Tigers win fifth straight boys CLC Relays crown

OOSTBURG – Howards Grove won its fifth straight boys title in the Central Lakeshore Conference Relays here Tuesday.

The Tigers outscored second-place Cedar Grove-Belgium, 91-81. The Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters finished eighth with 12.

Oostburg earned the girls championship with 82 points. Howards tied for sixth with 44 and Elkhart was eighth at 10.

Senior Mike Verfuerth and junior Matt Wleklinski competed in two of the Tigers’ three winning events to lead their team. Verfuerth, Jordan Hemb and Adam Sheahan were on the winning 330-meter high hurdles team that was clocked in 56.1 seconds.

Verfuerth was also on the first-place triple-jump unit that achieved a total of 119-4¾. Also on the triplejump team were Wleklinski and Collin VerVelde. Verfuerth had a season-best 42-3½ to pace the trio in the event.

The Tigers’ other winner was the 400 relay that included Zach Chariton, Ryan Bruesewitz Matt Wleklinski and his twin brother, Mike Wleklinski. The relay posted a time of 47.6.

“I am so pleased with the total team effort that was given to produce this win,” said Tiger head coach Jayne Henke.

“Zach Glaser, Trevor Schueler, Jordan Hemb, Collin VerVelde and Ryan Mugan had great times in their respective events.”

The Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Resorters’ top finisher in the boys meet was the sprint medley which took third in 4 minutes, 8.2 seconds. The relay consisted of Delaine Goodell, Adam Ruechel, Matt Russman and Justin Lisowe.

Howards won the girls long jump with a 39-9½ performance. Teaming up in the event were Kendra Kirsch, Brittney Palm and Rachel Hartlaub.

Elkhart was paced by its sprint medley which took third in 2:15.8. The relay members were Emma Gross, Mikayla Scholten, Kira Ruechel and Megan Meyers.