Members of the JWP girls’ track and field team pose with the Class A state championship trophy they claimed at St. Michael-Albertville High School last Wednesday. Front from left: Makaela Westphal and Ashlynn wolff. Back: Katie Olson, Nevaeh Weimert, Onikia Herme, Brielle Bure and Lilly Strauss.
State champs
JWP track girls win it all
The storybook 2025 season had one final chapter for the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School girls' track and field team: the state meet.
The Bulldogs, with Gopher Conference, sub-section and section championships already under their belts - along with an appearance in the True Team state meet - saved their absolute best for last, winning the Class A state championship last Wednesday at St. Michael-Albertville High School. The Bulldogs, who claimed gold in the 800-meter run and took second in two relays, topped the state-wide field with 41 points, comfortably ahead of second-place Minnewaska Area, which totaled 33. St. Cloud Cathedral was third with 32.
“I'm really proud of every athlete that was a part of this team, from the beginning of the year to the end,” said Bulldogs head coach Sam Schruin. “Every JWP track and field athlete has a hand in all the success we've had this season.”
Schruin offered a special thank you to his coaching staff: John Kaplan, Liz Kvebak, Andrea Kronbach, Emily Olson, Katie Cahill and volunteers Tim Johnson, Mike Cahill and Brandon Goebel.
“Without them we wouldn't have the culture that we do,“ he said. “Also a shoutout to administration, staff, teachers, and the community of JWP for all the support and helping shape these young athletes into great people. It really was a beautiful day to be a track and field athlete and now, finally the job is finished.”