By Molly Mueller
Executive Online Sports Editor 
Girls’ track and field competed in the state competition in Charleston from May 23 to May 24 and came away with a ninth place finish as a team. The Knights were one point away from the four-way tie for fifth place.
To earn the impressive finish, the girls scored 24 points with five top ranking events, the most points and events the team has ever had in a state meet.
“It was a really great finish, but we were hoping to be able to get a state trophy,” head coach David Wurster said. “We knew it was a little bit of a long shot so getting ninth wasn’t quite where we wanted to be, but it’s still pretty good.”
Along with the top finish as a team, the Knights also had five out the eight events place.
Senior Erin Reese was the state champion in discus with a throw of 146 feet 1 inch and took fifth in shot put with a throw of 43 feet and 7 inches. Reese also set a new school record with her shot put throw.
Junior Catherine Sherwood also placed in two events. Sherwood took sixth in triple jump by setting a new school record with a jump that measured 36 feet and 9.50 inches. She also had a ninth place finish in long jump with a jump of 18 feet and .25 inches. Sherwood was thrilled with her performance at state.
“It was indescribable,” Sherwood said. “I didn’t even expect to medal in both events, but to do so was unreal. Standing on the podium in front of the whole crowd to receive my medal was spectacular.”
The fifth event the Knights placed in was run by sophomore Maya Mason. Mason has a sixth place finish in the 100 meter high hurdles with a time of 15.12 seconds along with setting a new school record.
Overall the Knights were proud of their accomplishments at the state meet along with saying goodbye to Wurster.
“It was very emotional,” Wurster said. “My sole purpose was to do well for Wurster because he has done so much for me over the past three years. I really wanted to do well to make Wurster proud and get him the recognition he deserves for being the greatest coach.”
According to Wurster, he wasn’t focused on the fact that it was his last state meet, but instead on the girls.
“At the state meet, I was just worried about our kids and their performance, how they were going to perform, if they were going to do all the things right, checking in correctly and stuff like that so there really was not much in my head about, ‘oh this is my last time do this or whatever,’” Wurster said. “When I’m alone that’s when it’s like ‘oh this is the last time I’m hanging up the uniforms or it’s the last time I have to put away the Gatorade thing or whatever.’”