Preps Alcove

The Arrowhead boys track team has been mowing down opponents for much of the year, winning another invite last weekend. I was chatting with CNI sports reporter Steve Tietz -- who I consider one of the foremost minds in state track and field -- and he said he didn't see much standing in Arrowhead's way for the WIAA title.

Last year, Kettle Moraine emerged from relative secrecy to take the title. Could the same type of thing happen again? Let's ask Steve.

JR: I think I saw Arrowhead ranked seventh in the boys track and field state rankings, so do they really have a major chance to win it all?

ST: I think what you’re initially looking at (the seventh-place rating) is the state power rankings. Those are good overall measures for a team’s depth, but it is generally a poor indicator of state meet results. Coaches like Todd Brawner, Dan Benson and others like that measurement because they feel that measures a “true” state champion, while the Division I state meet generally takes into account the team with the best three or four individuals (in Division 2 and 3, you usually need more than that to win, though Brown Deer in both the boys and girls meets did some neat tricks in the last few years with teams built largely around Justin Austin and Kaya Senaya).

JR: And you see Arrowhead as the favorite?

ST: Arrowhead is just ridiculously deep this year, and by the end of the season, should wind up at the top of the power rankings. Why I like them at state is that they have so many guys who can run 200 through 800 meters effectively. I would be stunned if they didn’t qualify all four relays to state. They should earn good points from the 400 and 800 units and have very good chances of winning both the 1,600 and 3,200 relays (all four are toward the top of the state honor roll).

Plus, if (Tim) Hucke and the rest of the distance crew perform up to par, that will also be a fountain of points for them too, especially based on the times I saw out of the Aurora Health Care meet (John Simons 9:27 3,200 is about second in the state right now). Further, if (Chris) Pendergast can find outdoor form in the pole vault, that’s 10 points right there (hard to beat a 15-footer), and I see he’s also effective in the long jump. I just don’t see teams out there with enough state-worthy kids like Arrowhead. Marshfield has the one great sprinter and jumper, but even if he manages to win three events (which he could do pending how healthy Centrell Minter of Milwaukee Vincent finishes up the season), that won’t be enough against Arrowhead. No, no one should pick against the Warhawks this season. Getting back to the relays, they’ll also have a huge advantage should it be a close meet at the end because their 1,600 relay should be among the top three seeds at minimum.

JR: Last year, KM surprised everyone and took the gold. What are their chances this year?

ST: KM has nice middle distance runners again, but I don’t think they can outrun Arrowhead this season. They got lucky in an off-year without a dominant team last season, but they’ll need a lot of help and they need to perform extremely well if they want to repeat (which since the Milwaukee South juggernauts of the 1980s, has been almost impossible to do, though Racine Park won three of four titles from 1997-2000).

JR: So who else should I be keeping an eye on locally?

ST: No one has the numbers in the CNI area to get a trophy in Division I and Brown Deer is down on both the boys and girls side this year in D2. Homestead, with Brawner as sprint/middle-distance coach is going to send a series of fine relays to state -- they could challenge Arrowhead in both the 1,600 and 3,200 relays, and Danny Schiller will likely be the favorite in the high jump. He was second last season. Justin Barber could place in the shot or discus. Aside from that, state places may be hard to come by for the Highlanders. A potential top-10 team if things break right.

Brookfield East has good jumpers and the potential to put together good 1,600 and 3,200 relays, while Falls will likely have hurdle favorite Matt Widule plus three good sprint relays. They’ll be in the top 20 at minimum, but won’t contend. I don’t see much on the southside in terms of state threats. Marquette is just a good, solid team and won’t likely score a lot of points at state. I’ll wait and see about Racine Park. They have a lot of potential in the sprints and sprint relays and good performers in a lot of other events, but I don’t know if they have enough high-level talent to do a number at state. If Brown-Griffin is on, I think they can finish top 10, maybe even top five if their relays come through.

JR: Anything else about Arrowhead's chances?

ST: A potential wildcard working against Arrowhead, is the depth of the sectional. It’s always brutal, especially in the hurdles and the sprint/sprint relays, but it’s even more so this year with the top of the honor roll crowded by its teams. Arrowhead, Vincent, Riverside, Falls, Nicolet and Homestead are all going to try and qualify a minimum of two or three relay teams. Arrowhead is the only real threat to do four, but if one or more of their relays gets bumped off, it could open up some space for other teams at state. If they get all four in good shape, I see them as virtually impossible to beat.