Saxony Lutheran boys get ready to duel Polo in Class 1

~ The Crusaders will try to unseat the defending state champions.

Saxony Lutheran coach Larry Cleair is hoping a calculated gamble in moving senior Brandon Etzold out of the 3,200 relay and into the open 400 will pay off in a Class 1 state title when the state track and field championship begins today at Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.

Etzold, the defending state champion in the 800 and 1,600, has been a staple on the 3,200 relay each of the past two seasons in which the Crusaders claimed state titles in the event.

The Crusaders fell by eight points to Polo last year in the team competition. But with Etzold's ability in the 400 and the depth of Saxony's distance runners, the strategic move could prove to be the difference.

"It's a sacrifice," Cleair said. "These kids, barring some injury or mistake, they were pretty much assured a state title in the relay. They were willing to sacrifice that for the sake of trying to get the team state championship."

The Crusaders sizzled in the 3,200 relay without Etzold at the sectional meet, winning the event in eight minutes, 19.29 seconds. Saxony defeated Valle Catholic by nearly six seconds after Valle nipped the Crusaders at the district meet. Andrew Etzold, Ross Gage, Peter Winningham and Max Wieser ran on the relay for the Crusaders.

"We ran within a second of what we ran with Brandon in there against Potosi," Cleair said. "I think when Valle edged us out at district it gave me a wakeup call, and it gave the kids a wakeup call."

Added Gage: "Brandon was our anchor leg and that really helped having him back there, but with the rest of us new guys, we've jelled together well. We all ran great races at the sectional, and hopefully we can improve at state."

While the Crusaders will be counting on high finishes from Brandon Etzold and its two defending state title relays (1,600 relay and 3,200 relay), it will be the performance of the rest of the Crusaders which ultimately makes the difference. Gage, a sophomore, will be one of the key pieces in Saxony's success.

Gage finished second to Brandon Etzold in the 800 and 1,600 at the sectional meet. Last year Gage qualified in the 800 and finished 13th. Running behind the defending state champion in practice and meets has helped push the sophomore.

"If I push myself, hopefully I can get our team some good points we need to overtake their sprinters," Gage said.

Neither team will have a competitor in the field events this year, so it will likely come down to Polo's sprinters against Saxony's distance runners once again.

Last year the Crusaders got two all-state performances from Alex Jauch (300 hurdles and 200), along with an all-state run by Grant Lehmann and a top-eight finish in the 800 relay. Jauch will once again compete in the 300 hurdles, Wieser will run in the 400 and Winningham will compete in the 3,200. The Crusaders will also run in the 800 relay.

Jauch's race in the 300 hurdles will be one of the few opportunities the Crusaders have to run head-to-head against Polo. Last year Jauch was fourth in the event and Polo senior Chris Hufford was second.

"I'm hoping we'll push each other, and then you have to hope you come out in the end," Jauch said.

Polo won the title last year on the strength of its sprinters. Andy Ahart won the 100 and 200 last year as a junior, and teammate Josh Duncan was all-state in both events as a sophomore. Hufford had two top-three finishes in the 110 and 300 hurdles, and Polo won the 400 and 800 relays.

"Polo's loaded," Cleair said. "They've improved their side a bit. They kind of did the same thing with their 100 winner [Ahart] as we did with Brandon. They pulled him out of a relay and put him in the 400. That will be an interesting race [between Brandon and Ahart]."

Saxony Lutheran could possibly get some help from track newcomer Scott County Central, which will be well represented in the sprint events. D.D. Gillespie will run the 100, 200 and 400, and Ron Banks will compete in the 110 and 300 hurdles. The Braves also finished second behind Saxony in the 800 relay at the sectional meet.

The Crusaders have four key seniors among their group heading to state, led by Brandon Etzold. Jauch, Clay Obergoenner and Winningham also will make their last appearances for the Crusaders.

"We're pretty excited about it," Jauch said of state. "Every day we're on the Internet looking up different district and sectional times to see how we compare. We're ready to run as fast as we can."

Saxony Lutheran could have a state title winner on the girls side as well this year. Saxony freshman Cassie Simpher will compete in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump. Simpher should be among the favorites in the 400, and teammate Deanna Dippold will run in the 3,200.

