Homestead T&F teams continuing tradition of success
MEQUON, Wis. —聽Since 1985, Homestead has racked up an impressive 34 track and field North Shore Conference titles 鈥� evenly split between the boy鈥檚 and girl鈥檚 varsity teams, 17 and 17 respectively. This season, the standard has been set for the Highlanders as both teams are defending their 2020-21 conference titles.
The Highlanders competed in two meets in the span of three days and found nothing but success. On May 5, Port Washington High School hosted the North Shore Conference Relays Meet, where both varsity teams took second place. Combined, Homestead had 10 first-place finishes.
Arrowhead High School hosted the Myrhum Invitational on May 7 鈥� where three of the Highlanders found success at the top of the podium: juniors Owen Bosley (1600 meters) and Anisa Barnett (triple jump), and senior and University of North Carolina-commit Peyton Berryman (pole vault).
鈥淭his past week was the Myrhum Invitational, which had 34 teams. I won with 12 feet, although I wasn鈥檛 satisfied with the height. I am going to continue to improve this season with a goal to win state as well as break the state meet record,鈥� Berryman said.
What sets Homestead鈥檚 track and field program apart from others is the dedication and mindset that the athletes have. Juggling school, extracurriculars and a varsity sport is no easy task.
鈥淭he way I see training is one day at a time 鈥� stacking each day on the last, and that way I stay focused on what matters and get the best out of each mile,鈥� Bosley said.
The girl鈥檚 varsity team swept the competition at the Menomonee Falls Phoenix Invite and won nine events to earn a first-place team finish 鈥� freshman Alexandra Gaskin (1600m), sophomores Eva Brandenburg (100m and 300m hurdles) and Ava Albrecht (discus throw), juniors Korynne Moga (200m) and Barnett (triple jump), and seniors Berryman (pole vault) and Lucy Gonzalez (long jump). They also took first in the 4×200 and 4×400 meters relays.
鈥淗eading into this season we had a lot to build on from last year’s success. We wanted to get started with off season strength training and conditioning so we were ready on day one. The school’s partnership with NXLevel has been a huge step toward helping all of our teams prepare in the off-season for their sport with professional guidance,鈥� said Girl鈥檚 Varsity Head Coach John Krueger.
Four athletes from the boy鈥檚 varsity team also took home the gold at the Ron Burling Invitational, held at Menomonee Falls High School on May 12 鈥� 聽juniors Sal Balistrieri (100 meters), Drew Wilson, Jet Steltz, CJ Young and Balistrieri (4×100 meters), and seniors Colby Sehnert (800 meters) and Logan Kluck (pole vault).
May鈥檚 success for both the boy鈥檚 and girls鈥檚 track teams positions them well to finish the season strong and carry on Homestead鈥檚 winning tradition.
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