Chargers’ Rogowski the area’s top girls track and field athlete

Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School’s Reese Rogowski was one of the area’s top track and field athletes coming into the spring season. The junior didn’t disappoint, racking up top finish after top finish and eventually qualifying for state in four events.

For her efforts, Rogowski was tabbed the NEW Media Inc. Girls Athlete of the Year.

“Being active all year-round and training hard in practice definitely helped me to have a good season this year,” said Rogowski. “I lifted in the offseason, which helped with explosive strides and better running technique.”

After primarily placing first in every event she competed in during the regular season, Rogowski continued to turn in strong finishes against increasingly tough competition.

Rogowski stole the show at the Central Wisconsin Conference-Large Division Championships on May 14, winning the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes and long jump. She won the 100 in 12.3 seconds, 200 in 25.78 seconds, 400 in 58.07 seconds and claimed the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 0.5 inches.

While the top finishes were impressive, it was the margin by which she won those events that really stood out. She was .72 seconds faster than anyone in the 100, 1.47 seconds faster in the 200 and 4.39 seconds in the 400. Rogowski’s top long jump distance was 2 feet, 4½ inches further than the next-best finisher.

While Rogowski made things look rather easy competing in those four events, it took a toll on her.

“It is definitely exhausting, competing in four events in a meet,” said Rogowski. “Most of the times I have to balance a field event with a running event, which gets difficult because you have to keep running back and forth in order to be on time for everything. So that aspect of it is a little stressful, also.”

Rogowski’s big season continued at the Division 2 Tomahawk Regional, where she placed first in the 200 and 400 and was second in the long jump and 100.

The junior then placed first in the 200, second in the 400 and third in the 100 and long jump to qualify for state in all four events.

Against the state’s best, Rogowski continued to shine. She came in second in the 200 and 400 and placed seventh in the 100 and 10th in the long jump. Rogowski scored 18 points with her finishes, which helped Witt-Birn tie for 11th place among Division 2 girls teams.

“My favorite moment from this season was placing second in the 200 and 400 at state,” said Rogowski.

Honorable mentions

Aside from Rogowski, there were plenty of other talented girls track and field athletes this spring.

Shawano’s Isabel Roloff made it to state individually in the 100 meters, making the finals and placing seventh. She won Bay Conference titles in the 100 and pole vault.

Suring’s Christine Sleeter advanced to state in the high jump and pole vault, tying for second and taking 17th, respectively. She won a Marinette & Oconto Conference title in the high jump.

Lena’s Natalie McNurlen capped her season on the state podium after taking sixth in the triple jump. She won the M&O title in that event.

Bonduel’s Brenna Hertzfeldt enjoyed a strong finish to her senior season, placing ninth at state in the discus.

Witt-Birn’s Jalynn Horacek won a CWC-Large title in the triple jump and went on to place 14th in the event at state.

Gresham’s Valarie Cerveny was the CWC-Small champion in the shot put, while Pulaski’s Emily Bruss had the Fox River Classic Conference’s top mark in the triple jump.

Oconto Falls’ Brailyn St. Louis was the top finisher in the high jump at the North Eastern Conference Championship. Gillett’s Ryann Wagner (3,200) and Carleigh Kaczmarek (1,600) were M&O conference champions as well.

Team of the year

Suring takes home the Team of the Year honor after winning the M&O Conference Meet.

The Eagles won four events to claim the conference title. Suring also had five second-place finishes and six third-place finishes at the meet.

sports@newmedia-wi.com