The Monroe News
Five weeks ago, Bedford's Micah Scheffer was 3/10th of a second away from a state championship in swimming.
Four weeks ago, Scheffer was sent into a two-week quarantinedue to COVID-19 contract tracing and was forced to miss the start of track and field.
Two weeks ago, Scheffer was getting X-rays in the emergency room after injuring his foot in his first track meet of the season.
"He had a good meet but said his foot was hurting him," said his father and coach Jon Scheffer. "The more he walked on it, the more it was hurting. We took him to the ER to get checked out and he was in a boot for a week and a half."
The X-raysshowed no broken bones for the Bedford junior, but he still sat on the sideline as the season raced on without him.
Finally, he was able to return to the track last week.
But Tuesday was his real debut.
Scheffer took first place in three individual events in a dual meet at Monroe to help lead Bedford to a 91-42 win over the Trojans.
Monroe's girls got the better of their rivals on the other side of the meet with a 79-58 victory.
"It felt good to run again," Micah Scheffer said. "It was my second meet with the boot off. The first one hurt really bad on my feet. Today it felt really good."
Scheffer said he came into the day with high expectations. He hoped to set a personal-best mark in all three of his events.
Mission accomplished.
Scheffer won the 100-meter dash with a PR of :11.61. He won the 200 with a PR of :23.96. And then set his best time to win the 400 in :52.48.
The series of delays to his track and field season are quickly becoming a distant memory.
"I do feel like it slowed me down," he said. "I missed practices and I missed meets. ... But I feel good right now."
Along with Scheffer's three victories, Bedford finished first in 13 of 17 events. Also winning for the Mules were TJ Destatte (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Collin Balla (800), Connor Becker (discus), Joey Travis (high jump), and Nathan Dotson (pole vault). Bedford also won all four relays.
"It's been an interesting season," coach Scheffer said. "We've been shuffling kids around because of quarantines and other issues, but we have decent depth."
Sophom*ore Luke Butler led the day for Monroe, finishing first in the 1,600 and the 3,200. The Trojans also picked up wins from Darien Trotter (shot-put) and Andrew McCarthy (long jump). McCarthy also was second in the 100 and 400 and fourth in the high jump.
Monroe junior Meredith Soule was maybe the meet's most impressive athlete.
She took home four individual firsts, winning the 100 in :13.29, the 200 in :27.16, the 100 hurdles in :16.15, and the 300 hurdles in :47.44. She hit personal-best times in the 100 and the 100 hurdles and a season-best in the 300 hurdles.
"Last time I checked, she was in the top 10 in the state in the 200 and the low hurdles in Division 1, and improving in the high hurdles and the 100," Monroe coach Jim Mydloski said. "She has gotten a lot faster."
Freshman Viktoria Bloniarz wonthe 800 in 2:38.37 and the 1,600 in 5:34.45, and junior Kamryn Bice took first in the shot-put with a throw of 33-02 and the discus with a toss of 107-04.
Other winners for the Trojans were Grace Laprad (3,200), Isabella Seger-Wagasy (long jump), and the 3,200 relay team of Laprad, Grace Finley, Michelle Gallegoand Chloe Gunter.
"Overall, I thought we ran pretty good," Mydloski said. "Scoring the meet beforehand, I knew it would be close. Bedford was missing some people, so we probably caught them on a good day. It might not happenthat way if everybody is all there, but we had some good people step up and we had some PRs and season bests today. I was proud of how we ran."
Winning for Bedford were Ally Betkey (400), Elizabeth Cochran (high jump), and Chelsea Kamm (pole vault). The Mules were also first in the 400 relay, 800 relay, and 1,600 relay.
SMCC, Flat Rock split
FLAT ROCK – St. Mary Catholic Central and Flat Rock battled in a couple of competitive meets Tuesday and left with a split decision.
“We competed hard,” said SMCC coach Stan Smith.
SMCC took the boys meet 68-60 as Andrew Wickenheiser won the 800 and 1,600 meters, and Cole Jondro ruled the 100 and 200.
Other wins for the Falcons came from Austin Marcon (400), Simon Vandevlucht (3,200) and the 800 and 1,600 relays. Ralph Helfrich, Carter Smith, Jack Palmer and Luke Foster also earned important points.
David Smith (throws) and Bradley Williams (hurdles) were double winners for Flat Rock. Other Ram wins came from David Slaughterbeck (high jump) and Aaron Salazar (long jump).
“We matched up well with them,” Flat Rock boys coach Joel Stapleton said. “They’re pretty strong in the running events and we did well in the field. It was a good meet, back and forth the whole way.”
Meredith Stahl won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters to lead Flat Rock’s girls to a 67-61 victory.
Alyssa Bonanno won the shot-put and discus and Theresa Halason took the high hurdles and the 400 for the Rams.
