Track and field roundup: Minnewaska hurdler eyes a 2nd title – West Central Tribune
ST. MICHAEL — Owen Meulebroeck has gotten better compared to his state championship showing at last year’s Minnesota State High School League Class A State Track and Field Championships. In 2024, Meulebroeck was the boys’ 300-meter hurdles champion in 39.86 seconds. Now in his senior season, Meulebroeck ran a personal best of 39.56 on Tuesday […]
ST. MICHAEL — Owen Meulebroeck has gotten better compared to his state championship showing at last year’s Minnesota State High School League Class A State Track and Field Championships.
In 2024, Meulebroeck was the boys’ 300-meter hurdles champion in 39.86 seconds. Now in his senior season, Meulebroeck ran a personal best of 39.56 on Tuesday at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
Minnewaska junior Jayda Kolstoe uncorks a throw in the girls’ discus at the MSHSL Class A State Track and Field Championships on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. Michael.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
But, while Meulebroeck has gotten better, so has the competition.
Meulebroeck finished third overall in prelims behind Osakis’ Andrew Jones (37.86) and Pelican Rapids’ Aiden Checco de Souza (39.62).
“People have gotten faster,” Meulebroeck said after the prelims, “but it kind of pushes me just to do better. It was fun to run a PR.”
CMCS senior Sophia Vogel nears the end of the girls’ 300-meter hurdles prelims at the MSHSL Class A State Track and Field Championships on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. Michael.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
In analyzing his race, Meulebroeck liked his start but says he “stuttered” on a few hurdles. Cleaning that up will be paramount to his chance to repeat as a state champion.
With no plans to compete in track in college, Meulebroeck hopes his finale is strong.
“Adrenaline will definitely be pushing me knowing it’s going to be my last race,” said Meulebroeck, who plans to attend North Dakota State for mechanical engineering.
“Hopefully it all goes good.”
The Class A finals are scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Michael-Albertville. The Class AA prelims take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, with the finals set to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Kolstoe claims 4th in discus
Another defending state champ from Minnewaska secured a medal on Tuesday.
Junior thrower Jayda Kolstoe finished fourth in the girls’ discus. Kolstoe’s best toss was her first of the competition with a personal record of 126 feet, 1 inch. That beat her previous PR by an inch.
“It felt really good knowing that it was a good mark to start,” Kolstoe said. “It felt really good coming off the hand.”
Kolstoe’s second-best throw was in the finals at 124-0.
Clearbrook-Gonvick’s Allison LaVine won the discus at 146-3. Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda’s Alabama Hoonhorst was second at 129-11 and West Marshall’s Emily Marquis was third at 128-4.
Kolstoe finished ahead of Litchfield’s Chloe Kowalczyk. The top seed heading into state, Kowalczyk’s best toss, 123-9, put her in fifth.
It was a return to form for Kolstoe in discus. She previously qualified for state as a freshman and an eighth-grader but missed out last season as a sophomore.
“Stuff started clicking again,” Kolstoe said on making it back in discus. “It just made me feel better knowing that I was back to where I was before.”
Now, her focus changes to shot put on Wednesday. She won the shot put last season with a toss of 43-9.25. She’s the 10th seed with a qualifying toss of 36-8.
“Just knowing I was able to do really well in discus, I know that it’ll go well with my shot,” Kolstoe said.
Sophia Vogel won’t have too much time to practice with her teammates in Central Minnesota Christian’s 4×100-meter relay.
Turns out, she’ll have a busy finals with three events on Wednesday.
Vogel qualified for the girls’ 300 hurdles finals with a fifth-place time of 44.91. She’s one of three area girls to make the finals in that event, joining Benson/Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg’s Ava Noble (second, 43.99) and Minnewaska’s Lauryn Ankeny (seventh, 45.64). St. Paul Academy’s Elizabeth Tuttle is the top seed at 43.82.
Vogel is also competing in the girls’ triple jump on Wednesday. She’s the eighth seed at 35-9.5.
Vogel, along with Stella TeBrake, Naomi Asake and Carene Jean Louis, took third in prelims in the 4×100 relay at 49.40. Concordia Academy is the top seed at 48.77.
She also placed 14th in the 100 hurdle prelims at 16.14.
