While Ellsworth may not have returned from the annual state track and field championships with podium medals, the Panthers came back with valuable experience that will help guide them to future success.

Of Ellsworth’s seven athletes who qualified for state either individually or as a part of the 4x200-meter relay, one only – longtime program veteran senior Bo Hines – had any experience competing in the state championships before this season.

In total, the Panthers sent seven athletes in three events to compete at state this year at Veteran’s Memorial Field Complex at UW-La Crosse on Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3. Perhaps no athlete had a more genuine first-time experience than Ellsworth junior Parker Woodland.

Woodland, who is in his first year competing for the track and field program, finished 18th in the Division 2 high jump after he cleared 10 feet, 6 inches. Even after having a strong finish at state in his inaugural season, Ellsworth head coach Drew Pechacek believes Woodland is just scratching the surface of his ability.

“Parker is just getting started,” Pechacek said. “I think at the end of the season, he was just starting to figure out the technique in the field events that he needed to be successful. I know that he is hoping to compete for the school record next season and go back to La Crosse with higher expectations.”

Woodland was one of Ellsworth’s several first-time competitors including more than half of the 4x200-meter relay team. The only returning starter from last year’s state championship team is the aforementioned Hines, who has won three state titles in the relays.

This year’s 4x200 squad included Hines alongside junior Jake McCabe and sophomores Michael Holst and Levi Nelson. Juniors Kehan O’Neil and Logan Mueller went to the state championship as relay alternates.

The Panthers’ 4x200-meter relay team started two sophomores, which made them one of the youngest in the entire Division 2 field. They ran a 1:31.37, which secured a 13th-place finish, missing championship finals qualification by just three places.

“The relay ran their best time of the year,” Pechacek said. “We told the guys that they need to get into the 1:30 range to compete with the times around the state. They finished 0.16 seconds out of the top ten, which would have allowed them to run on Saturday. We were just 0.36 away from placing, so they were close to where they needed to be.”

Podium medals would have been the icing on top of the cake for Ellsworth’s time at the 2023 state track and field championships in La Crosse. However, the experience that younger athletes gained, particularly in the 4x200-meter relay, will further prepare the Panthers for another deep run next spring.

“It was a great experience for the guys,” Pechacek said. “I think seeing the bleachers full and how chaotic the track was during warm-ups affected them a little bit, but they were excited about their opportunity. Having a young relay experience as much success as they have is not a bad thing for the future of the track team.”

While a lot of Ellsworth’s athletes were getting their first taste of the state championships, the aforementioned Hines was in La Crosse to put a bow on one of the most successful track and field careers in program history.

Hines helped secure a 13th-place finish in the 4x200 relay in addition to taking 11th individually in the boys’ Division 2 long jump championship. Hines scratched his first two attempts before he leaped 20 feet, 2.50 inches in his final effort.

His distance finished just 0.75 inches shy of qualifying for the finals. Although he didn’t make the final cut, Pechacek believes that Hines is still one of the five best long jumpers in the state.

“Seeing Bo’s first jump at state, even though it was a scratch, I was excited to see where it would take him,” Pechacek said. “All of his jumps were very competitive. I truly believe his first two jumps put him in a position to podium, unfortunately, they were called scratches. I still truly believe that he was one of the top-five jumpers in the state.”

Hines may not have finished on the podium in either of his state championship events this year, but he still leaves Ellsworth as one of the most dominant track and field athletes to ever don the Panthers’ purple uniform.

Hines finished his illustrious career as a nine-time regional champion, five-time sectional champion, and three-time state title winner in the relay events. He also added one state runner-up finish. That’s just three years of work, considering he lost his freshman year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020.

“Bo has definitely left his mark on Ellsworth track,” Pechacek said. “He is one of the most decorated male athletes to come through Ellsworth. I believe his championship numbers would have been even greater had his career not been cut short by COVID.”

“He has been a great teammate, leader, and overall great kid his entire career,” Pechacek continued. “We will definitely miss all he has brought to the track program and we are grateful to have been a part of this incredible journey the past three seasons. I know that he is going to do great things in the future.”