UP titles for Wykons, Knights
Norway’s 10-player team earns tie
(Rand Hruska photo) Adam Cavagnetto won the 1600-meter run, above, and also captured the 800 as Norway shared the Division 2 Upper Peninsula track and field championship with Ishpeming on Saturday at Kingsford.
KINGSFORD — Seventeen years had passed since the Norway boys last celebrated an Upper Peninsula track and field championship.
It happened for them on this hot and humid Saturday, however, as they shared the Division 2 title with Ishpeming with 95 points. Third-place Iron Mountain had 85
“Not bad for us, especially with having just 10 boys,” said Norway coach Al Trudeau. “At the beginning of the year we weren’t expecting this, but we had a great bunch of kids who worked hard. We had a great year and everyone did a wonderful job today.”
Norway junior Adam Cavagnetto won the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 5.6 seconds and 1600 (4:41.42).
Teammate Wyatt Richter placed second in the 110 hurdles at 17.9 and 300s (45.85) and third in pole vault at 8 feet.
North Central sophomore Luke Gorzinski crosses the finish line to win the 400 meter relay in Division 3. Gorzinski also won the 200 meters in Saturday’s MHSAA U.P. track and field finals at Flivver Field in Kingsford. (Rand Hruska photo)
Also taking second for the Knights were Jeff VanHolla in the 200 (23.94), Aiden Richards in discus (107-1), Colton Paul in pole vault (8-0) and its 800 relay (1:37.99).
Senior Zach Seat added thirds in high jump (5-7) and long jump (18-3 3/4) as did Norway’s 400 relay (47.27).
Iron Mountain senior Dante Basanese won the 200 (23.84) and placed third in the 100 (11.82) and anchored the 800 relay.
“Our handoffs felt pretty good,” said Basanese, who anchored the winning 800 relay. “We had four good sprinters who definitely ran real hard. Norway has a good team. We felt they were the team to beat. Our time wasn’t the best in the regional at West Iron County. It rained during the meet and the (asphalt) track was slippery. I’m a little sad this is ending. I’ve been doing this for four years.”
The Mountaineers also took the 400 relay (45.05), which broke Iron Mountain’s school record. Basanese, Caleb Evosevich-Hynes, Joey Dumais and Joey Colavecchi were the four legs of the record-breaking relay team.
Dante Basanese carries the baton as Iron Mountain sets a school record Saturday in the 400 relay. Individually, Basanese won the 200 meters in Division 2. (Rand Hruska photo)
The previous 400 relay record (45.09) at Iron Mountain was set in 2000 by Mark LaFreniere, Adam Husing, Jeff Taff and Matt Mainville.
Iron Mountain’s Will Fairchild placed third in the 300 hurdles (46.35) and junior Luke Ruble did likewise in the 1600 (11:15.12). Iron Mountain also placed second in the 3200 relay (9:34.52).
Landon Sudelius provided West Iron County with its lone first in the 300 hurdles (43.58).
Marquette won crowned D-1 champion with 140 points, followed by defending champ Gladstone 93 and Kingsford 65.
Kingsford junior Lucas Tappy won shot put with a personal-best toss of 41-6 1/2 and Matt Wilson was runner-up in discus (118-4).
Sophomore Cole Myllyla, who placed fourth in the long jump in Division 1, joined juniors Treston Larson and Diego Przeslakowski and freshman Michael Floriano in Kingsford’s 400-meter relay win at the U.P. Track Finals. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
Junior Treston Larson, sophomore Cole Myllyla, freshman Michael Floriano and junior Diego Przeslakowski combined to give the Flivvers a victory in the 400 relay (44.93), 0.19 seconds faster than Marquette.
“We had some of the best handoffs we had all year and just focused on getting a real fast time,” said Floriano. “I still have three more years of high school. I have a lot to look forward to. Iron Mountain beat us in one meet. They gave us pretty good competition this year.”
Kingsford was runner-up in the 800 relay (1:34.75) and third in the 1600 (3:40.93).
“Great day at the U.P.’s. Every one of our qualifiers placed today,” said Kingsford boys track coach Joe Kriegl. “I know a couple of our boys would have liked to do a little better, but I couldn’t be prouder of their effort again. We are excited for next year already as we are young.”
Menominee junior Brady Schultz set a U.P. record in high jump (6-8), 3 inches higher than the previous best by Kingsford’s Jake Richmond in 2004.
West Iron’s Jordan Shamion placed second in the shot put at the U.P. Division 2 Track Finals on Saturday at Kingsford. She took first in the 110 and 300 hurdles and anchored the winning 1600-meter relay. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
Dollar Bay earned its first D-3 crown with 67 points, followed by Pickford at 55 and Rapid River at 47.
North Central won the 400 relay (46.32) and sophomore Luke Gorzinski captured the 200 (23.29), edging Republic-Michigamme’s Isaac Lawrence by 0.02 seconds.
Junior Trent Naser provided the Jets with a second in 300 hurdles (43.42).
Forest Park senior Mason Rintala placed second in the 1,600 (4:37.11) and third in the 3,200 (10:48.22) and Tim Bendick was third in shot put (39-11 1/2).