Sisters Ashley and Maddie Ruhlig stood out for SMCC. Ashley, a freshman, won the long jump and 200 meters and her junior sister ruled the 100 meters and was second in the long jump and 200.
Lauren Conant won the low hurdles.
Jefferson sweeps Huron
NEW BOSTON – Both Jefferson moved to 5-0 win wins over New Boston Huron Tuesday.
Alex Mansfield was the standout in the Bears' 78-50 boys win. He set a school record of 56-1 in the shot-put and also won the discus. Jefferson's shot-put record had stood since 1999. It was set by Kurt Kleinow with a toss of 54-11.75.
Nolan Vanover (200, 400) and Carter McCalister (1,600, 3,200) also won two individual events for the Bears. Other wins came from Jackson Barath (long jump) and Isaac Merkel (800).
"Our kids came in prepared to do battle," Jefferson coach Josh Ludwick said. "They knew what they needed to do, and came in and executed."
Huron's Griffin Cholette won both hurdle races. The Chiefs also got individual wins from Tycen Stevens (100) and Isaac Smith (high jump).
JennaPilachowski won the 800 and 1,600 meters and ran on a winning relay as the Bears took the girls meet 77-51.
Madison McKinney won both throws with a lifetime best of 31-4 in the shot-put. Madison Duvall ruled the 3,200 meters for 5-0 Jefferson.
Huron’s Elizabeth Anderson broke the school record in the 200 meters with a time of :26.64. The record was held by Huron assistant coach Ellie Fichtner (:26.8).
Anderson also won the 100 and 400 meters and Samantha Keller ruled the long jump and both hurdle races. She hit personal-best times in both races.
Milan soars past Jets
MILAN – Milan’s boys and girls both beat Airport Tuesday.
Cole McElvany (100, 200), Brayden Humes (800, 1,600) and Zach Spradlin (both hurdles) all were double winners as the boys rolled to a 85.5-42.5 victory.
Eien VanRiper won the 3,200 for Airport.
The Big Red girls won 74-54 behind double winners Brianna Wagner (shot-put, discus), Emme Burrough (long jump, 400), Emily Sanderson (hurdles) and Savana Bonder (100, 200).
Mara Szuper won the 800 and 1,600 meters for Airport and anchored the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays. Airport also won the 800 relay.
Bates breaks record
ERIE – Tyler Bates broke his own school record with a throw of 54-6 in the shot-put and also won the discus, but Erie Mason lost a 70-67 heartbreaker to Adrian Madison on the final relay Tuesday.
Madison, which also won the girls meet 115.5-21.5, has won 97 consecutive girls meets in the Tri-County Conference and 45 in a row for the boys.
“They showed so much heart today,” Mason boys coach Alex Russeau said. “I couldn't be more proud of their efforts today.”
Cooper Kinsey (100, 400 meters) and Jackson Ansel (800, 3,200) joined Bates as double winners for the Eagles. Jacob Ansel won the 1,600 and Alex Langenderfer ruled the pole vault.
Kaylie Bash won the 100 and Jenna Wright the 400 for Mason’s girls.
Summerfield stays busy
MORENCI – Summerfield’s boys, running for the fourth time in five days, earned an 87-50 win over Morenci on Tuesday to improve to 4-2.
Roman Iott (long jump, 100) and Nathan Herrmann (low hurdles, 200) were double winners for the Bulldogs. Other wins came from Drew Dafoe (high jump), Brandon Thompson (3,200), Dakota Kohn (400), Nathanial Hawkins (pole vault) and the 400, 800 and 3,200 relays.
Keslyn Cay won the shot-put and discus to lead Summerfield in a 89-38 loss.Ali Ausmus (1,600), Grace Kalb (pole vault) and the 400 relay also won for the Bulldogs.
Ausmus won the 800 meters and combined with Grace Kalb, Elaney Fisher, and Breanna Weston to rule the 3,200 relay in the Evergreen Invitational Monday.
Whiteford’s Thomas excels
SAND CREEK – Paige Thomas won the 100, 200 and 400 meters and Madelyn Thomas took first in the 800 and 1,600 meters for Whiteford Tuesday.
Both ran with Aubrie Simmons and Annie Gapp on the winning 1,600 relay. Kenzie Gray was second in both throws and Alena Ellis was the high jump runner-up.
The Bobcats (5-2) beat Jackson Prep 104-13 and Britton Deerfield 86-41, but lost to Sand Creek 88-49.
Keegan Masters won the 3,200 for Whiteford’s boys and the Bobcats ruled the 800 relay with Ty Ruddy, Brody English, Dylan Anderson and Jacob Iott. Jack Emmenecker, Luke Murphy, Jack Andrews and Noah Bauman also had strong performances.
Whiteford had wins over Jackson Prep 83-27 and BD 82-45, but lost to Sand Creek 92-44.