“I felt really well prepared for today, especially since I’ve been here the past two years,” Vogel said. “Having this experience and knowing what the meet is like and knowing what is coming ahead I think prepared me really well for today.”
Vogel’s in the second flight of the triple jump. The 4×100 finals are slated for 6:05 p.m. and the 300 hurdles finals are at 6:32.
That’s not a lot of time to refocus. But Vogel isn’t daunted by that fact.
“I’ll keep my legs loose, warm and ready for that 4×1,” Vogel said. “Since my events are so close, I don’t do a lot of warming up with my relay teammates but I stay warm throughout the meet. Make sure I’m taking carbs when I need them, drink a lot of water and just sit, relax and then check in when I’m ready and just go.”
LQPV/D-B senior Brayson Boike goes for his third attempt in the boys’ triple jump at the MSHSL Class A State Track and Field Championships on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. Michael.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd senior Brayson Boike was unable to repeat as the boys’ triple jump champion. He finished 10th with a leap of 43-0. He won state last season at 45-3.25. Osakis’ Trenton VanNyhuis won at 45-3.5. VanNyhuis was the runner-up to Boike last season. Boike competes in two more events Wednesday: the high jump and the long jump.
The Minnewaska boys’ 4×100 relay got the two seed for the finals. Tristan O’Neil, Kaiden Harvey, Carter Meyer and Asante Adams ran a time of 43.19. The top seed is Minneapolis North at 42.81.
Montevideo’s Adam VanBinsbergen is finals bound in the boys’ 800 with a time of 1:57.39. That time was good for fifth place. The top seed is Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland/Southland’s Tate Goergen at 1:55.54.
Along with qualifying for the girls’ 300 hurdles, Ankeny is the seventh seed in the 100 hurdles at 15.46. Tuttle is also the top seed in the 100 hurdles at 15.13.
LQPV/D-B’s Brynn Gloege is headed to the finals in the girls’ 800 run after placing fourth at 2:19.21. Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton’s MaKenzie Westphal is the top seed at 2:17.10.
The Litchfield girls’ 4×100 relay reached the finals. The quartet of Samantha Turck, Josy Turck, Eden Harless and Josie Bjorkman placed eighth at 49.96.
The Benson/KMS and Minnewaska girls both have relay teams in the 4×400 finals. The Braves’ Carly Tolifson, Kaida Helgenset, Izzy Wirth and Noble were second at 4:02.73. The Lakers’ Dacia Fleury, Nori Song, Olivia Danielson and Ankeny were eighth at 4:04.04. The top seed is Park Rapids at 3:59.48.
Minnewaska senior Carter Meyer, right, takes the baton from teammate Kaiden Harvey in the boys’ 4×100-meter relay at the MSHSL Class A State Track and Field Championships on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at St. Michael.
Joe Brown / West Central Tribune
GIRLS TEAM SCORING (After Day 1) — (1) Math & Science Academy 22 … (2) St. Clair/Iannuel Lutheran 16 … (t3) Clearbrook-Gonvick 12 … (t3) St. John’s Prep 12 … (t3) Park Christian 12
Winner and area competitors (*- qualified for finals)
100 HURDLES – (1) Elizabeth Tuttle, St. Paul Academy, 15.13 … *(7) Lauryn Ankeny, Minnewaska, 15.46 … (10) Kenlie Blom, ACGC, 15.78 … (11) Ava Noble, Benson/KMS, 15.89 … (14) Sophia Vogel, CMCS, 16.14
James Madison Volleyball signs South Carolina transfer Anna Wilson
HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – The James Madison volleyball program signed South Carolina transfer Anna Wilson to an aid agreement on Wednesday, July 9, Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher announced. “We are so excited to have Anna Wilson join our JMU Volleyball program!” Steinbrecher said. “From the moment we connected with Anna, we knew she was […]
HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – The James Madison volleyball program signed South Carolina transfer Anna Wilson to an aid agreement on Wednesday, July 9, Head Coach Lauren Steinbrecher announced.
