The End of the Season

IHSA Sectionals is a unique challenge, to advance to the State Finals you have to hit the standard at Sectionals. No matter the time or mark you have registered previously in the season, to advance you have to hit that standard on one night. Going into the Minooka Sectional, the Wildcats had a few events where if any athlete put together a great performance they could advance to the Big Blue Track. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative for a good night to see those breakthrough performances. Across the board, all teams struggled to hit state qualifying marks. In only two events on the track did more than the 2 auto-qualifiers advance down state.

Despite no state qualifiers, the Wildcats had a great team performance at Sectionals.  The team out performance the form charts. The team score points in 5 more events with 6 performances than what they should have done on paper. Including two Sectional Medalists. Luke Adair ran a lifetime PR in the 1600 to finish in 5^th place. Jakub Banka finished in 6^th place in the triple jump to earn a medal.

Ubaldo Rodriguez had a huge race in the 1600, winning the 2^nd sectional by over 10 seconds and coming away with a PR in less than idea conditions. Earning him 2 points for the team with a 7^th place finish overall. Torrance Freeman earned the team 2 more points with a strong run in the 200, just off his lifetime PR for 7^th place. Tyler Weir also secured points for the team with a 7^th place finish in the 400 meter dash. And the 4x400 relay that featured 3 underclassmen (Na’Varyian Junior, Stanford Moss, Brayden Lane, and Senior Tyler Weir) finished 8^th place for another point for the Wildcats.

Jake Michel was the another PR on the night with a strong run in the 110 hurdles. A great end to a strong career at PHS for Jake. Sophomore Grady Bartz also threw a new PR in the discus. Stanford Moss also had a PR split in the 4x200.

To the Seniors who ended their career last night, thank you for what you have meant to this program! You will leave a lasting legacy.

To the underclassmen who will be back next year, stay hungry, the future is bright and the Wildcats are on the rise.