The Lisbon girls’ track team won the 4×100 relay at the State Meet. Overall, they finished tied for 15th in 1A, with 18 points.
Other place winners for the Lions in 2023 included the 4×200 relay (fifth), the 4×400 relay (eighth) and Addy Happel, who was sixth in the 200.
“We left some points on the track, too,” first-year Lisbon Coach Brett Epperly said.
Epperly was an assistant last year under coach Casey Baxa, who stepped down after 12 years.
“He was a great friend and great mentor,” Epperly said.
He inherits a balanced team with a fair amount of experience.
“I feel really good,” Epperly said. “We’ve got a unique blend, with a lot of girls with experience, and we’ve also got some young athletes that I feel will be contributors.”
Epperly has seen the team improve in the offseason.
“A lot of the girls have put in a lot of work since last year,” he said. “Our sprinters are stronger. Our jumpers are jumping farther and higher. It helps that almost everyone is a multi-sport athlete.”
The Lions will miss Peyton Robinson, who was part of four state-qualifying relays and was named The Gazette’s 2023 Female Athlete of the Year.
They return the other three members of that first-place 4×100 relay – senior Ava Czarnecki, junior Brynn Epperly and Happel.
The distance crew is led by junior Addie Clark and senior Maeve Krogmann. “And distance is where some of the younger athletes can step up,” Epperly said.
Epperly, in his first season, wanted to be sure to thank his wife Melanie for the long hours this spring.
LION GIRLS
2023 state finish – 15th in 1A
Returning state participants – Addy Happel, sr. (200, 4×100, 4×200, 4×400); Mykala Luzum-elmon, so. (high jump, shuttle hurdle); Brynn Epperly, jr., (long jump, 4×100, 4×200, distance medley); Ava Czarnecki, sr., (4×100, 4×200, 4×400); Kamryn Kahl, so., (shuttle hurdle); Kaitlynn Hasselbusch, jr. (shuttle hurdle); Addie Clark, jr., (4×400, 4×800, distance medley); Gretchen Moehlman, jr. (4×800); Maeve Krogmann, sr., (4×800, distance medley).
Ava Czarnecki races in a relay event at Lisbon’s home meet Tuesday, April 11.