The Prescott Cardinals ended the season with 23 athletes competing in the WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at Veteran’s Memorial Field Complex at UW-La Crosse on Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3.

Before this year, Prescott had typically sent a dozen athletes to the state competition. This season, the boys’ and girls’ rosters each had three relays qualify for the annual championships, in addition to junior Breckin Schommer, who made it individually in the boys’ 800-meter run.

For Emily Calabrese, who has coached the Cardinals with her husband Carl Calabrese for nearly a decade, having that many kids make it to La Crosse for the state championships was a big step for the program.

“We certainly feel like we’re heading in the right direction,” Emily Calabrese said. “It was great to have so many kids there. It almost felt like a weekend meet with the varsity team. It was a great team-building experience and we thought they absolutely excelled on the track.”

Some of Prescott’s relays slightly underperformed their state championship seeding while others significantly improved their final standings. No group of Prescott’s athletes collectively stepped up more than the girls’ 4x100-meter relay.

The 4x100 is notorious for being one of the most competitive track and field events in the annual state championships. The Lady Cardinals’ 4x100 included freshman Amanda Miller, juniors Kianna Severson and Kennedy Braun and senior Katrina Budworth.

Their relay group went to La Crosse seeded as the second-slowest squad out of 18 total teams in the two heats with only 10 slated to make the finals. They ran a 50.21 and finished eighth in the preliminary competition, which advanced them to the finals on Saturday afternoon.

“The girls’ 4x100 making the finals was a surprise,” Calabrese said. “They weren’t seeded to make it, but that was their goal. It was nice to see them do that. Knowing that we’re losing Katrina off that team, that’s a big hit because she’s such an asset. The rest of them being young and coming back next year, that was a boost to them that they made it to the state finals.”

The 4x100 ran a 50.89 and finished ninth in the championship finals on Saturday afternoon. Emily Calabrese wasn’t the only one surprised by the relay advancing in La Crosse. Katrina Budworth spoke about the relay’s success after running in the championship finals.

“All we wanted to do was get to (championship Saturday),” Budworth said. “ If we got to finals, we’d have done what we wanted to do. I think we ran better yesterday. Today we weren’t as mentally prepared because we didn’t expect to be here, and it was a long day yesterday.”

Prescott also had success in the girls’ 4x400. That group included Miller, in addition to juniors Sophie Ripley and Ava Budworth and senior Ella Johnson. They set a new school record with a time of 4:05.90 in the preliminary round on Friday evening. The next day, they posted an eighth-place time of 4:08.98 in the championship finals.

The Lady Cardinals’ third relay squad that competed in La Crosse was the 4x800, which included Ripley and Johnson, in addition to sophomore Kaite Huppert and senior Evalyn Sieben. They ran a 9:51.45, which finished ninth of 16 total teams.

The aforementioned Miller, who is only in her freshman year with the program, has been one of the most important additions this year. She entered the varsity lineup and helped take multiple relays to the state championships. Katrina Budworth spoke about Miller and the chemistry on several of their relays.

“We’re all interesting and definitely have big personalities,” Budworth said. “We have our freshman, Amanda (Miller), who is a great addition this year and she will be great for Prescott for years. I was happy to run with my 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. The people make it way better. I like doing things with my teammates. I love them.”

There has been a special camaraderie among the girls’ relays that has translated to the boys’ program too. Prescott’s best showing at state on the boys’ side was the 4x400 group of sophomore Will Packard, juniors Breckin Scommer and Kyle Cogan and senior Shane Butler.

They finished 10th in the preliminary round and then ran a 3:28.17 to finish eighth in the championship finals on Saturday afternoon. Prescott’s 4x200 included freshman Kobe Russell, sophomore Ethan West and Packard and Butler, which finished 16th in preliminary competition.

The boys’ 4x800 featured sophomore Jack Kreager, junior Kyle Cogan, senior Tyler Loucks and Schommer. They finished 15th with a time of 8:24.62 in the championship finals on Saturday afternoon. Schommer also took 11th individually in the 800 open when he posted a time of 1:59.69.

One athlete who has flown under the radar this season is Kyle Cogan, who has been an integral part of relay success throughout the postseason. Carl Calabrese spoke about how Kyle Cogan stepped up at the state competition and posted huge PR splits.

“Kyle Cogan in his 400 and 800 splits for both days were massive PRs,” Carl Calabrese said. “He was our fastest leg of the 4x400 in the finals.”

Emily Calabrese quickly chimed in to praise Kyle Cogan for his efforts in the relays and how he’s taken some of those groups to another level this season.

“It feels good having the baton in his hands because you know that you’re going to gain a couple of places out of Kyle, no matter what the race is,” Emily Calabrese said. “When he goes, he competes and puts his team in the best position that he can. I’ve told him over and over that I know we’re in good hands when he’s got the baton.”

Prescott seemed to have found a perfect balance between enjoying the time at state together as a team bonding experience while also knowing when to tighten the screws and compete at the highest level. Nobody said it better than junior Kennedy Braun, who ran with the girls' 4x100 relay.

“I think state has been the best thing all season,” Braun said. “Our team is like one big family. We have the best kids down here and we’ve had a great time, but we also take it seriously when it’s time to race.”