True Team State - In Their Own Words

Class A Boys

Section 1 Champion - Lewiston-Altura High School

"The Lewiston-Altura Boys track and Field team is coming off of a strong performance at the section 1A meet. The seniors on the team have stepped up and led the way for the cardinals. 11 different seniors competed in the meet and many of those 11 have been competing at the varsity level for several years, some since they were in the 7th grade! In addition to a talented senior group 8 underclassmen have stepped into key roles this year for the team and been very successful. The Lewiston-Altura boys track team is far from a traditional track and field program and we love it that way. Nearly every athlete on the team is a multi-sport athlete. Several of our members are varsity competitors in cross-country, football, basketball and wrestling and are successful in all of them. This diversity of athlete is what drives our track and field program. Many athletes this year have stepped into events that they were not comfortable with before and have excelled. Over the past several years together we have turned into a tight-knit track and field family. It is a group that truly loves True Team and everything it stands for and we are excited to be competing at the state level." - Head Coach Bruce Clark

Section 1 Wild Card - Saint Charles High School

"To me, the St. Charles Track Team it is more than a team, it is a family. We are a family because everyone knows that they have an important role on the team. We celebrate our wins, losses, and personal records together. I feel that St. Charles is special because we truly care about our teammates and their results. Some examples of this is running back and forth in the infield during the 4x400 meter relay and congratulating all of our personal records. I have realized that even when I'm not competing I am still involved in the meet by cheering and encouraging my teammates. I have made many memories being apart of this family. The St. Charles program is the type of program that no matter what your talents are, you can add to the success of the team. Being a part of our track team means that I get to go to a practice everyday and enjoy the simple things in life with people that are very important to me. What I love about track is that if you put in hard work and dedication, you have the potential to be the best version of yourself. True Team State is important to us because it allows us to achieve our common goal that we have worked on all year. We hope to acquire a higher score than last time, but the team and will be grateful no matter how we place on Saturday. Just having the opportunity to participate in another True Team State Meet will stay with me forever." - Senior Dan Jones

Section 1 Wild Card - Lanesboro/Fillmore Central/Mabel-Canton

"Our Track & Field Program consists of three schools; Lanesboro, Fillmore Central, and Mabel Canton. Although our kids compete against each other in other sports, they always come together to create one TRUE TEAM with a powerful bond in L/FC/MC Track and Field. This is the 2nd year in a row both of our girls and boys teams have advanced to True Team State. Our team culture is made up of the same values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors shared by the team. The communication and trust our athletes have with each other and the coaching staff is the glue to our team culture. We make serious team goals at the beginning of the year and everyone works together to accomplish them. It doesn't matter if they are in a relay, throwing, jumping, in a 100 meter dash or a grueling 2 mile run, they are always there for each other. Here the words of a few of our athletes on what this entire experience has meant to them:

Section 1 Wild Card - Rushford-Peterson/Houston

Section 2 Champion - Saint Clair/Immanuel Lutheran

"This is the first time for St. Clair, and now St. Clair/Immanuel Lutheran, qualifying for State. St.Clair has 180 students in grades 9-12, and Immanuel Lutheran just 36 students, but they are terrific in their character, attitude and ability. IL joined with St.Clair last year. We thought were going to have two students, but instead we had ten. This year, we upped it to 16. I've been coaching at St. Clair for four years, and although it is the first time for St. Clair to be qualifying for True Team State, for me it is my 50th year of coaching and my sixth time to bringing a boys team to the State True Team meet. I have three assistants - throws coach Tim Andree, vault/high jump coach Toby Schommer, and distance coach Tia Dupont. I have been also very fortunate to have four volunteers whom I have coached in the last three years. Without them, I would be overwhelmed. Experience makes a difference. But as always, it is the character and ability of the student/athletes that determines if they can win. 

On our team we have two rules/regulations. First, if you do what we ask you to do, you will be valuable, and you will be valued regardless of your ability. Second, only when you are working to get better are you good. In the first statement, we want athletes to carry the feelings that they had, team camaraderie, and  friendship(s) as part of who they are for as long as possible. In the second statement, when there are continual gains, from determined work, focus, and all over best habits, they will be successful. Success does not guarantee winning, but success leads to wining. Success happens when you embrace the journey.   If we have done close to what we could do, then St.Clair/Immanuel Lutheran is a winning team. 

Section 3 Champion - Redwood Valley High School

"Redwood Valley boys are excited to be heading back to Stillwater after taking the Section 3A True Team meet for the second straight year. We knew we'd have our work cut out for us after losing some very high end talent to graduation, but had many kids work their butts off the past 11 months to improve and fill the shoes of our graduates. We preach the importance of every athlete mattering and a growth mindset for all of our kids, regardless of their ability. True Team helps us reinforce both of these, and we are grateful to the MSHSCA for this!