Shamion sisters pace West Iron with 5 individual firsts
West Iron’s Danica Shamion nears the finish in the 400 meters. She took first in the event, along with winning the 100 and 200 as the Wykons captured their first U.P. Division title since 2013. (Rand Hruska photo)
KINGSFORD — It was close, but the West Iron County girls prevailed in the Upper Peninsula Division 2 Track Finals on Saturday at Flivver Field.
The Wykons secured their first title in eight years with 108 points. They were followed by Ishpeming, 104 1/2; Bark River-Harris, 80; and three-time defending champion St. Ignace, 71.
“We kind of knew it’d be close,” said West Iron coach Kristi Berutti. “We had to change some relays to maximize our points. We’ll come back next year and work hard again.”
West Iron clinched their victory by winning the 1600-meter relay in 4 minutes, 27.04 seconds. Ishpeming placed second at 4:39.92 during what is believed to be the hottest U.P. Finals on record.
Temperatures hovered in the low to mid-90s with a heat index of 99.
Senior Jordan Shamion, who anchored that relay, also won the 110 hurdles at 6.99 seconds, the 300s in a personal-best 48.72 and took second in shot put at 31 feet, eight inches.
“It’s awesome to win it all and we couldn’t have done it without my sister Danica,” she said. “She’s the one who pushed us over the edge. I stumbled over a hurdle and got a PR (personal record) and I’m happy with second in shot.”
Freshman Danica Shamion added victories in the 100 (13.07), 200 (27.35) and 400 (1:01.48).
“I think my starts have improved which is important,” said Danica. “If you have a bad start, you have a bad race.”
Teammate Avery Bociek took second in the 800 (2:40.08). McKenna Kegley was third in discus (84-2) and Seanna Stine placed third in the 300 hurdles (54.65).
Iron Mountain won the sprint relays. Chloe Maycroft took high jump (4-11) and Lexi Hagen captured pole vault (8-6).
The Mountaineers were clocked at 53.88 in the 400 relay and 1:52.86 in the 800.
“Our third handoff (by Emma Ellis) went real well,” said junior Abbygayle Richer, who anchored the 800 relay. That was our fastest time all year and the competition pushed us to do better. We knew we had to run well to beat Bark River-Harris. I’m just glad we had a chance to run this year. Last year we didn’t get to do this (because of Covid-19).”
Iron Mountain senior Sarah Kulas placed second in the 1600 (5:52.33) and Maycroft was third in long jump (13-11 1/2).
The Marquette girls retained their D-1 title with 120 points, followed by Sault Ste. Marie 94 and Menominee 71.
Kingsford’s Melanie Wenzel won the 800 (2:29.55), edging Sault senior Haleigh Knowles on a lean.
“Melanie Wenzel was definitely our highlight of the day winning the 800 run She had an incredible race running a person record as well,” said Kingsford girls track coach Lisa Harry. “It was a photo finish with Mel coming from behind. She ran a gutsy race and had to kick it in hard the last 300 meters to catch her. Overall, all the girls fought hard today in the heat. Points were hard to come by for us, but the girls gave it their all and I really enjoyed watching them improve through the season.”
Sault Ste. Marie senior Emily McLean set the U.P. record in shot at 42-8, topping her previous best (39-2) from two years ago.
The Central Michigan University recruit had throw as far as 46-8 in the Straits Area Conference meet May 24.
In D-3, Ontonagon won for the first time in five years with 73 points, followed by Rudyard, 64, and Stephenson, 54 1/2.
North Dickinson junior Ashton Hord was runner-up in the 200 (28.77) and third in the 400 (1:05.55) and the Nordics were third in the 3,200 relay (11:29.99).
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- (Rand Hruska photo) Adam Cavagnetto won the 1600-meter run, above, and also captured the 800 as Norway shared the Division 2 Upper Peninsula track and field championship with Ishpeming on Saturday at Kingsford.
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- North Central sophomore Luke Gorzinski crosses the finish line to win the 400 meter relay in Division 3. Gorzinski also won the 200 meters in Saturday’s MHSAA U.P. track and field finals at Flivver Field in Kingsford. (Rand Hruska photo)
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- Dante Basanese carries the baton as Iron Mountain sets a school record Saturday in the 400 relay. Individually, Basanese won the 200 meters in Division 2. (Rand Hruska photo)
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- Sophomore Cole Myllyla, who placed fourth in the long jump in Division 1, joined juniors Treston Larson and Diego Przeslakowski and freshman Michael Floriano in Kingsford’s 400-meter relay win at the U.P. Track Finals. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
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- West Iron’s Jordan Shamion placed second in the shot put at the U.P. Division 2 Track Finals on Saturday at Kingsford. She took first in the 110 and 300 hurdles and anchored the winning 1600-meter relay. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
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- West Iron’s Danica Shamion nears the finish in the 400 meters. She took first in the event, along with winning the 100 and 200 as the Wykons captured their first U.P. Division title since 2013. (Rand Hruska photo)
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- Iron Mountain’s Lexi Hagen won the Division 2 pole vault at 8 feet, 6 inches. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
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- Theresa Proudfit photo
Iron Mountain’s Lexi Hagen won the Division 2 pole vault at 8 feet, 6 inches. (Theresa Proudfit photo)
Theresa Proudfit photo