LHS Track and Field team opens season with high expectations after strong 2025 finish

After a very successful season last year, the Lennox High School track and field teams are preparing for another competitive spring with experienced returners, emerging young talent, and state-level goals leading the way. 

Head coach Jared Vlastuin enters his ninth season leading the Orioles program, joined by assistant coaches Paul McVey, Kray Person, Chris Kruse, and Mike Oltmanns.

“I have been at Lennox as the head coach since the 2018 track and field season,” Vlastuin said. “Last year we had an incredible year for both boys and girls.”

The Orioles are coming off a standout 2025 season in which the boys placed second as a team at the South Dakota Class A State Track and Field Meet, while the girls finished third overall.

The season also featured two individual state champions. Layton Smith captured the high jump title and earned overall gold medal honors, while Bergan Musser won the long jump championship. Lennox also claimed a state title in the boys 4x200-meter relay, setting a school record in the process. They also had numerous other high place winners in various individual events. 

This spring, Lennox must replace several major contributors. 

“Our boys side lost a lot of experience. We are going to greatly miss key contributors like Noah Sayler, Layton Smith, Boston Katzer, Cade Sherard, and Chett Jibben. Some of those guys have been staples we relied on since their freshman year,” said Vlastuin. “On the girls side, we will greatly miss big time contributors like Kelsey Schmidt, Ryan Hanssen, and Lilly Meyer.”

Despite those losses, Vlastuin believes the Orioles return enough talent to remain highly competitive.

“We do bring back quite a bit. On the boys side we will rely heavily on key returners like Cloy McVey, Jaxson Bittner, and Drake Mikkelsen on the track - all of which should be competing for individual state titles or playing huge roles in our relays,” said Vlastuin. 

Field events are expected to remain a major strength for the boys, led by Tate Gerdes, Teegan Musser, and Jevyn Lefers who will all be eyeing top places and state titles in their respective events.

“On the girls side - we will rely heavily on athletes like Bergan Musser, Jayla DeCou, Tori Gerdes, Karlie Bosma, Adie McVey, and Holly Gillick. They are all super successful on the track,” said Vlastuin. “Bergan will also be looking to defend her long jump state title.”

In the throwing events, senior Addison Martz returns as a key leader. 

“Addison as been a key piece to our throws department for four years now,” said Vlastuin. “She will be looking to compete for a discus and shot put state title.”

Vlastuin said senior leadership will be especially valuable for the boys this season.

“Senior leadership is probably our biggest strength on the boys side,” he said. “We have a lot of people who have been in big situations in the past, and that’s experience you can only get by being there.”

Vlastuin believes the boys are very strong in the jumping events and the team has plenty to go around the track as well. 

He added that the girls, while younger in grade level, bring extensive competitive experience.

“For the girls, we are young by age, but not by experience,” Vlastuin said. “We have girls turning freshmen and sophomores that are entering into their third and fourth seasons, and they will be competing to do some pretty rare things.”

He believes the girls will be competing for state titles not only individually but in relays as well. 

Depth in the sprint events remains one of the biggest areas to address.

“For us to really make the moves we need to, both boys and girls need to find a little more depth in the sprints,” Vlastuin said. “We lost some key contributors that we need younger athletes to step up and fill in for.”

Vlastuin expects Sioux Falls Christian to again be one of the top programs in the area.

“Sioux Falls Christian is a powerhouse,” he said.

Still, the focus remains on steady improvement throughout the season.

“Our goal is to get better each track meet, with the ultimate goal of putting ourselves in a position to compete at our highest level when it matters most,” Vlastuin said. “I know we have some intense competitors who really rise to the occasion in key moments, so it is going to be exciting to see where all of our athletes take us when it’s all said and done.”

Practice for the Orioles began Monday, March 16. Lennox will open competition Tuesday, March 31, at an indoor meet hosted at Dakota Wesleyan University before returning outdoors for the Huskie Invitational on April 7 at Elk Point-Jefferson High School. Their first home meet is slated for Apr. 16 when they host the Lennox Invitational. A complete schedule can be found below. 

Members of the 2026 LHS track and field team include (Athlete Name, Grade): 

Boys: Wyatt Bult, 12; Logan Von Haden, 12; Jacob Snyder, 12; Noah Wood, 12; Jacob Richert, 12; Cloy McVey, 12; Elijah Johnson, 12; Tate Gerdes, 12; Eli Highum, 12; Jaxson Bittner, 12; Teegan Musser, 12; Drake Mikkelsen, 12; Noah Sitter, 11; Lief Karlson, 11; Emil Dziarnowski, 11; Andrew Stensaas, 11; Cade DeWolf, 11; Aiden Hanssen, 11; Jayden Hopf, 11; George Scott, 11; Brennan Juffer, 11; Isaiah Sayler, 11; Jevyn Lefers, 11; David Bartscher, 11; Gus Von Haden, 11; Max Bisschop, 10; Isaak Booker, 10; Preston Sandal, 10; Kedren Fergen, 10; Leo Aesoph, 10; Jackson Schmidt, 10; Cayden Huls, 10; Blayze Spielman, 10; Maverick Stockwell, 10; Landon Strasser, 9; Charley Bittner, 9; Chase Flanagan, 9; Remington Baumgarn, 9; Rodney Volesky, 9; Emmit Johnson, 9; Peter Hagena, 9; Zack Hardy, 9; Bryson McDaniel, 9; Fred Scott, 9; Max Allie, 9; Heath Schroeder, 9; Girls: Josephine Plucker, 12; Adelyn Timmermans, 12; Holly Gillick, 12; Briana Slack, 12; Addison Martz, 12; Jaelyn Fergen, 11; Karlie Bosma, 11; Kenzie Bosma, 11; Sydney Johnson, 11; Sydney Lunning, 10; Kaydence Gerry, 10; Peyton Herlyn, 10; Jayla DeCou, 10; Bergan Musser, 9; Tori Gerdes, 9; Maren Juffer, 9; Adie McVey, 9; Lucy Carlson, 9; Kamille Schmidt, 9; Natalie Aesoph, 9; Ava Elk Boy, 9; Allison Loewe, 9; Olivia Johnson, 9; Sophia Johnson, 8; and Kensi Holland, 8