All-Area boys’ team chosen

TRI-CITY AREA — From their first outdoor meet in April until the last contest during June, these competitors excelled on a consistent basis.

Here is a look at the 2024 edition of The Tri-City Times All-Area boys’ track squad and the credentials they generated along the way.

Name: Nolan Maxlow
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: High jump

Best effort: Maxlow cleared 5 feet 8 inches en route to a third at the Marlette Invitational on Friday, April 19.

Top finishes: He obtained a second at the Dryden-based Second Annual Cardinal Classic; claimed a third at the Marlette Invitational; furnished fourths at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic and a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; collected a fifth at the Cass City Invitational; plus added an eighth at the Lapeer County Press Invitational in North Branch.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: Pole vault

Best effort: Battani posted a clearance of 15 feet for fifth, Saturday, June 8 at the MITCA Champion of Champions Festival in Davison.

Top finishes: He claimed firsts at the Cass City Invitational, Marlette Invitational, North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational, Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Yale, Linden Eagles Post a PR Open, Blue Water Meet of Champs in Marysville and among small school division entrants at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; furnished a second at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; plus added a third at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Kent City High School.

Name: Matthew Bacholzky
School: Almont
Year: Sophomore
Event: Long jump

Best effort: Bacholzky leaped 20 feet 3 1/4 inches en route to a first at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional on Saturday, May 18.

Top finishes: He earned firsts at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invite; Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Yale; among Small School Division entrants at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; and at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; provided a third at the Cass City Invitational; notched a sixth at the Marlette Invitational; plus placed 19th at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Kent City High School.

Name: Braedon Carlson
School: Almont
Year: Senior
Event: Shot put

Best effort: Carlson uncorked a toss of 41 feet 9 3/4 inches for second Friday, April 19 at the Marlette Invitational.

Top finishes: He took second at the Marlette Invitational; collected fifths at the Cass City Invitational and Second Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; supplied a sixth among Small School division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; contributed sevenths at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Yale and at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; generated a 14th at the Blue Water Area Meet of Champions in Marysville; furnished a 21st at the Linden Eagles Post a PR Open; and added a 36th at the Lapeer County Press Invitational in North Branch.

Name: Michael Hickmott
School: Dryden
Year: Senior
Event: Discus

Best effort: Hickmott let the weight implement fly a distance of 119 feet en route to a first at the North Central Thumb League Meet hosted by Carsonville-Port Sanilac on Saturday, May 18.

Top finishes: He supplied a first at the North Central Thumb League Meet hosted by Carsonville-Port Sanilac; placed third at a Dryden-based Division 4 regional and the Get on Track Meet in Marlette; registered eighths at the Marlette Invitational and among Small School division entrants at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; generated an 11th at Second Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; plus added a 14th at the 10th Annual Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: 100-meter dash

Best effort: Battani posted a time of 11.31 seconds for second Friday, April 26 at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational.

Top finishes: He claimed firsts at the Cass City Invitational, Marlette Invitational, Second Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden, a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional and among Small School division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; supplied seconds at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational, Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Yale and at the Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: 110-meter hurdles.

Best effort: Battani managed a clocking of 15.56 seconds en route to a second at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational on Friday, April 26.

Top finishes: He registered firsts at the Cass City Invitational and Marlette Invitational; furnished a second at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational; plus obtained thirds at the Second Cardinal Classic in Dryden, Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; and among Small School Division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic.

Name: Matthew Bacholzky
School: Almont
Year: Sophomore
Event: 200-meter dash

Best effort: Bacholzky raced to a time of 23.34 seconds for first Thursday, May 23 at the Linden Eagles Post a PR Open Meet.

Top finishes: He generated a first at the Linden Eagles Post a PR Open Meet.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: 300-meter hurdles

Best effort: Battani managed a clocking of 43.15 seconds en route to a fifth at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational on Friday, April 26.

Top finishes: He secured a first at the Cass City Invitational; provided a third at the Marlette Invitational; plus contributed a fifth at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational.

Name: Matthew Bacholzky
School: Almont
Year: Sophomore

Best effort: Bacholzky logged a time of 52.48 seconds for second Saturday, May 18 at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional.

Top finishes: He took first at the Marlette Invitational, Second Annual Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden, Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions and among Small School Division entrants at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; managed seconds at the Cass City Invitational and a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; furnished a fourth at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational; plus added a 24th at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Kent City High School.

Name: Isaac Sommer
School: Imlay City
Year: Sophomore
Event: 800-meter run

Best effort: Sommer registered a clocking of 2:08.91 en route to a sixth at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions on Tuesday, May 28.

Top finishes: He claimed seconds at the Bad Axe Hatchet Invitational and Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden; pulled up fourth at the Cass City Invitational; placed sixth at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions; and contributed a seventh at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet.

Name: Elliot Whitney
School: Imlay City
Year: Senior
Event: 1600-meter run

Best effort:Whitney posted a clocking of 4:38.07 for sixth Tuesday, May 28 at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions.

Top finishes: He pulled up third at the Bad Axe Hatchet Invitational; generated fourths at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational, Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden and Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; collected a fifth at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Yale; placed 12th at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational; and added a 27th at a North Branch-based Division 2 regional.

Name: Aiden Fitchett
School: Dryden
Year: Senior
Event: 1600-meter run

Best effort: Fitchett managed a school record-setting 4:39.73 clocking en route to a 13th at the Division 4 state meet in Hudsonville on Saturday, June 1.

