Division 2
It was Shorewood's weekend on the Division 2 side of things, as both the boys and girls teams ultimately won the WIAA Division 2 State Championships. The boys' team scored 46 points, powered home by a crucial 4x400m relay state championship that secured them the team championship. Lodi finished as runner-up, right in the mix of a tough team battle, as they scored 45 points.
Freedom finished as the runner-up on the girls' side, scoring 30 points as they were boosted by a well-rounded team across many disciplines.
Nathan Cumberbatch certainly helped Shorewood's team effort, as he contributed to 30 team points in his weekend of competition. Cumberbatch won the 400m in 49.33, the 800m in 1:52.84, and anchored the 4x400m relay to a state championship.
What makes Shorewood's efforts impressive is that they won the 4x800m relay without their star middle-distance athlete, as they showcased their depth in doing so.
Also helping his team in a strong way, Lucas Heyroth of Lodi contributed to an astounding 34 team points. He won both the 110m hurdles (14.90) and the 300m hurdles (39.54), took 2nd in the triple jump (46-2), and took 3rd in the long jump (21-9).
Shane Griepentrog of Valders made sure the pace was hot early in the boys' 1600m, passing through 800 meters in 2:03, with Logan Measner of Kettle Moraine Lutheran right on his heels. The two would battle hard down the final homestretch, with Griepontrog ultimately taking home the win in 4:11.82 to Meanser's 4:12.29. These two ran the fastest times of the day, regardless of any Division.
A very similar race panned out in the boys' 3200m, as reigning champion Griepentrog kicked down the final 400m to bring home another state championship in 9:04.98, which was also the fastest time of the day, regardless of Division.
Eliana Sheplee of Rice Lake brought home two titles in the 200m and 400m, running 25.27 (200m) and 56.20 (400m), repeating her 2021 title in the 400m and giving her a first title in the 200m.
Amber Grosse had a busy weekend of competition for Madison Edgewood, as she earned state championships in the 300m hurdles (46.27) and the 4x200m relay, along with placing 6th in the high jump (17-4.75) and 7th in the 100m hurdles (16.47).
Nora Gremban of Northland Pines brought home a distance double, winning the 800m in 2:12.40, which was not far off the Division 2 state record of 2:11.80. Then, she came back the same day to win the 1600m in 5:01.62 after breaking the field early into the race.
Collin Conzemius had himself a day in the short sprints, winning the 100m in 11.02 and the 200m in 21.95, earning 20 team points for Aquinas and two state championships for the junior.
Gavin Fritsch brought home the throws double, securing state championships in both the shot put and discus. He threw 55-8 in the shot on his third attempt and 169-2 in the discus on his fourth attempt.