Scott County Central could also have a strong chance to medal in the girls 400 relay.

Class 2

In the Class 2, Kelly freshman Londyn Backfish will compete in the girls 100, 200, 400 and high jump. Scott City freshman Stephanie Essner will run in the 100 hurdles, 200 and 400. Essner won the 100 hurles and 400 at the sectional.

Scott City junior Derek Goodin should be among the favorites in the 300 hurdles. Goodin was all-state in the event last year and won the sectional last weekend.

Chaffee will send four competitors in its first year in Class 2.

Sectional meets

Jackson senior Rachel Kahle, who won four district events, will highlight a large contingent of area athletes at the Class 4 sectional at Parkway South. Kahle will try to qualify for state in the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump for the second straight year.

Central senior Tyler Terry was the state runner-up in the long jump and triple jump last year and won both events at Saturday's district meet. Returning all-state pole vaulter Matt Willingham qualified for the sectional for Central despite participating for the first time since being injured late in the season. Returning all-state thrower Brianna Egbuka qualified in the shot put and discus for the Tigers.

In Class 3, Perryville's all-state hurdler Brittney Castleberry qualified in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump and triple jump.

Notre Dame's returning state qualifier Mark Zimmer will try to make it to state in the 400 for the second straight year.

The top four in each event from the sectional advance to the state meet on May 25 and 26 at Dwight T. Reed Stadim in Jefferson City.

State qualifiers

Class 1

Saxony Lutheran

Boys -- 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3.200 relay, Brandon Etzold (400, 800, 1600), Ross Gage (800, 1600), Max Wieser (400), Alex Jauch (300 hurdles), Peter Winningham (3,200)

Girls -- Cassie Simpher (100, 200, 400, long jump), Deanna Dippold (3,200)

Scott County Central

Boys -- 800 relay, D.D. Gillespie (100, 200, 400), Ron Banks (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Caleb Johnson (high jump)

Girls -- 400 relay, 800 relay, Jesha Turner (300 hurdles),

Oran

Girls -- Kelsie Glastetter (100)

Class 2

Kelly

Boys -- 3,200 relay, Spencer Ayers (shot put), Cody Kern (3,200)

Girls -- Londyn Backfish (100, 200, 400, high jump)

Chaffee

Boys -- Gage Harrell (300 hurdles), Trenton Horman (high jump)

Girls -- Rachel Hendrix (800), Sarah Sigman (long jump)

Scott City

Boys -- 3,200 relay, Derek Goodin (300 hurdles)

Girls -- Stephanie Essner (200, 400, 100 hurdles)

Polo state qualifiers: 400 relay, 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay, Andy Ahart (100, 200, 400), Josh Duncan (100, 200), Mitch Huntley (400), Chris Hufford (800, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Charlie Boruch (800, 1600), Hollis Fee (3,200)

Sectional qualifiers

Class 3

Notre Dame

Boys -- 1,600 relay, Mark Zimmer (400)

Perryville

Boys -- 400 relay, Kris Cottner (400)

Girls -- Brittney Castleberry (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump, triple jump), Cassie Lawrence (triple jump, pole vault)

Class 4

Central

Girls -- 400 relay, 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay, Brittany Moreland (1,600), Veronica Schabbing (3,200), Brianna Egbuka (shot put, discus), Tiffany Mead (400), Rachel Burchyett (800)

Boys -- 400 relay, 800 relay, 3,200 relay, Tyler Terry (long jump, triple jump), Chase Johnson (800, triple jump), Tyler Yeargain (1,600, 3,200), Adam Wendel (shot put), Matt Willingham (pole vault)

Jackson

Girls -- 800 relay, 1,600 relay, 3,200 relay, Rachel Kahle (100, 200, long jump, triple jump), Heather Hileman (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump), Amanda Peiffer (shot put, discus), Jill Rushin (shot put, discus), Landon Wachter (400, 800)

Boys -- Adam Zweigart (200, 400), Wren Harris (high jump, triple jump), Alex Austin (pole vault), Greg Gibson (1,600), Jacob Bullinger (discus)