LA CROSSE, WI- Iola-Scandinavia got their points from two key contributors as Charlie Vater and Jensen Rice combined for four gold medals over the weekend, leading the T-Birds to the Division 3 State Title.
“There is a lot of depth to help these two work as well as they do,” said Coach Pete Bowen.
Rice took first in the 100 and the 110 Hurdles.
“Just seeing my progression from last year to this year is pretty insane,” Rice said. “I am out of breath going back-to-back events though.”
Charlie Vater was a repeat Champion in the 1600 and the 3200, and set a State meet record in the 3200 with a time of 9:02.57
“It is a relief to do it again,” Vater said. “In the 3200 I was kinda racing the clock and going for the record, but the 1600 was a little more difficult and I kinda put it away with two laps to go.”
For Rice, he had his mind set on gold from the start.
“I came in with the Ricky Bobby mindset of if you are not first you are last.”
Bowen said while Rice and Vater scored the points, the team made it possible.
“We are young, but we are going to be set for years to come,” he said. “We knew we had our blue chip athletes and we this was obtainable if things worked our way.”
Listen to Jensen Rice and Charlie Vater talk about winning Gold
Other Division 3 Stories
On the girls side, Karissa Birch kept the Shiocton success going with a 3rd place finish in the 100.
On the boys side, Weyauwega-Fremont was 3rd in the 4×100 relay and Broc Billington was 2nd in the Triple Jump.
Ryan Westrich of Bonduel finished 5th in the Shot Put.
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