605 Sports Staff

After knocking on the door of the Class B boys state track championship for several years the Chester Area boys kicked that barrier down with authority last year. The Flyers racked up 86 points, ahead of Ipswich (45) and Freeman Academy/Marion (42).

This year’s Chester Area boys team is led by the explosive Jovi Wolf. As a sophomore, Wolf won the 200-meter dash, the 400-meter dash, was second in the 100-meter dash and ran on the winning 400-meter relay. 

Individuals to watch: 

• Freeman Academy/Marion’s Tavin Schroeder is one of the top returners in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. 

• Viborg-Hurley’s Luke Campbell was second in the 110 meter hurdles and will likely run several relay legs for his team. 

• Lee Reiser and Jack Ringling of Platte-Geddes: Reiser is the defending Class A state champion in the shot put. Ringling finished third in the discus a year ago and is the top returner in that event. 

• Owen Eitemiller: The Menno pole vaulter vaulted 13-3 at the state meet last spring. 

• Herreid/Selby Area’s Brenden Begeman competes in the sprints, the jumps and the throwing events and could score points in all three disciplines. 

Event previews: 

100 meter dash: Chester Area’s Jovi Wolf finished second in this race last May (:11.05). Viborg-Hurley’s George Johnson and Gregory’s Kade Stukel will push Wolf and keep an eye out for Thackary Hansen who finished fifth last year for Iroquois/Doland.

200 meter dash: Jovi Wolf was just a sophomore last season when he clocked the (:22.24) to win the Class B 200 meters. Kade Stukel and Thackary Hansen along with Colman-Egan’s Christopher Lee and Viborg-Hurley’s George Johnson were all on the medal stand last year. 

400 meter dash: Another Jovi Wolf title in the 400 meter run (:50.35) an event he rarely competed in last season. Edgemont’s Braden Peterson, Potter County’s Carter Luikens and Dell Rapids St. Mary’s Lucas Flemmer are all back to mix it up in the 400. 

800 meter run: With Tri-State’s Kaleb Foltz running in Class A and Kimball/White Lake’s Dawson Miller both moving up to Class A this should be a wide open event. Wall’s Brodi Sundall and Menno’s Kadeyn Ulmer are the top two returning athletes from last season. 

1,600 meter run: Freeman Academy/Marion’s Tavin Schroeder, Newell’s Garrett Winkler and Potter County’s Nicholas Schlachter will be among the front runners. 

3,200 meters: Canistota’s Josiah Schroeder finished second a year ago (10:01.33). FAM’s Tavin Schroeder, Potter County’s Schlachter and Newell’s Winkler will contend along with Colome’s Joseph Laprath and Philip’s Wakely Burns. 

110 meter hurdles: Viborg-Hurley’s Luke Campbell finished second a year ago (:16.04). Other returning medal winners are Hitchcock-Tulare’s TJ Salmen and Ipswich’s Carter Geditz. 

300 meter hurdles: Irene-Wakonda’s Dashel Spurrell was second a year ago (:42.42). He’ll be fending off runners like Ipswich’s Carter Geditz, Corsica-Stickney’s Shad Bosma, Timber Lake’s Gracen Hansen and Hitchcock-Tulare’s TJ Salmen. 

Shot put: Platte-Geddes junior Lee Reiser had a remarkable rise last season on his way to a state title in the shot put (54-8). Several good underclassmen made the podium last May including Herreid/Selby Area’s Brenden Begeman and Estelline/Hendricks’ Jon Nefzger. 

Discus: Another Platte-Geddes athlete Jack Ringling is the highest returning finisher in the Class A discus with a third place. Ringling and Estelline/Hendricks’ Jon Nefzger are the only two returning place winners from the 2023 season. 

High jump: Gregory’s Daniel Mitchell is the top returner in the field with a third place finish at state. Dell Rapids St. Mary junior Nic Gaspar, White River’s Joe Sayler, Ipswich’s Tyler Hettich and Colman-Egan’s Jack Mousel are returning state medal winners. 

Pole vault: Menno’s Owen Eitemiller finished third in the Class B pole vault with a vault of 13-3. Centerville’s Lane Johnson, Platte-Geddes’ Parker Bailey and Menno’s Isaac Fergen all earned medals at the state meet. 

Long jump: With the top three long jumpers all graduating this could be a wide open event in Class B this year. Castlewood’s Lane Tvedt finished fourth a year ago (20-2). Wall’s Rylan McDonnell, Edgemont’s Braden Peterson and Aberdeen Christian’s Abe Kretchman could all vie for a state title this spring. 

Triple jump: A number of returning state place-winners in this event led by Herreid/Selby Area’s Brenden Begeman who finished second (42-2.5). Wall’s Rylan McDonnell along with Aberdeen Christian’s Abe Kretchman were all top-five finishers a year ago.