Port faces top competition in Ripon

The Ripon College Showcase last Saturday was packed with talented track and field stars, but nobody in the small school division ran the 3,200-meter race faster than Port Washington High School’s Mason Raasch.

The senior finished in 9 minutes, 54.12 seconds, a personal best by seven seconds and more than 74 seconds faster than the runner-up.

“He ran a very smart race in which he positioned himself well off the start and was able to move past runners throughout the race,” coach Mark Pasten said. “His first and second mile splits were exactly the same. He worked really hard over

the winter, and it is great to see that paying off for him.”

That helped Port, which was missing some athletes due to spring break, score 17 points, which placed the Pirates 11th of 13 teams in the small school division.

Freedom won with 139 points. Catholic Memorial had 102, Kiel had 54 and Lodi had 47.

The meet, Pasten said, “lived up to its name. It was loaded with great teams and very talented individuals.”

Port junior Kaiden Schumacher was fifth in pole vault, clearing 9 feet, 6 inches.

“Kaiden didn’t have his best day, but gave it his all. With the weather that we had leading up to the meet he was unable to practice for the pole vault as we don’t have the ability to do that event indoors with our facility,” Pasten said.

“He is looking forward to being able to practice in nicer weather and working on consistency.”

The 1,600 relay of Schumacher, Ben Fritsch, Jake Meier and Porter Bostwick was sixth in 3:59.49.

Schumacher got off to a good start, and Fritsch did a “great job” in his first 400 run in high school, Pasten said. Meier wasn’t feeling well and lost a couple of places, but Bostwick moved up one spot.

“Porter is out for track for the first time this season and has been doing a great job and is willing to help the team out wherever he can,” Pasten said.

Port girls score in a variety of events

Port’s girls scored 27 points and finished ninth of 12 teams. Freedom won with 126 points. Kiel scored 76 and Winnconne 62.

Elaina Makoutz was third in the 60 dash in 8.22 seconds and eighth in the 200 in 29.79.

Abbey Lotz was third in the 3,200 in 12:24.93, and Braeya Thomas was fourth in 13:39.73.

The 3,200 relay of Audyn Setzer, Lotz, Ashley Bensen and Thomas was fourth in 11:09.29.

Jennacy Wille was eighth in the triple jump with 31 feet, 4 inches, and ninth in the long jump with 14-6.

Lillian Mero was ninth in high jump in with 4-4.

Audyn Setzer was eighth in the 400 in 1:09.96. Clare Woods was eighth in the 1,600 in 6:21.83. Ava Lentz was eighth in shot put with a throw of 28 feet, 4.5 inches.

“We had lots of scoring athletes,” coach Joe Adamak said.

Port was to compete Wednesday, March 30, in the Schreiber Classic at New Berlin Eisenhower, then on April 14 at Homestead.