Wyatt Steen:
Wyatt entered the sectional meet carrying the pressure and expectations that come with being one of the team’s most experienced postseason athletes, already owning multiple state appearances between indoor and outdoor track. With his season hanging in the balance, Wyatt showed tremendous composure and mental toughness as the competition came down to his final attempt at the state qualifying height of 6’1”. He rose to the moment and cleared the bar, securing one more trip to the state finals and continuing an already impressive championship résumé.
Brody Ossian:
Senior Brody Ossian secured his first trip to Charleston with a breakthrough performance in the triple jump. Throughout the season, Brody has worked tirelessly to improve the consistency of his approach and maximize the efficiency of his second phase. Everything came together at exactly the right time, as he launched a massive jump of 12.67m (41’7”)—surpassing his previous personal best by nearly a full foot. Achieving a lifetime best at the sectional meet is something many athletes chase but few accomplish, and Brody delivered under the highest pressure to earn his spot at state.
Will Maher:
Sophomore Will Maher left absolutely no margin for error in the long jump, hitting the state qualifying standard of 20’10” exactly to secure his place in Charleston. Will has spent the season steadily improving his speed, explosiveness, and consistency on the runway, and those efforts paid off when it mattered most. Despite only scratching the surface of his potential in the sport, Will has already established himself among the area’s top jumpers. We look forward to watching him compete against the best in Illinois as he represents the Chargers at the state finals this Thursday.
Chance Reid
The first recognition undoubtedly goes to junior thrower Chance Reid. Chance has spent the season refining the technical details of his spin in the discus, and on Friday night everything came together at exactly the right time. He exploded for a massive personal best throw of 146’4”—a mark that not only shattered his previous best by 23 feet, but also surpassed the state qualifying standard. Improvements of that magnitude are rare, but Chance erased any doubt by consistently hitting comparable distances throughout the competition. Chance also added another personal best in the shot put with a throw of 42’3.5”. His efforts earned 2nd place in the discus and 8th in the shot put, providing critical points that helped keep the Chargers competitive throughout the meet.
Max Hessler
Few freshmen are asked to compete in high-pressure varsity situations where major team outcomes hang in the balance, but Max Hessler has consistently risen to the occasion this season. The hurdle events are among the most demanding races in track and field, requiring precision, rhythm, and composure, especially against older and more experienced competition. Max delivered in a big way at the conference meet, setting personal records in both hurdle events while also surpassing the state qualifying standard in the 110m high hurdles. He earned a 3rd place finish in the highs with a time of 16.20 before following it up with a 5th place finish in the 300m hurdles in 44.48. Competing at this level as a freshman is no easy task, but Max has handled the transition to varsity competition with maturity and confidence well beyond his years.
Owen Voorhees
Our final recognition goes to senior sprinter Owen Voorhees, the cornerstone of the Chargers’ sprint squad this season. Owen secured the Chargers’ lone gold medal of the night with a winning time of 11.16 in the 100m dash. He also anchored the 4x100 relay alongside teammates Will Maher, Wyatt Steen, and Kaden Cirks, tracking down the competition and helping move the Chargers into 2nd place with one of the relay’s fastest times of the season at 44.40. Owen’s sprint performances this year have been exceptional, especially considering his relatively limited experience in the sport. His athleticism, competitiveness, and rapid development have made him one of the team’s most impactful athletes this season.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026. Go be great!
The track and field boys were back in action Monday night for an early-week tune-up meet ahead of Friday’s Conference Championship. The competition served as a valuable opportunity to shake off the weekend rust, sharpen race execution, and continue improving seed marks heading into one of the biggest meets of the season. With strong performances spread across nearly every event group, there were far too many highlights to mention all at once. Here are a few athletes who earned special recognition:
Henry DeBaillie
Henry continues to make rapid progress in one of track and field’s most technical events—the pole vault. The sophomore has steadily combined his speed and athleticism with improving technique, resulting in new personal bests at nearly every meet this season. Despite being brand new to the event this year, Henry is proving to have a natural feel for the vault, earning 3rd place with a clearance of 10’9”. That mark now places him just over 1’3” away from the state qualifying standard. Henry also contributed to 1st place finishes in both the JV 4x100 and JV 4x200 relays, continuing to show his versatility as an athlete.
Dylan Manning
As coaches, we want to take a moment to recognize senior Dylan Manning for the commitment and growth he has shown throughout his four years in the program. Dylan has been a steady presence in the sprint group throughout his career, consistently working to improve his performances in the 100m dash and relay events. More importantly, he has developed into a dependable leader who sets the tone through effort, attitude, and consistency. Dylan is the type of athlete every program values—someone who works hard, stays positive, and leads by example every day. He turned in a strong performance in the 100m dash, placing 8th in 12.16, and also helped the JV 4x100 relay to a 1st place finish alongside Henry DeBaillie, Trey Barnes, and Chance Reid. Dylan’s steady improvement is a great example of what consistent dedication can accomplish.
Eli Schroeder
Our next recognition goes to freshman distance runner Eli Schroeder, who continues to show major growth in his first season of high school track and field. Eli capped off the night with a huge personal best in the 1600m, crossing the line in 5:29—a dramatic improvement from his 6:15 season opener. As the season has progressed, Eli has steadily built both confidence and racing experience under the guidance of volunteer distance coach Nick Juenger. His dedication and development are becoming increasingly evident each week, and as one of the younger members of the distance squad, Eli is positioning himself to play an important role in the program’s future.
Parents going tonight, the link listed below is for the GoFan Ticket you may purchase ahead of time!
https://gofan.co/event/6549256?schoolId=IL16254
The boys track team had another memorable performance at the Sherrard Relays, as the Chargers claimed yet another team title—this time in a much different format. Competing against tough conference-level competition, the boys came out on top in the Sherrard Relays’ “Top Individual” format, where each school is limited to one entry per event. That structure removed the advantage of depth and placed the spotlight squarely on each team’s top athletes. The Chargers answered with 115.5 points, edging out Sherrard (107) and Kewanee (102) to secure the championship. Five gold medals and a long list of runner-up finishes powered the effort in a meet that demanded consistency, versatility, and poise. Here is our top performance.
4x400 Relay:
With the team title once again hanging in the balance, the Chargers turned to the 4x400 relay to close the door. Carter Sersland, Owen Voorhees, Wyatt Steen, and Charley Arnold answered the call, putting together one of their strongest races of the season to win gold in a season-best 3:36.62. Each leg delivered under pressure, but senior Wyatt Steen came up with one of the biggest moments of the race, breaking into the 52-second range for the first time. Owen Voorhees also deserves special recognition after another remarkable night, contributing to four gold medal finishes and 32 team points while running 10.98 in the 100m and helping lead both the 4x100 and 4x200 relays to victory.
Also, special shoutouts to Cameron Engstrom, Haylee Downing, Morgan Schroeder, and Derek Engstrom for taking first place in the always entertaining Banana Coaches Relay!