"We essentially have based our entire program around the True Team mentality, and it has been so much fun to watch the athletes buy into it. They understand that every single place makes a huge difference and to me, it is so fun to watch as teammates are cheering on and encouraging each other for one more place, inch, second because they know it could make a difference. Winning our section was amazing and shocking at the same time! On paper, we couldn't beat Spectrum but at the Section Meet the boys had a fantastic showing and it was just enough to head back for the third time in four years. At the State Meet, we are hoping to have another great day, compete against some of the best talent in the state, and see what happens!" - Head Coach Andy Hertwig

"The Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta boys track and field team is excited to get back to the True Team State meet again this year after placing third last year. We have many of the athletes returning including 12 seniors and 9 juniors as well as many other younger athletes. The goal is to always to set our sights high and try to get into the State Meet as a team, and then just do our best and preform." - Head Coach Dale Henrich

"We are extremely honored and excited to be making our 3rd straight trip to True Team State.  WDC is a team with many experienced athletes who will be competing in their 2nd or 3rd State True Team this year. Our Juniors and Seniors have been a big part in the rise of Wadena-Deer Creek track and field over the past few years.  Our kids have come into the beginning of each of the past couple seasons with high expectations and the work ethic and "team" mentality to reach those goals.  We lean on many of our kids to compete in 3 or 4 events and many of our kids are always looking for a new or additional field event they can help the team with.  We have a solid team from the throwers, jumpers and vaulters to our sprinters, hurdlers and distance runners and are hoping to improve on our 6th place finish from last season.  We are looking forward to competing against the best teams in Minnesota on Saturday!" Head Coach MArc Reynolds

Section 6 Wild Card - Osakis High School

"Starting this season out, we really did not know what to expect. We had graduated a few important athletes last season. We knew that our team was going to have a lot of young, inexperienced athletes, and many thought that this would be a rebuilding year. However, with encouragement and support from our coaches, they were able to instill a passion within each and everyone of us. Our work ethic improved, along with our team chemistry. At the start of this year, the goal was not to get first in the True Team section meet, but instead to get in the top five. We did not have the same weapons in our arsenal as we did last year, but we knew we had young talent waiting to prove itself. From the very first practice this year, we knew that these young athletes were going be able to fill the shoes of last year's competitors. In past years, the boys have missed making it to True Team State while the girls seemingly never missed it. Each year, the boys were there to send off the girls to state while we were back in Osakis, preparing for sections and  state. While it was encouraging to see the girls go, it was a bit frustrating for the boys when we knew we had a shot. After the section True Team meet, we were left awaiting the final result. After learning that we finally made it to state as a wild-card team, we were excited to have broken through the barrier that had been holding us back from making it down to Stillwater. Making it to state was a tremendous accomplishment for our team, and we all couldn't be more happy with the culmination of our hard work. We believe in the team first philosophy, and we are pumped to compete in the first True Team State meet in our program history. We will try our best to make our coaches proud." - Captains Matt Peikert & Jacob Wielenberg

Pillager boys are making their 3rd appearance, and 2nd straight, in the True Team State track meet. In the open events the Huskies are led by junior Tucker Peterson in the 100, 200, and 400m. Senior Gage Kersten and freshman Quintin Laveau round out the sprinters for the Huskies. The middle distance runners are led by Carson VanVickle (Jr) in the 800m and helping him are newcomers AJ Gratke (a sophomore), and Judah Beard (junior) who will be splitting duties in the 400m and 800m. Freshman Nate Blake has improved all season long and will run both the 1600m and 3200m. Newcomers Sam Moyer (also pole vault) & 7th grader Brayton Kriegl round out the distance runners. Freshmen Tim Moyer leads the hurdle crew, and Eric Klein will be a game time decision in the hurdles & pole vault. Field Events are led by senior Ben Oie & junior Jack Bentson in the shot put & discus. They have finished in the top 3 at almost every meet this year. Our jumps are led again by Tucker Peterson in the LJ and Quintin Laveau who does both the TJ and LJ. Luke Woidyla or Gage Kersten will be the other TJ candidates. Rounding out our field events are high jumpers Spencer Schaefer and AJ Gratke. Relays have been solid all year, many winning All-Conference honors. In the 4x800m, we'll have Luke Woidyla, AJ Gratke, Judah Beard, and Carson VanVickle. In the 4x400, it'll be Gratke, Woidyla, Spencer Schaefer, and VanVickle. The 4x200 is Hunter Gjovik, Ben Oie, Gage Kersten, Quintin Laveau. And the 4x100 is Gjovik, Woidyal, Gage Kersten, and Spencer Schaefer. Overall we are still young, but have two very talented seniors who do multiple events. In the Section meet we did have one of our starters unable to compete and 3 athletes, Ben Oie, 8th grader Zach Macheel, and 7th grader Micah Moyer, filled in for him. Those 3 athletes scored over 30 points and we won by only 5!" - Head Coach Jim Bentson

"The Rams are excited for the chance to participate at the State True Team meet.  After earning 2nd place, losing Ada-Borup/NCW in 2018 our boys where hungry for the chance to make it down to Stillwater this season.  We were fortunate enough to be the section host site and have excellent weather as well!  Our community was very supportive on meet day, which made for an exciting atmosphere.  We have a great crew of hard workers with 20 of 21 being multi-sport athletes!  Our team is a blend of young and old with seniors Jacob Lindemann, Erick Laznicka, Luke Tangen, and Winston Novacek leading the charge!  For many this is their first trip to a state tournament. " - Head Coach Ken Hayden