“We are so excited to have Anna Wilson join our JMU Volleyball program!” Steinbrecher said. “From the moment we connected with Anna, we knew she was a Duke with her energy, work-ethic, and drive. She is a mature, team-first competitor with absolutely contagious enthusiasm. Anna’s SEC experience and her hunger to grow will make an immediate impact on our gym. She’s the kind of person who makes everyone around her better, and we can’t wait to get started with her in Harrisonburg.”
Wilson, a middle blocker from Wilson, Ontario, spent the 2024 season at South Carolina after beginning her career at High Point (2022-23), where she played with current Duke Kennedy Louisell in 2023. Wilson will have two seasons of eligibility after redshirting in the 2022 season.
With the addition of Wilson, JMU’s 2025 roster is complete. The Dukes welcomed Louisell and Sydney Lewis (Coastal Carolina) as transfers along with five freshmen – Addie Norman (Wilmington, N.C.), Peri Linterman (Fredericksburg, Va.), Ana Toumazatos (Great Falls, Va.), B’Lise Bradley (Shaker Heights, Ohio), and Shelby Davis (Smithfield, Ky.).
Anna Wilson | 6-3 | Middle Blocker | Burlington, Ontario | South Carolina, High Point South Carolina (2024): • Played in eight matches and six sets for the Gamecocks • Made her debut against No. 13 Kansas on Aug. 30 • Had two kills and a block against Stetson (Sep. 13)
High Point (2023): • Played in 15 matches and 35 sets, totaling 26 kills at 0.76 per set • Season-high seven kills vs. Winthrop in the Big South Championship match • Accumulated 23 blocks with 18 assists and five solo
High Point (2022): • Did not see any action as a freshman, redshirting • Big South Presidential Honor Roll
High School / Club: • Played at Nelson High School in Wilson, Ontario • Helped Nelson earn an Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) silver medal • Played club for the Halton Hurricanes and Team Ontario, earning a Provincial Gold Medal with the 18u team in 2022 • Named to the Ontario Volleyball Association All-Star team in 2021
Road closures and park shutdown enforced The Lake Fire was declared fully contained as of Sunday, July 6. However, the full extent of the damage is still under evaluation. Park officials and CAL FIRE crews continue to assess conditions on the ground to determine when it will be safe to reopen the recreation area. The […]
The Lake Fire was declared fully contained as of Sunday, July 6. However, the full extent of the damage is still under evaluation. Park officials and CAL FIRE crews continue to assess conditions on the ground to determine when it will be safe to reopen the recreation area.
The Lake Fire, which ignited near Silverwood Lake on Saturday, June 28 at approximately 3:58 p.m. forced the closure of Silverwood Lake during the busy Fourth of July weekend, disrupting the holiday plans of thousands of campers, boaters, and families who had flocked to the area for recreation.
The fire began near the intersection of State Highway 173 and Cedar Springs Dam Trail and spread rapidly, fueled by dry brush and gusty winds.
As of July 7, Silverwood Lake SRA remains closed to all visitors and campers. The closure of State Route 138—which provides the only access to the park—has made it impossible to reopen the area. All camping reservations during this closure period are being automatically canceled, with full refunds issued through ReserveCalifornia.
Park officials report that public access will not resume until safety can be ensured. The closure is due to multiple hazards, including damaged infrastructure, burned trails, and unstable hillsides, all of which pose risks to visitors.
The response to the Lake Fire involved a multi-agency effort, including CAL FIRE, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the U.S. Forest Service, and various regional partners. Firefighting operations included over 50 engines, three helicopters, multiple air tankers, ground crews, and bulldozers and tactics such as aerial water drops, aggressive line-building, and backburn operations. These coordinated actions helped firefighters overcome challenging conditions in steep, rugged terrain.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by CAL FIRE.
CAL FIRE also issued fire prevention guidance to nearby residents, encouraging defensible space preparation by:
Multiple Hawai‘i youth volleyball teams win national championships
A handful of Hawai‘i-based youth volleyball teams recently took home national championships across multiple events on the Mainland. In the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Fla., Honolulu’s Spike and Serve Volleyball Club won the boys 14 Open Division with a three-set victory over California’s Rockstar Volleyball Club on Monday, finishing the tournament with […]
A handful of Hawai‘i-based youth volleyball teams recently took home national championships across multiple events on the Mainland.
