Sault Sweeps; Rizzo Breaks Own Record at Esky Invitational

The Sault High Blue Devils Track and Field teams blew away their competition at the Esky Invitational and won by a landslide. In a field of ten teams, the boys earned 163 points, ahead of Gladstone with 109.5 points. The girls competed in a field of nine teams, and racked up 164.5 points, ahead of Bark River-Harris’ 94 points. Personal Records (PRs) were set in nearly each event, and one athlete broke a record he set last year. Senior Rayce Rizzo broke the pole vault record, vaulting an impressive 13’6. This was the third time in Rizzo’s five year pole vaulting career that he has set a new record. “It feels really good to break my record but definitely not as good as breaking the previous holders record.” He has big plans for the rest of the season, as well as plans to continue his vaulting career at LSSU next year. “As the end of the season approaches my main goal is to get my record as high as possible as well as beat the UP record of 13’8”.”

The Blue Devils had champions in nearly every field event. Evan Arbic (44’10 – PR) won the shot put and Walter Anderson (34’3) came in eighth place. For the girls, Annabelle Fazzari (32’9) won the event, with Katie Anderson (32’0) in second and Thelma Osumili (27’4) in sixth. Arbic (130’8.5 – PR) won the discus as well, and Anderson (102’1) won the girls event, with Fazzari (96’3) in second and Maddie McLean (72’8.5) in sixth. Talon Thomas-Holm (6’0) won the boys high jump, and Gracie Akridge (4’6) was seventh for the girls. Rizzo (13’6 – PR) won the pole vault, and Wyatt Peabody (9’0 – PR) placed fifth, and Natalie Heyrman (6’6) was sixth for the girls. In the long jump, Rizzo (17’11) jumped fifth, and Heyrman (13’3) was sixth and McLean (13’2) jumped eighth for the girls. 

Throwers’ Coach Brad Boven continues to be pleased with the progress the athletes make. “Yeah throwers had a great day on our first great weather day of the year for the meet for sure. Katie Anderson and Annabelle Fazzari were back to form mid season nothing placing a first and second in the shot and disc, Maddie McLean PRd and was 6th in disc, Thelma is coming along as a competitive freshman as well. On the guys side the captain Evan Arbic really stood out at the meet apart from everyone. He PRd in both shot and disc (130 feet 8 inches and 44 feet 11 inches) placing first in both. We had the boys team wrapped up with newcomer Mason Berry in discus as well as returners Walter Anderson and Jesse Justice-Beck out competing against some tough competition. Johnny Osborn is starting to hit his stride in the adaptive shot as well tying his PR with a put of 16 feet 5 inches which is excellent to see. We have had a real opportunity for everyone to work on form the past few weeks with all of the rain we have had it’s been difficult to get in the ring and practice at all so I’m very happy with where we are at as a throwing group and team in general. Escanaba ran a great meet and we are looking forward to another great meet in Cheboygan on Monday and East Jordan to wrap up our regular season before post season meets start.”

Both teams had a number of placers in the running events, contributing to their team’s  victories. Ryver Ryckeghem won both the 100m (11.12 – PR) and 200m (23.66 – PR) dash, and was third in the 400m dash (55.78 – PR). Dean Roe was fifth in the 100m (11.72 – PR) and fourth in the 200m (24.37 – PR). Donnivan Dykraaf finished eighth in the 200m (24.83 – PR). Johnny Osborn was first in the 100m (29.74), 200m (56.73), and 400m (2:25.81) adaptive races. For the girls, Ahnaka Oshelski was sixth in the 100m dash (13.42 – PR) and Bella Smith was seventh (13.59) and finished fourth in the 200m dash (27.81 – PR). Dayna Szabo was third in the 400m dash (1:04.82). 

Gabe Litzner had a successful return to the track, finishing second in the 800m run (2:12) and winning the 1600m run (4:43.42). Adam Brandt was fifth in the 800 (2:19 – PR), and Eli Hills was eighth in the 1600 (5:12.38). Shea Armstrong won the 3200m run (10:35.39) and Daniel Bowerman was third (11:05.95). Taryn Pratt was runner up in the 800 (2:36.62 – PR), with Abby Walther in third (2:40.09) and Stephanie Jones in fourth (2:47.08). Walther won the 1600m run (5:55.50), Elise Proulx was fourth (6:09.99) and Regan Sporte was fifth (6:12.08). Sporte won the 3200 (13:28.79 – PR) and Calla Armstrong finished fourth (13:56.23).

In the 110m high hurdles, Isaac Niebuhr was third (18.32), Owen Rice was fifth (19:58), and Peabody was sixth (19.70). Oshelski won the girls 100m high hurdles (17.45), Fazzari was second (17.79) and Ava Mayer was eighth (19.59 – PR). Rice was runner up in the 300m low hurdles (46.61) and Niebuhr was fifth (48.53). Oshelski won the 300 (51.35 – PR), Fazzari was fourth (53.51), and Mayer was sixth (55.31 – PR).

In the 4×100 relay, Javonte Bellamy, Jaden Rishmawi, TreVon Johnson, and Thomas-Holm finished fourth, with a time of 48.22. Natalie Prestien, Grace Mayer, Isabella DeWildt, and Smith placed second with a time of 55:19. Roe, Rizzo, Caleb Klier and Dykraaf were runners up in the 4×200 with a time of 1:39.75. Szabo, Prestien, Grace Mayer and Smith also finished second with a time of 1:54.76. Dykraaf, Klier, Rishmawi and Rice won the 4×400 with a time of 3:45.96 and DeWildt, Grace Mayer, Pratt and Szabo were second in their event with a time of 4:29.37. Both teams won the 4×800 relays. Hills, Armstrong, Brandt and Klier finished in 9:17.37 and DeWildt, Pratt, Walther and Jones finished in 11:07.32.

Girls’ Coach Scott Menard was pleased with the outcome of the invitational. “This was the first meet we had our whole team and when we are all together, we are a very tough team to beat.  Hopefully, we can continue to improve as we get ready for regionals.”

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