The 2019 Penn Boys Track Team is sending eleven athletes to the IHSAA State Finals at Indiana University on Friday May 31st. The eleven athletes heading down to state competed all year, and continued to improve, for a chance to bring a track State Championship to Penn High School. The team was led by seniors, Caden Paquette, Collin Mott, Kevin Krutsch, and Christian Marshall, who were leaders on the team, have the rights to compete in one last track meet.

Caden Paquette has dominated all year throwing the discus. Previously this year, he had broken the school record throwing 170′. Paquette won every meet he threw in this season, and carried that momentum into the state tournament. In the Regional meet, he broke his old record by throwing 177′. Not only did he set a new record, but he won the meet, advancing to the State Finals. Paquette comes into the meet being ranked the No. 1 discus thrower in the state.

Freshman, Mariano Retzloff, is the only freshman to be competing in the 3200 meter run this year. He has also dominated this year, continuing to run faster times each meet. Retzloff comes into the meet ranked 23 in the state with an official time of 9.47.61.

The entire Penn Boys Track team has struggled toward improving all season, and as the meet draws closer, the athletes embrace the grind. From the time when the first race starts, to the last race is over, the Kingsmen Track team will leave everything they have on the track at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, competing for a state championship.

By Kevin McNulty

Kevin McNulty teaches English and Mass Media Studies at Penn High School. He advises the Penn News Network and manages the PNN Studio and news room. For more information, navigate your browser to www.massmediastudies.net.