conference meet last year. “He’s one of those guys who will do anything you ask him to do, including clean up around the track,” Nelson said. “We knew he was a good pole vaulter, but then we discovered late in the season that he was our best 800 man, too.”
• Daniel Sweeney “has the genes for hurdling, because his dad ran for us years ago,” Nelson said. Daniel finished fifth in the 110 hurdles at conference last year.
• Dillon Burch will be a “jack of all trades in many events and relays,” Nelson said, including the high jump and middle distances.
• Geoffrey Swenson is a first-year thrower.
Nelson’s team also has six juniors:
• Patrick Nate will compete in the triple jump and long jumps and some sprints.
• Andrew Gilner will run distances, and his twin brother, Riley Gilner, will be a thrower.
• Byron Beyer will run the 3,200.
• Josh Johnson and Jamore Rand are new to the lineup.
Nelson also said the Chiefs have “some decent sophomores and freshmen.
Sophomores Larry Johnson, Austin Jenkins, Darius Scholz, Austin Moore and Tyler Machajewski will get a look in sprints and relays, Alex Minaev will compete in hurdles.
Freshmen Mason Weber, Willie Vandenlangenberg and Chase Flackey also will compete. Vandenlangenberg will be out to earn the fourth letter of his freshman year, having lettered in football, cross country, wrestling earlier.
Nelson believes the Nekoosa and Wautoma boys will be the teams to beat, with Nekoosa holding a sizable edge.
“What we want to do is take some points away. If we can grab the third spot, then we’ll be in the top half of the conference. That’s a good goal for us,” he said.