SOUTH WHITLEY - The Whitko boys and girls track and field teams each picked up two Three Rivers Conference wins Tuesday at home.
Playing host to Manchester and Northfield, as well as Lakeland Christian Academy, the Whitko boys generated 122 points to win, while the Lady Wildcats scored 95.
The wins leave the Whitko boys with a 5-1 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the TRC."We're real fortunate to have some depth this year," Whitko boys coach Ron Cherry said. "We have about 42 kids on our roster and we have a lot of kids that can run 400s. It was nice not to have to stack up everybody in four events, like we have to do sometimes."
That depth was on display Tuesday, as the Whitko boys were dominant even without one of their top point scorers, Max Elder.
At Saturday's Goshen Relays, competing against 15 other teams in Class B, Elder placed first in the high jump and second in the long jump.
"He was a little sore and kind of tweaked a knee, so we thought it best to sit him out tonight to make sure he's ready for Thursday (at the Whitley County Meet at Columbia City)," Cherry said of Elder.
Even without Elder, Whitko managed to take first in nine events, with the Stouder brothers accounting for three of those wins.
Senior Connor Stouder won the 400 (53.81) and freshman Chase Stouder placed first in the two sprints, winning the 100 (11.00) and 200 (22.72).
Along with the Stouder victories, Whitko also received wins from Jordan Sims (long jump, 300 hurdles), Bryan Slusher (pole vault), Trapper Mize (800) and the 400 and 3200 relay teams.
Getting their three team wins by a closer margin, the Lady Wildcats won five events, but coach Mark Rickerd is getting points from various athletes.
Of their wins, not one girl placed first in multiple events, showcasing the team's balance, with new points coming from new girls.
"Karlee Arnold, who's a senior for us, is running very well," Rickerd said of Arnold, who won the 800. "She ran one of her best times ever in the 800 and she ran the mile relay for the first time, because she's been running so well."
Junior Rachelle Kessie is on the team for the first time this year, but isn't acting like it, placing second in the high jump and shot put.
"It's the first time she's done track, and she's been a big help for us this year," Rickerd said. "She's our best shot and disc thrower, as well as our best high jumper."
One girl Rickerd may have been expecting a pair of wins from was Kelsie Boggs, but LCA's Jo Boren defeated her in the 200, catching him off-guard.
"Kelsie Boggs lost to a (Boren) tonight, which was a little surprising," Rickerd said of Boggs, who did win the 100. "But Lakeland has a couple of really good runners. I was impressed by them."
On top of winning the 200, Boren also won the long jump, while teammate Jamie Duchane won the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Joining Boggs and Arnold as Whitko first-place finishers were Micaela Sylvester (high jump), Ana Bumbaugh (pole vault) and Josie Sparks (400).
"I expected to beat Northfield, but I didn't really know what to expect with Manchester," Rickerd said. "I thought it would be close, and it was a little close."
The Manchester Lady Squires did get double wins from Andy Sharfman (1600, 3200) and Crystal Fuller (discus, shot put) and swept through the relays, winning the 400, 1600 and 3200.
"We're picking up our points, but we're just very young," Manchester coach Julie Cassel said.
The Manchester boys received first-place finishes from Aric Howard in the discus, as well as Trae Bruce in the 110 hurdles, accompanying his second-place finish in the 300 hurdles.
"Nobody works harder than he does," Cassel said of Bruce. "He's a workhorse."
Whitko will compete at the Whitley County Meet Thursday at Columbia City, before returning to TRC action May 10 at home against Tippecanoe Valley and North Miami.
The two-time defending conference champs are hoping for a double-win in that event, then avenging a loss at Rochester at the TRC meet May 13 at Valley.
"We're hoping to make it three TRC championships in a row," Cherry said. "We anticipate bouncing back and doing well."
Manchester will compete at the Ebrite Relays in Delphi Saturday at 9 a.m. LCA's next meet is Saturday at the Tingley Invitational, which takes place at Howe Military at 10 a.m.
BOYS - WHITKO 122, MANCHESTER 51, NORTHFIELD 68, LCA 0
