New coach drives Falcons to success

Under first year coach Chuck Otte, the Sheboygan Falls Falcons boys track and field team enjoyed a successful 2010 season.

This year’s success was not determined by how the team placed, but by how well the boys adjusted to the unique style of their new coach.

Otte brought some excitement into the program with ties to the history and tradition of Sheboygan Falls track program.

Along with stories about former Falls track and field coaches Al Goetz, Mark Mader, and Bernie McKichan, came work outs utilizing hills and harnesses, stairs and bleachers and retro warm ups.

Strong team chemistry and outstanding individual performances provided many highlights to the season.

The team’s four captains - Ben Tenpas, Jeremy Lee, Andy Ansay, and Lucas LaCrosse offered highly capable leadership for the Falcons.

Otte felt that team chemistry and character were far and away the high points of the 2010 season.

“Our team was loose and relaxed, but focused when it came time to perform,” said Otte. “There where team activities like the all-team high jump competition, pool workouts, team-building competition, and retro warm ups.”

The strong character of the team showed during the Eastern Wisconsin Conference Relay Meet.

Otte stated that the team was short of personnel in many of the relay competitions, but several boys came through to fill open spots on short notice.

Seniors Clarke Moburg and Sam Kaeppel filled in on the 4800 relay. Sprinters Nick Hietala, and Greg Scheilke helped out in the 3200 relay.

Craig Manning, and Nick Hietala ran hurdles, Ian Offult competed in the triple jump and Lucas LaCrosse, Peter Heinen, and Sam Kaeppel did the high jump.

“Because those individuals stepped up to do an event that they didn’t normally do, our team moved up three spots in the team scores,” expressed Otte. “Individual performances are not solely judged by places. Personal records came all year long and are too numerous to mention all of them.”

The Falcons will lose several seniors, but will have a strong group of juniors returning next season.

Several personal records that stood out were Tenpas’ personal record is his final meet, with a toss of 42- 6 in the shot put,

LaCrosse dropped 12 seconds in the 1600 run, during the last two weeks of the season, running a best time of 3:34.

Matt Hasler dropped his time down to 2:03 in the 800 run, Alex Grabowski hit 50.7 in the 400 dash and the 1600 relay team of LaCrosse, Grabowski, Ansay, and Hasler cut five seconds to run a 3:29.

First-place performances at the EWC Relay Meet were turned in by the sprint medley team of LaCrosse, Grabowski, Jason Fenner and Ansay and the 1600 relay team of LaCrosse, Grabowski, Ansay, Hasler.

At the EWC Meet, Grabowski placed first in the 400 dash and the 1600 relay team of LaCrosse, Grabowski, Ansay and Hasler also racked up a first-place showing.

In WIAA Division 2 Regional Meet action, Grabowski finished first in the 400 dash, the 1600 relay team of Grabowski, Ansay, Hasler took second, LaCrosse placed third in the 1600 run and the 400 relay team of Peter Heinen, Jeremy Lee, Nate Bramstedt and Ansay collected a fourth-place finish.

At the WIAA Division 2 Sectional Meet, Grabowski wound up fifth in the 400 dash, LaCrosse was fifth in the 1600 run and the 1600 relay unit of LaCrosse, Grabowski, Ansay and Hasler also turned in a fifthplace showing.

Most valuable awards went to Tenpas (field events), Ansay (sprints) and LaCrosse (distance).

Most improved accolades were distributed to Nick Swoverland (field events), Nate Bramstedt (sprints) and Hasler (distance).

Grabowski was named the team’s MVP while Grabowski and Ansay shared the Al Goetz Outstanding Track and Field Athlete Award.