Top finishes: He placed first at the Second Cardinal Classic in Dryden; obtained a second at the Vassar-based Hurd Invitational; ranked third among Small School Division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; took fourth among Small School Division entries at a Dryden-based Division 4 regional; generated a 13th at the Division 4 state finals in Hudsonville; plus provided a 14th among Small School Division entries at the 10th Annual Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Name: Aiden Fitchett
School: Dryden
Year: Senior
Event: 3200-meter run

Best effort: Fitchett generated a school record-setting clocking of 10:17.28 for first Tuesday, May 21 at the Marlette-based Get On Track Meet.

Top finishes: He placed first at the Marlette-based Get On Track Meet and North Central Thumb League Meet hosted by Carsonville-Port Sanilac; plus obtained thirds at the Marlette Invitational and a Division 4 regional in Dryden.

Name: Elliot Whitney
School: Imlay City
Year: Senior
Event: 3200-meter run

Best effort: Whitney provided a 10:18.25 for third at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champion on Tuesday, May 28.

Top finishes: He supplied a first at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League  Meet; took seconds at the Blue Water Meet of Champions in Marysville and Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden; furnished a third at the Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions; obtained a fourth at a North Branch-based Division 2 regional; registered fifth sat the Lapeer Lightning Invitational and Bad Axe Hatchet Invitational; and provided a ninth at the Lapeer County Press Invitational in North Branch.

Team: Eric Haddon, Cole Walton, Brody Corneau and Tim Miller
School: Almont
Years: Sophomore, senior, freshman and junior
Event: 400-meter relay

Best effort: An Almont team consisting of Eric Haddon, Cole Walton, Brody Corneau and Tim Miller registered a clocking of 46.56 seconds for third Saturday, May 18 at a Division 3 regional in Stockbridge.

Top finishes: Almont claimed third at a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional; obtained a fourth at the Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden; plus added a fifth at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet.

Team: Matthew Bacholzky, Cole Walton, Tim Miller and Nolan Maxlow
School: Almont
Years: Sophomore, senior, junior and junior
Event: 800-meter relay

Best effort: An Almont team of Matthew Bacholzky, Cole Walton, Tim Miller and Nolan Maxlow registered a 1:33.21 time en route to a 23rd Saturday, May 18 at the Division 3 state finals in Kent City.

Top finishes: Almont took firsts at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; among Small School Division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic and a Division 3 Regional in Stockbridge; claimed seconds at the Marlette Invitational, Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden and Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; provided a fifth at the North Branch-based Lapeer County Press Invitational; plus added a 23rd at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Kent City High School.

Team: Cole Walton, Nolan Maxlow, Matthew Bacholzky and Adam SaintOnge.
School: Almont
Years: Senior, junior, sophomore and sophomore
Event: 1600-meter relay

Best effort: No matter who Almont’s coaches opted to utilize this season a successful outcome was guaranteed.

Almont was at their quickest when a lineup of Cole Walton, Nolan Maxlow, Matthew Bacholzky and Adam SaintOnge managed a 3:39.59 clocking for second Saturday, May 18 at a Division 3 regional.

Top finishes: The team secured seconds at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet and a Division 3 regional in Stockbridge; collected a fifth at the Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; obtained a ninth at the Lapeer County Press Invitational in North Branch; and generated a 32nd at the Division 3 state finals hosted by Kent City High School.

Team: Elliot Whitney, Danny Rojas, Isaac Sommer and Ethan Everhart.
School: Imlay City
Years: Senior, freshman, sophomore and sophomore
Event: 3200-meter relay

Best effort: An Imlay City lineup of Elliot Whitney, Danny Rojas, Isaac Sommer and Ethan Everhart posted a time of 9:05.42 en route to a second Friday, May 3 at the Second Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden.

Top finishes: Imlay City collected a second at the Second Cardinal Classic Invite in Dryden and supplied a sixth at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational.

Second team– Jerry Zheng, shot put, Imlay City; Kade VanderPloeg, long jump, Imlay City; Alan Valdovinos, 100 and 200-meter dashes, Imlay City; Brody Corneau, 110-meter hurdles, Almont; Connor Wildie, 300-meter hurdles, Imlay City; Nolan Maxlow, 400-meter dash, Almont; Aiden Fitchett, 800-meter run, Dryden; Isaac Sommer, 1600-meter run, Imlay City; Logan Romain, 3200-meter run, Dryden; Imlay City’s 400-meter relay of Brett Lestage, Kade VanderPloeg, Tyler Kanai and Alan Valdovinos; Imlay City’s 800-meter relay of Enrique Cardenas, Kade VanderPloeg, Ethan Everhart and Alan Valdovinos; Imlay City’s 1600-meter relay of Brady Homer, Ethan Everhart, Jovani Pena and Enrique Cardenas; plus Dryden’s 3200-meter relay of Aiden Fitchett, Connor Wolff, Sean Finnigan and Dylan Lasher.

Honorable mention– Tyler Kanai, long jump, Imlay City; Brett Lestage, 100 and 200-meter dashes, Imlay City; Enrique Cardenas, 100 and 400-meter dash, Imlay City; Connor Wildie, 110-meter hurdles, Imlay City; Nolan Maxlow, 200-meter dash, Almont; Brody Corneau, 300-meter hurdles, Almont; Ethan Everhart, 400 dash and 800-meter run, Imlay City; Noah Hall, 3200-meter run, Dryden; Dryden’s 1600-meter relay of Aiden Fitchett, Connor Wolff, Matthew Hickmott and Dylan Lasher; plus Almont’s 3200-meter relay of Adam Saint Onge, Jacob Biolchini, Colton Grzyb and Gavin Campbell.

Coach of the Year– For directing his team to a first at the Marlette Invitational; seconds at the Cass City Invitational, Second Cardinal Classic in Dryden, a Stockbridge-based Division 3 regional and among Small School division entries at the 15th Annual Davison Twilight Classic; a fourth at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; and a six-way tie for 37th at the Kent City-based Division 3 finals, Almont Coach Jamey Wade earns Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.