OnFocus Season Preview: 2025 Prentice Buccaners Track and Field
The coaching staff for the Prentice Buccaneers 2025 Track & Field season consists of 1st year Coach Michael Herr-Zielke, a former cross country, and track athlete for North Central University. Coach Michael Herr-Zielke specialized in distance, hurdles, and high jump while competing at North Central University.
The Prentice Buccaneers have several key returners; Logan Geiger, a senior jumps specialist, at the Lakeland Invitational (3/31/25) he high jumped 5’6″. Matthew Schmidt, a senior sprints specialist, at the Lakeland Invitational he got 1st and almost broke the 400m meet record with a time of 57.56. Kylie Orysen, a junior distance specialist, at the Lakeland Invitational she ran a season best for the 1600m at 6:15.99. Kayla Gilett, a junior jumps specialist, at the Oredocker Invitational she triple jumped 27’10”.
With having such a small program we believe all newcomers are key newcomers. Hannah Gladson, a freshman jumps/hurdles novice, has shown significant improvements in the events of high jump (4’2″), long jump (11’4″), 200m hurdles (37.71), and 60m hurdles (12.99). Karime Ontiveros, a freshman mid-distance helped our 4x400m team get 1st at the Lakeland Invitational with a time of 5:41.85. Gavin Polansky, a first year sophomore mid-distance is ready to help out when our seniors graduate in May.
The Marawood Conference is competitive. It is definitely going to be a battle, most of our boys will be highly competitive in their individual events, but as a team we just don’t have the numbers to compete as a team. Our girls team will be competitive as a team, but it will be a grind to be in the better half of the conference. The girls have some elite talent on their team, and I believe we have some state level talent.
The keys this season is to stay positive and look for improvements within the team; looking for season bests, personal records. Another aspect is staying injury free as much as possible. Injury is something we can’t afford with this small of a team. We are trying to build our boys & girls team for the future, but especially our girls team. Our girls team has quite a few juniors, no seniors and is looking to be a top competitor for next season.
The Prentice Buccaneers are looking forward to competing at the Merrill Invitational on April 3rd after competing in the Lakeland Invitational. Lakeland Invitational Boys Team Scores, 1st Lakeland Union with 222 points, 2nd Chequamegon with 160 points, 3rd Tomahawk with 60 points, 4th Prentice with 34 points, 5th Mercer with 22 points, 6th Butternut with 5 points.
Lakeland Invitational Girls Team Scores, 1st Lakeland Union with 154 points, 2nd Chequamegon 148 points, 3rd Prentice with 74 points, 4th Tomahawk with 69 points, 5th Mercer with 41 points, 6th Butternut with 40 points.
*****************************
2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules
Know some top athletic performances? Seeing some great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s simple. Witness some great performances? Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
Nominate an athlete or team: HERE
**********************************************
Pancakes or Waffles! We feature top area athletes with our world-renowned feature. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
College Athlete Roundup! We want to recognize student-athletes from the area who are competing at the college level. Send us information on college athletes from the area with our simple form HERE
Where are they Now? We feature athletes and difference makers from the past, standouts in sports who excelled over the years and have moved on. Know of a former athlete, coach, or difference maker who we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond central Wisconsin sports is one we should share? Send us information on athletes and difference makers of the past with our simple form HERE
Baked or Fried! We also feature difference makers throughout central Wisconsin: coaches, booster club leaders, administration, volunteers, you name it. Send us your nominations for who you’d like us to interview HERE
We welcome your stories! Contact us at news@onfocus.news!
Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at keechertheteacher@gmail.com
