MV wins team title, qualifies nine entries to State

Girls track

     Maquoketa Valley qualified for state competition in nine events during the Class 1A State Qualifying Girls Track and Field Meet Thursday, May 11 in Central City.

     The Wildcats won the team title with a score of 96. There was a three-way tie for second between Springville, Bellevue Marquette and North Linn, each with 80.

     Kara Orcutt earned a trip to State by winning two events, the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.99 seconds; and the 400 hurdles in 1:10.39.

     Ali Sheehy finished second in the discus with a throw of 119-6 to qualify.

     MV also reached State in six relays: the 4x100 team of Brianna Mensen, Ashley Stogdill, Samantha Wall and Aspen Britt, second in 52.23; the 4x200 team of Mensen, Stogdill, Britt and Wall, second in 1:48.70; the 4x400 team of Wall, Mensen, Orcutt and Britt, second in 4:12.31; the shuttle hurdle team of Angela Wendt, Cassiddy Wilson, Kaitlyn Deutmeyer and Orcutt, first in 1:11.12; the sprint medley team of Mensen, Stogdill, Wall and Britt, third in 1:53.42; and the distance medley team of Madison Imler, Danica Fjelstul, Stogdill and Wilson, third in 4:37.05.

Boys track

     Maquoketa Valley earned six spots for the state meet during the Class 1A State Qualifying Meet Thursday, May 11 in Central City.

     The Wildcats scored 92 points to finish second as a team behind champion Lisbon, which had 151.

     Three MV individuals advanced to State: Kyle Wilson, who was third in the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 3.31 seconds; Brock Hillers, second in the 110 hurdles in 16.20; and Brenden Hogan, fourth in the 1,600, 4:42.73.

     The ‘Cats also qualified in three relays, winning two of them. Those included the shuttle hurdle team of Hillers, Derek Becker, Colin Wendt and Chad Neuzil, first in 1:02.58; the distance medley team of Mitchell Neuzil, Zak Harbach, Becker and Wilson, first in 3:40.43; and the 4x800 team of Becker, Wilson, Chance Downs and Hogan, third in 8:16.39.

     “We had many of our top performances of the year,” Maquoketa Valley coach Pat Meehan said. “We had many personal bests. The shuttle hurdle relay established a new school record. Kyle Wilson ran sub two minute 800s in the two relays he ran in.”

Boys golf

     The Wildcats saw their boys golf season come to an end at the Class 2A sectional meet Friday, May 11 at Guttenberg Golf and Country Club.

     MV shot a team score of 479 to finish in eighth place.

     Matthew Hucker led the Wildcasts with a 112. Jon Seibert shot 116, Austin Snyder had 120, Derek Mensen had 131 and Patrick Hansen scored 147.

     “It was a great experience for our young guys in getting out and competing for 18 holes,” Maquoketa Valley coach Tim Andrews said. “We did not get the results we wanted but it gave us a foundation to build on in the coming years. The boys’ team should continue to make improvements and get much better scores in the future.”

Girls golf

     Maquoketa Valley had one of its strongest performances of the season, finishing third in the Tri-Rivers Conference Meet Monday, May 8 at Valley Oaks in Clinton.

     Calamus-Wheatland won the conference title with a team score of 421. Easton Valley was second with 428, and MV totaled 443 to edge East Buchanan by two strokes for third place. There were 10 teams in all.

     “I was very happy with our performance,” Maquoketa Valley coach Tim Andrews said. “The girls competed at a high level at a very tough course. I hope we can carry this momentum into post-season play (May 15) at Wapsie Ridge in Fairbank.”

     Kelly Winter led the Wildcats with a 107, finishing 10^th overall. She was followed by Chloe Roling with 111, Kelsey Ries with 112, Faith Hunt and Megan McNamara with 113 apiece.