Warriors shine on biggest track stage

Ozaukee High School’s Gavin Dorrler placed third in the long jump at the WIAA state meet as a sophomore and second as a junior.

Not to mess with the proper order of events, Dorrler won a state title in his favorite event as a senior in last weekend’s Division 3 finals at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Dorrler also excelled as a member of the Warriors’ 200-meter relay last season but saw all three of his fellow relay members graduate.

So he ran the 200 dash as an individual and won gold in that, too.

Dorrler added an eighth place in the high jump and scored 21 points all by himself.

“It was quite a trip,” he said.

Dorrler, the only Ozaukee boy to qualify for state this year, led the “team” to ninth place. Cambridge won the meet with 62 points.

“Gavin Dorrler showed what being a warrior is all about at the state meet,” Ozaukee coach Andrew Pfeuffer said.

At state, Dorrler had to compete in the high jump and long jump at the same time.

“It takes a lot of energy out of you having to run back and forth,” he said.

Dorrler landed the state winner on his second attempt in the long jump.

“As soon as I got in the sand, I thought that should be close to first,” he said.

Indeed it was. But all the other competitors had to finish before Dorrler found out if it was enough for a state title.

“We’re standing there waiting, hearts pumping,” he said.

Then, Dorrler saw it. His leap of 21 feet, 6.5 inches won by one inch over Alec Vandecastle of Wild Rose.

“It was so great. I’ve been hunting for long jump for years,” he said.

“Gavin was determined to win this year and put in the extra work and dedication to his events, and it paid off,” Peuffer said.

“He has wanted that long jump title for a long time and earned every bit of it.”

After a quick shower in the dorm, Dorrler returned to the track for the 200.

“I started warming up, trying to get into my mental game,” he said. “I found it.”

Dorrler said he was told to be careful since runners will try to pass at the end, but he pulled ahead in the final 20 meters.

“I gave it all I had,” he said.

Dorrler won in 23.23, which was .14 of a second ahead of Spencer Deforest of Cambridge and .16 ahead of Hunter Houde of Unity.

Dorrler cleared six feet in the high jump.

Dorrler plans on participating in track and field at UW-Oshkosh, where his coach may put him in the decathlon, he said.

He cited support from his coaches, teammates, family and friends for his success through high school.

“Ending with this means job well done,” Dorrler said.