Hornets to compete at BSU indoor meet on Tuesday

Contributed photo
Members of the girls 4×400-meter relay will be returning to the Frazee line up this season. They are pictured with Nathan Johannsen, who is currently running track in college. Members of the 4×400-meter relay team include: Hailey Selly, Brynn Larson, Jaden Sonnenberg and Elsie Ratz.

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Frazee track teams return a dynamic group of letter winners and state entrants from last year’s teams—that is of course when the snow cover finally gives away and the Hornets can compete on the outdoor track for the first time.

Jim Jacobson, who has previously served as the girls track head coach, will guide both the boys and girls programs on the track this season. He will be joined by Russ Hackel, Jim Rader, Jeff Johannsen, Todd Larson and Megan Galligan as they look to build on the success of last year’s team. 

Among the highlights this year will be the return of the school record setting 4×400-meter relay team of Elsie Ratz, Jayden Sonnenberg, Brynn Larson and Hailey Selly. The group set a school record of 4:12.37 in the event last year, and Sonnenberg, Larson and Selly were also part of the state qualifying 4×200-meter relay team. Larson also competed in the state meet in the high jump, while Josh Mellama will be returning to the team after competing in the state qualifying 4×400-meter relay for the boys.

“We have a big core back from last season, including all of our school record 4×400 and most of our 4×200 team,” said Jacobson of the girls team. “We have some great leadership on our girls team and a lot of talent. We are short some upperclassmen in our distance races but we have some youth we are excited about. Our girls are excited for the season and we are ready for the snow to melt.”

The boys team will be facing a bit of a different challenge as they will be young and a bit short on numbers this season as they look to rebuild for the future.

“We are short on numbers this year and graduated our state qualifiers from last year,” said Jacobson of the boys team. “We are fairly young, but our guys have been working hard so far this season. Our boys are looking to build on the success from last year as we figure out who is going to fill which roles.”

In order to find success this season the Hornets will need to replace a number of seniors who graduated last year, including several who are competing in the college ranks. Nathan Johannsen was a state entrant in two events and is running track at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, while Jayden Keeping, Skylure Lehman and Johnathan Parsons all graduated last year for the boys team.

The girls team will need to look to replace Rylee Moore, who is competing in dance and track at St. Thomas, as well as Braylee Riewer who is dancing at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. 

Returning letter winners include: Girls: 12th grade- Bailey Larsen, Autumn Hiemenz, Kaidence Mayfield, Madison Olson, Olivia Petron; 11th grade- Elsie Ratz, Hailey Selly, Kodi Schermerhorn; 10th grade- Lainey Jacobson; 9th grade- Brynn Larson, Jayden Sonnenberg; 8th grade- Aubree Bristlin Bristol Larsen, Lauryn Schmid; Boys: 12th grade- Hunter Lyman; 11th grade- Brady Borah, Brady Crabtree, Alex Helmers; 10th grade- Gavin Simon; 9th grade- Tyden Schafter, Jonah Sharp.