A balanced effort carried the Stevens Point Area Senior High boys track and field team to the Wisconsin Valley Indoor Conference championship Tuesday.
The Panthers, who scored 161 points, had five individuals win six titles. Marshfield was second with 131 points and D.C. Everest had 118. The SPASH girls finished second with 105.5 points, trailing Everest's 149. Wausau West was third with 92.
"We expected a very close race," SPASH boys coach DuWayne Behnke said. "The guys that we expect to do well did. The guys underneath are the guys who came through.
"The Valley is very tough. There were 29 teams at the Point Invite and the Valley finished 1-2-3. Our balance is better than ever before. We're scoring in events that we haven't before."
Josh Garbe was a double-winner for SPASH, finishing first in the 1,600-meter run (4:34.05) and the 800 run (1:57.24). Cory Flisakowski (200 dash in 23.19), Travis Laird (long jump with 20-feet-9), Chad Erspamer (triple jump with 42-5), Robb Kolodziej (shot put with 49-5) all won events.
Flisakowski added a second in the 55 dash while Chris Solinsky (3,200 run), Steve Baumhofer (high jump), Rick Trzebiatowski (pole vault) also picked up runner-up finishes. Laird (200 dash), Baumhofer (long jump) and Nate Olson (400 dash) were third.
"We'll enjoy (Tuesday) and rest (Wednesday) and then get back to work. This is not the end of the season," Behnke said.
Amber Perri was the lone winner for SPASH, finishing first in the 400 dash (1:03.06). Taking second were Kim Klosno (800 run), Kjersten Johnson (3,200 run), Tracy Knippel (triple jump), the 4x200 relay (Kelly Konopacki, Sherine Watkins, Kathleen Lehman and Klosno), and the 4x400 relay (Perri, Alexis Sustman, Sarah Schubert and Klosno).
Abby Ofori-Amoah (shot put) and the 4x800 relay (Johnson, Sustman, Laine Willkom and Jackie Kropp) grabbed third place finishes.
"I'm happy with the final score. We didn't have a bad meet, we had a very good meet and we're capable of better," SPASH girls coach Mike Olson said.
The team is awaiting the return of Erin Legro and Emily Pliska from injuries. "All in all, I'm happy. We can get better, we will get better. We're excited for outdoors," Olson said.