Port wins first meet of season

The first indoor meet in more than two seasons was a memorable one for the Port Washington High School boys’ track and field team.

The Pirates, behind five top-tree places, including two event victories, won the 14-team Sheboygan North Invite on Saturday.

“That was a fun day,” coach Mark Pasten said.

The pandemic canceled last year’s indoor track season and all spring sports in 2020.

“There were a few seniors who had competed indoors as freshmen; otherwise it was a new experience for everyone else,” Pasten said.

Senior Mason Raasch won the 1,600-meter race by more than nine seconds in 4 minutes, 53.85 seconds, and the 640 relay of junior Kaiden Schumacher, senior Elijah Perez, sophomore Ben Fritsch and junior Matt Esselmann won in

1:23.84, less than a quarter of a second ahead of Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah.

The Pirates scored 59 points and edged North Shore Conference rival West Bend East’s 55. Oostburg scored 54, and NSC foe Slinger had 50.

Esselmann was second in pole vault by clearing 10 feet, 6 inches. Schumacher was third with 9-6.

Freshman Josh Arnold was second in long jump with 18-2.5.

The 3,200 relay of senior Jake Meier, sophomore Gabe Hingiss and seniors Austin Rinke and Gabe Pasten was third in 9:19.2. Perez was third in the 55 dash in 7.13, and Fritsch was fourth in 7.18.

Raasch was third in the 800 in 2:12.29. Meier was fifth in 2:26.13.

Pasten was fifth in the 3,200 in 10:57.73.

The 1,600 relay of Schumacher, junior Porter Bostwick, Hingiss and sophomore Diego Armendariz was fifth in 4:09.39.

Fritsch was sixth in high jump at 5-6.

The 960 relay of Bostwick, junior Zack Cox, senior Frank Grebas and Aremendariz was seventh in 2:18.72.

Rinke was ninth in the 3,200 in 11:11.14. Perez was 10th in the 200 in 27.52. Armendariz was 10th in the high jump at 5-4.

Port presents a balanced team

The Pirates have 45 boys on the team comprised of 13 seniors, 11 juniors, eight sophomores and 13 freshmen.

“The numbers are back up this season after smaller teams the past three seasons,” coach Pasten said.

“We haven’t had that many seniors out in a while. It is nice to have that leadership and experience to rely on.”

He said this team could be formidable.

“We are going to be a pretty solid team. We should score points in most disciplines. We have a good sprint crew in Eli Perez, Ja’Quel Miller and Ben Fritsch. Our distance squad is strong with Mason Raasch, Nate Meeks, Gabe Pasten and Austin Rinke leading the way,” he said.

“In the pole vault, we have Kaiden Schumacher and Matt Esselman looking strong. In the jumping events, we have Fritsch, Esselman and freshman Josh Arnold contributing. In the throws, we have Landon Riesmier and Nolan Voeller back.

Hurdles looks to be a work in progress for us this year.”

Senior Ben Mitchell is the team’s only returning state qualifier. He advanced in the 800 in the wheelchair category.

Mitchell could get back to state, coach Pasten said, and the 3,200 relay has a shot, along with Raasch in the 3,200.

“He had a really good winter of training and is coming off of a strong cross country season,” Pasten said.

Raasch finished sixth at the Division 2 state meet to lead Port’s cross country team last fall. Rinke was 37th and Gabe Pasten was 38th.

Port girls start with partial team

The Port girls don’t have a large team this season with just 18 members.

“The quality is good when everybody’s there but with spring break it will be hit or miss,” coach Joe Adamak said.

The Pirates’ partial team scored 16 points and finished 12th of 14 teams at the Sheboygan North Invite last Friday.

Oak Creek won with 91 points. Kiel had 76, and Slinger had 68.

Elaina Makoutz, one of two seniors on the team, was second in the 55 in 7.67.

Junior Braeya Thomas was fourth in the 1,600 in 6:01.62.

Junior Audyn Setzer was sixth in the 400 in 1:10.5.

Sophomore Toni Walters was 10th in the 800 in 2:53.45.

Makoutz is expected to lead the way in the sprints this season. Thomas and Abbey Lotz will score points in distance events.

Setzer will contribute in middle distance events.

Ava Lentz, the returning North Shore Conference champion in discus as a freshman, is back, but discus isn’t held during the indoor season.

“All the returning kids should be the big point scorers,” Adamak said.

“We try to develop some of the newer and younger kids. As the season goes on, we’ll see who steps it up.”

Last year’s only state qualifier, Bethany Stacey in the 3,200, graduated.

The Pirates compete at Ripon College on Saturday and at New Berlin West on Wednesday, March 30.