Pickford Boys Dominance not to be Denied as Panthers Extend Title Streak to 5
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2026
KINGSFORD — The Pickford boys continued their winning ways here Saturday, taking home an Upper Peninsula Track & Field Finals championship trophy for the fifth-straight year.
Their current streak started in 2022 when they were still competing in Division 3. Since moving up to D-2, the Panthers have gone 4-for-4.
This time the Panthers scored 139 points, followed by Rudyard with 104 and Bark River-Harris at 77.
Pickford senior John Anderson became a triple-winner, taking the 300-meter hurdles in a personal-best 42.01 seconds, high jump with a leap of 6-6 and long jump at 20-2½. Classmate Gunner Bennin added a first in the 400 in a season-best 52.54 and helped the Panthers take the 400 relay. He also was runner-up in the 100 (11.57) and 200 (23.25).
Rudyard senior Steve Kirschner also won three individual events including the 800 in a personal-best 2:04.6, the 1,600 (4:38.99) and 3,200 with a season-best 10:51.37 and helped the Bulldogs capture the 1,600 relay.
In the 3,200, Kirschner was followed by classmate Seth Templeton (11:08.33) and freshman teammate Jack LaLone (11:15.02).
Freshman Jett Sawyer provided the Bulldogs with an additional first with a leap of 11-0 in pole vault.
BR-H junior Gionni McDonough retained his title in the 110 hurdles with a 15.61, followed by Anderson in a personal-best 15.87 and Ironwood senior Talon Hughes (15.92). McDonough then placed second in the 300 hurdles in a season-best 43.81, and long jump with personal-best leap of 20-½. His classmate, Ben Knauf, was runner-up in the 800 (2:09.74) and 1,600 in a personal-best 4:43.
Norway senior Josh Schiltz won discus (127-2) and was part of the winning 800 relay, and Hughes became a double-winner by taking the 100 (11.36) and 200 (23.07).
Munising senior Avery Murk took shot put with a personal-best toss of 42-4 and classmate Dylan Adkins, who will attend classes at Michigan Tech this fall, was runner-up in the 400 (53.52) and third in the 100 (11.8).
“There were some fast people here today,” Adkins said. “I didn’t PR in anything, but I think the breeze had some effect in the backstretch. Overall, the day went okay. My starts were good. I haven’t had too many issues. I think my high school career went pretty good overall.”
PHOTOS (Top) In the 400 relay, Pickford's Gunner Bennin wins with Norway (4) and Rudyard (5) taking second and third respectively. Other members of the winning team included Joseph Lane, Josh Lovin, and Ethan Caldwell. (Middle) Rudyard's Steven Kirschner celebrates winning the 1,600 relay. Other members of the winning team were Ty LaLone, Eli Folkersma, and Jett Sawyer. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)
Marquette Holds Off Charging Kingsford for 1-Point Finals Victory
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2022
KINGSFORD — The Marquette boys retained their Upper Peninsula Division 1 track & field championship here Saturday, as they squeezed past the Kingsford Flivvers 138-137.
The Houghton Gremlins placed third with 56 points.
Marquette held a three-point lead heading into the day’s final race, the 1,600-meter relay.
Kingsford won it in 3 minutes, 35.29 seconds, but Marquette secured the team title by placing second (3:36.01).
Marquette junior Carson VanderSchaaf set a UPD1 record in the 3,200 at 9:46.53 seconds, shaving more than three seconds off the old mark (9:50.03) by Lance Rambo of Marquette in 2015.
VanderSchaaf also took the 1,600 (4:23.45), followed by his twin brother Colin (4:28.46) for Marquette, which also won the 3,200 relay (8:32.36) on a sunny and warm day at Flivver Field.
Colin VanderSchaaf later took the 800 (2:00.79). He was followed by Houghton senior Eric Weiss (2:03.18) and teammate Cullen Papin (2:03.77).
Weiss was also runner-up in the 3,200 (10:07.12) and third in the 1,600 (4:37.2).
Cayden Dahlen provided Marquette with a first in discus (139-8), and Sam Markey captured the 110 hurdles (16.64)
Kingsford showed its depth in the sprints with Michael Floriano taking second in the 100 (11.51), followed by Diego Przeslakowski (11.67) and Cardel Morton (11.81).
Floriano then won the 200 (23.12), edging teammate Trestan Larson by two hundredths of a second.
Przeslakowski added a first in the 300 hurdles (40.76), and the Flivvers took the 400 relay (44.2) and 800 (1:33.22).
Kingsford’s Lucas Tappy won shot put (47-1) and Cole Myllyla gained top honors in long jump at 20 feet, 2¾ inches with Marquette’s Tyranon Dahlin runner-up at 20-1¼.
Calumet’s Dryden Nelson captured the 100 (11.37) and placed third in the 200 (23.39), and Houghton’s Cade Holombo took the 400 (51.39), edging Morton by one tenth of a second.
Menominee senior Brady Schultz retained his high jump title at 6-7 after also setting the meet and his school’s record at 6-8 at last year’s UPD1 Finals.
Schultz added an inch this spring to his former school record leap, soaring 6-9 at the Marinette, Wis., Invitational on May 9.
Ishpeming Westwood had an individual champion in pole vault as Lenny Pizziola jumped 12 feet to edge Sault Ste. Marie’s Jackson Gervasio by six inches.
Marquette's Jim Bennett and Sault Ste. Marie's Johnny Osborn competed in the first-time adaptive races. Bennett won the 100 (24.31), 200 (47.52) and 400 (1:39.74), and also competed in shot put (13-4).
PHOTOS: (Top) On the second corner of the final lap of the 3,200 relay, Houghton's Eric Weiss, Marquette's Carson VanderSchaaf, and Sault Ste. Marie's Jonathan Willis are neck-in-neck. Marquette's VanderSchaaf was able to hold off Houghton's Weiss for second place, and Sault Ste. Marie's Willis took third. Other members of the winning Marquette team were James Kraeg, Adam White, and Braden Ketzenberger. (Middle) Kingsford's Trestan Larson starts the winning 800 relay. Teammates included Brody Kopp, Michael Meneguzzo, and Diego Przeslakowski. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/Run Michigan.)