Aquinas Donarski gets four medals, Luther’s Vannucchi takes silver and gold
For Onalaska High School’s Austin Glynn, it was a bit of a bizzaro WIAA state track and field meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
The soon-to-be thrower for the Oregon Ducks, came into state the favorite to win discus and just another competitor in the shot put.
What happened at Roger Harring Stadium was quite a surprise. Glynn ended up winning the shot put with a distance that was over a foot better than his personal record (PR).
Glynn won gold with a 62-foot, 3½-inch distance Friday. His previous PR was “just” 59-9¾.
Saturday, in the discus, Glynn had hoped to break the state record. He came into the meet ranked sixth in the nation – not in the state but in the nation – with a PR of 209-9.
Neither happened, however. Glynn settled for second place with a 181-4 throw.
It was the second time in his high school career taking second. He did so as a sophomore. At state last year, he scratched out on is three attempts.
CENTRAL’S PINKOWSKI AND KING
Two second-place finished ended Sam Pinkowski’s high school track and field career at state. The senior finished with silver in the 1,600 (4:18.32) on Saturday. Friday, in the 3,200, Pinkowski took second in 9:07.15.
It was the first and last trip to state for teammate Kobe King. It won’t be long before we are watching King flying through the air for the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team.
Before that happens, however, La Crosse was treated to one more feat by King in high school.
The senior, who led the Red Raiders to a state boys basketball championship this winter, took fifth place in the high jump, clearing 6-6 to make the podium. It was the first year King has competed in the event.
LOGAN’S SMITH
Like King in the high jump, Logan’s Dion Smith had never competed in the 110-hurdles before this season. The senior ended up on the podium when it was all said and done.
Smith finished fifth overall at state in the 110s (14.87 seconds). He also competed in the 300 hurdles, finishing .12 seconds away from the podium, in ninth (40.13).
That wasn’t all for Smith, however.
He teamed up with CJ Siegel, Joe Schmida and Joe Bond in leading the Rangers to a sixth-place finish in the 1,600 relay (3:20.52).
HOLMEN’S HOLDEN
He qualified for three races at state, and Holmen’s Seth Holden ended up on the podium for each one.
The senior capped off his high school career an eight-time medalist, after his performance last weekend.
Holden took fifth in the 400 (48.81), and sixth in both the 100 (11.18) and 200 22.39).
AQUINAS AND DONARSKI
It was a hot weekend to be doing four events. Aquinas’ Lexi Donarski didn’t let it faze her.
The freshman ended her first state meet with three sixth-place finishes and she helped a Blugolds relay team take third.
That relay – made up of Donarski, Shannon Paramesh, Kimmie Schmitz and Mae Leslie – was .38 seconds away from a potential state championship.
And Donarski was .03 seconds from a potential fourth-place finish in the 200.
Also for Aquinas, the boys 400- and 800-relay teams both took third. Nick Cambio was the fourth runner on the 800 team, while Bryant Meyer was the fourth in the 400 relay.
LUTHER’S VANNUCCHI
It’s just the halfway point of a bright high school career for Luther’s David Vannucchi.
Coming off a state cross country championship, the sophomore finished with a silver and gold in Division 3.
Vannucchi took second place in the 3,200 (9:34.77), and third in the 1,600 (4:20.57).
He also teamed up with Beau Clemmensen, Jesse Hackbarth and Jacob Wintrone to finish on the podium in eighth in the 3,200 relay (8:24.26).
WIAA STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET RESULTS
DIVISION 1
GIRLS
Team scores (top 10): Whitefish Bay 10, Brookfield Central 8, Waukesha West 6, Janesville Craig 5, Eau Claire Memorial 4, Muskego 3, Arrowhead 2, Sun Prairie 1.
AREA MEDALLISTS
BOYS
Team scores (top 10): Oconomowoc 10, Kimberly 8, Madison West 6, Oak Creek 5, Stoughton 4, La Crosse Central 3, Janesville Craig 2, Brookfield East 1.
AREA FINISHERS
High Jump: 5. Kobe King (Central) 6-6.
Shot Put: 1. Austin Glynn (Onalaska) 62-3½.
DIVISION 2
GIRLS
Team scores (top 10): Viroqua/Youth Initiative 16, Altoona 15, Hayward 13, Little Chute 10, Ashland 10, Jefferson 10, Marinette 9, Kettle Moraine Lutheran 8, Edgerton 8, Lakeland 8, Wrightstown 8, G-E-T 8.
AREA MEDALLISTS
800: 2. Dana Feyen (G-E-T) 5:09.07.
High Jump: 6. Lexi Donarski (Aquinas) 5-4.
BOYS
Team scores (top 10): Rosholt 16, Spencer 13½, Bangor 12, Alma/Pepin 10, Lake Holcombe/Cornell 10, Valley Christian 10, Eleva-Strum 9, Cambridge 9, Luther 9, Boyceville 8, Coleman 8, Hilbert/Stockbridge 8.
AREA MEDALLISTS
3,200: 8. Hayden Fredrickson (Westby) 10:04.61.
Pole Vault: 2. Owen Gluch (Westby) 13-9.
DIVISION 3
GIRLS
Team scores (top 10): Algoma 22, Edgar 13, Johnson Creek 10, Mercer 10, Shell Lake 10, Ozaukee 10, Albany 9, Reedsville 8, Cochrane-Fountain City 8, Lourdes Academy 8, Gresham Community/Bowler 8, Newman Catholic 8.
BOYS
Team scores (top 10): Sheboygan Falls 14, Lake Mills 10, Shoreland Lutheran 10, Lakeland 10, Xavier 10, Monroe 10, Valders 10, Westby 9, Whitewater 8, McFarland 8, Omro 8, Winneconne 8.
AREA MEDALLISTS
3,200: 2. David Vannucchi (Luther) 9:34.77
3,200 relay: 8. Luther (Vannucchi, Beau Clemmensen, Jesse Hackbarth, Jacob Wintrone) 8:24.26.
Triple Jump: 2. Adam Tallman (Bangor) 44-2½
Discus: 5. Garrett Krueger (Bangor) 145-5.