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Wagner’s seven athletes traveled to Sioux Falls’ Howard Wood Field to compete in the 2023 State Track and Field Championships May 25-27.

Matt Link competed in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.74 which would not be fast enough for the finals.

Matt was one of two Wagner athletes to participate in multiple events at this meet as he also competed in the long jump Saturday. He scratched by about a quarter of an inch on his first attempt. His second, and best attempt, was an 18’5” which would not qualify him for the finals.

Shalayne Nagel also competed in the state meet in the 200-meter dash. In the day-today grind of life, some days you have it, some days you don’t, as we all know. Today just wasn’t Shalayne’s day. She did her best and that’s all we ask as she would clock in with a time of 29.26.

Karstyn Lhotak attempted to set a PR and possibly make the podium in the pole vault. He had a good showing as he cleared the opening height of 10’6”. He then cleared 11’0” and 11’6”. Karstyn’s best attempt of the year coming into the state meet was 11’7”. To clear 12 feet would have been a nice accomplishment. While he was close on his first couple of attempts, it wasn’t to be on this day for Karstyn, but he performed well and had a good showing as he finished 16th out of 24 vaulters.

Kya Kjeldgaard competed in the high jump at the state meet. This is her third time being top 24 in her class in this event. She entered the competition at the opening height of 4’8” and cleared it on her second attempt. One of her goals coming in was to “get a bar” at the state meet. Mission accomplished.

The bar was then raised to 4’10”. She was determined to make it over this height but would have to bow out as that bar would just not stay on the standards despite her best efforts.

Ashlyn Koupal was competing in her third high jump competition and attempting to claim her third state title. The opening height was set at 4’ 8”. Koupal did not come in until 5’0”. She cleared that height on her first attempt. She did likewise at 5’2”, 5’4” and 5’5”.

After clearing 5’5” there were only two competitors left. By not having any misses, Ashlyn was in the driver’s seat as the other competitor had some misses at lower heights, giving Koupal the advantage should both fail to make 5’6”. Both jumpers missed their first attempt at 5’6”. Koupal’s remaining competitor, Jorja VanDenHul of Dakota Valley missed her second attempt. Koupal then calmly attacked the bar on her second attempt and nailed it. VanDenHul would then have one last shot to keep the competition going, but she failed to clear the bar. And with that failed attempt, the three-peat was complete.

Koupal then raised the bar to 5’8”, attempting to join aunt Mandy and be co-record holders at Wagner High School, but it wasn’t to be. That certainly didn’t dampen her spirits as she commented that, “This one definitely feels the best.” It was a bit of an inconsistent year at this event for the reigning champion. Some late season adjustments to her approach by coach Pat Belling helped her get things right. Koupal commented, “A lot of credit to him. Everything that I’ve done is because of him. He believes in me.I believe in him.”

Belling added, “Hats off to her for being willing to make the adjustment. It’s one thing to have the talent, which she does, but it’s another thing to be coachable and willing to make some changes. She definitely earned this one.”

One last note on Ashlyn’s effort. Not only was her jump the best in class A, but for the second year in a row Ashlyn won the gold medalist in this event. The best in the state regardless of class.

On Friday, Jhett Breen ran in the prelims of the 300 hurdles. He ran a strong race in a time of 42.04 to get him into Saturday’s finals with the sixth fastest time in class A. While this wasn’t Jhett’s best time, it was impressive nonetheless as the runners were finishing the race into a significant head wind.

On Saturday, Jhett was the last Wagner athlete to compete as he toed the line in lane seven. With the combination of his determination and stiff competition, Jhett would PR for the third time this year as he crossed the line in 4th place in a time of 41.42. He ended up being well rewarded for his work at this event throughout the year. It is an event that he has taken seriously the last few years and the results at the state meet made all the work pay off.

Emma Yost started her competition out Friday morning in the discus cage. She threw 111’ 2”- good enough for 15th overall in class A, but no doubt not what she was hoping for.

Emma also attempted to make her way onto the podium in the shot put. At last year’s state meet, Emma competed in the shot put the day after a bit of a disappointing effort in the discus. She followed that same script this year. She came into the meet with the 8th best throw in class A at 39’2”, just 3 ¾” inches shy of the school record. Emma wasted no time as her first throw sailed 39’ 6”, breaking Carol Stastny’s 1989 record by a quarter of an inch. Quite a way to end her throwing career at Wagner as Emma now holds the record in both the shot and discus. Her throw was good enough for 6th place.

Overall, the effort of these student athletes has been good to see. I think I can speak for coaches Belling, Jason Knebel, Jenny Zephier, Reilley Baty, Chad Peters and Brad Lhotak when I say it was an honor to have been able to coach them this season while watching all their hard work pay off.