In the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships in Orlando, Fla., Honolulu’s Spike and Serve Volleyball Club won the boys 14 Open Division with a three-set victory over California’s Rockstar Volleyball Club on Monday, finishing the tournament with a record of 11-1.
Spike and Serve also won the 13 Open Division championship in 2024, marking its second consecutive year with a national title.
In an earlier event in the same AAU tournament, Hilo’s Pilipa‘a Volleyball won the boys 18 Club Division with a victory over California’s San Diego Beach Volleyball on July 3. Pilipa‘a finished the tournament with a mark of 12-1.
The 2025 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships was the 52nd edition of the tournament, with thousands of teams competing in a wide variety of age groups and divisions. The AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships holds the distinction of being the world’s largest volleyball tournament, according to Guinness World Records.
In another youth volleyball tournament across the country, Maui’s Hawaiian Style Volleyball won the 2025 USA Volleyball Boys national championship in Minneapolis over the weekend, becoming the first team from the Valley Isle to win a tournament at a USA Volleyball junior national tournament, running the table in the 15U Open Division at 7-0. Additionally, Big Island Boys took home the championship in the 18s American Division.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
Open Audio Article Player Team awarded for 3.6 GPA Gregg Petcoff | Special to the Times Western Colorado University’s swim and dive program earned its fourth consecutive Brechler Award on July 3. The Brechler Awards, named in honor of former RMAC commissioner Paul W. Brechler and his wife Wanda, were the first inductees into the […]
Team awarded for 3.6 GPA Gregg Petcoff | Special to the Times
Western Colorado University’s swim and dive program earned its fourth consecutive Brechler Award on July 3. The Brechler Awards, named in honor of former RMAC commissioner Paul W. Brechler and his wife Wanda, were the first inductees into the RMAC Hall of Fame. The award honors teams with the highest GPA in each of the RMAC sport offerings.
Posting a cumulative team GPA of 3.601, the 2024-25 swim and dive program improved on last year’s leading GPA of 3.518 to extend a string of Brechler honors that began with the 2021-22 award. The program earned its first Brechler in the 2014-15 academic year.
Also on Thursday, the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released its list of Scholar All-America teams. Western was one of the 763 teams from NCAA Divisions 1, 2, and 3, the NAIA and the junior college ranks to earn a spot on the list.
Scholar All-America teams are required to post a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 in the spring semester. Western registered a cumulative GPA of 3.65 to earn its place on the Scholar All-America team list.
(Gregg Petcoff is the assistant athletics director for communications at Western Colorado University and can be reached at gpetcoff@western.edu.)
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The Santa Clara University women’s water polo team had 13 student-athletes named to the 2025 Golden Coast Conference All-Academic team Monday, marking the eighth consecutive year the Broncos have had double-digit GCC All-Academic honorees. Santa Clara has had no fewer than 11 GCC All-Academic Team members […]
The Santa Clara University women’s water polo team had 13 student-athletes named to the 2025 Golden Coast Conference All-Academic team Monday, marking the eighth consecutive year the Broncos have had double-digit GCC All-Academic honorees.
Santa Clara has had no fewer than 11 GCC All-Academic Team members since 2018, and has posted 13 or more for six consecutive years (since 2020). The conference all-academic honors follow two Broncos – Francesca Moynihan and Libby Slater – being named to the Academic All-District At-Large team by College Sports Communicators in June.
The GCC All-Academic Team consists of student-athletes that have competed in at least 50% of games in the current season, carry over a 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average while being classified as a “full-time” student for all terms of the academic year, and have completed a minimum of one academic year at her institution (including true freshmen).
Slater led Santa Clara’s award winners with a 3.857 GPA in her communication major, giving her three career GCC All-Academic Team awards (2023, ’24). Moynihan – who graduated in the winter with her bachelor’s in finance, earned her fourth career GCC All-Academic Team nod with a 3.733 cumulative GPA.
Mikayla Crowe, Makenna Genco, Chloe Rizof and Khloe Tarbet made the conference all-academic team as true freshmen this year. Rizof added a GCC All-Freshman Team award in April to cap off her first collegiate season.
The GCC honored a total of 111 student-athletes Monday. California Baptist and San Diego State tied for the most honorees this year with 18 each.
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