State Champs!

The BA Boys’ Track team cruised to the first boys’ state championship in school history, with a dominating performance at the WIAA Division 3 State Boys Track Championship on Saturday, June 4, at UW-La Crosse's Memorial Stadium. The Blue Knights scored 80 points, well ahead of Webster and Burlington Catholic Central, who tied for second place with 30 points each. The point total matched the third highest earned points in history for all divisions.

Junior Fred Willis led the way with a first in the 100-meters (10.88) and the 200 (22.23), a second in the high jump (6 feet, 7 inches), and the anchor leg of the winning 800 relay team. Sophomore Ethan Jaynes took second in the 100 (11.06) and the 200 (22.88). Sophomore Max Wrenn and senior Taylor Davis joined Willis and Jaynes in winning the 4x200 relay race (1:39.86).

Senior Nate Heppe seized gold in the 800 (1:55.67) and was fifth in the 1600 (4:29.94). Heppe anchored the 3200 relay team which finished third (8:05.17). Seniors Neil Warren and Taylor Davis and junior Vikram Purewal joined Heppe on that team.

Senior Troy Huff was third in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches).

The boys’ track team joins the 1987 girls’ tennis team and numerous Field Hockey teams as the only state champions in school history.

Congratulations to Coaches Jaynes, Malloy and Olizia for their dedication and commitment to the team and the track program. And to the track athletes, BA Blogger joins the entire BA community in congratulating you for this magnificent achievement.

The state championship caps an extraordinary year of athletic accomplishments in the Upper School. Listed below are some of the major highlights of the sports year:

· Football--Co-Conference Champs and WIAA State Playoffs

· Boys’ Cross Country—Seventh in state, Div. 3

· JV Girls Volleyball--Conference Champions and MCC Tournament Champions

· Girls Swimming—Two-Time Individual, Sectional & State Champion, Journal-Sentinel Swimmer of the Year, WIAA Swimmer of the Year

· Boys’ Basketball--Conference Champions (Freshmen, JV and Varsity), WIAA Regional Champions

· Boys’ Swimming--Individual & Sectional Champions, Individual Second in State

· Girls’ Soccer—WIAA Regional Semi-Finalist

· Boys Track--Conference Champion, Sectional Champion, State Champion

· Conference Player-of-the-Year in Football, Boys’ Basketball, and Boys’ Baseball

· 26 First Team All-Conference Players in boys’ and girls’ sports