WIAA state track meet: Two state titles, two second-place finishes for local throwers

LA CROSSE -   Ben Veverka's day got off to a less-than-ideal start. The top seed in the Division 3 boys discus field had a throw of about 60 feet less than what his qualifying distance was. 

"I got 112 feet on my first one," the Royals senior said. "That had me a little concerned. It was just a form issue."

It was one of the few things that went wrong for Veverka and three other throwers from the local area in the first of two days of the state meet.

The Assumption senior rebounded to win the state title with an attempt of 179 feet, which came on his throw of the competition. Spenccer's Logan Zschernitz was fourth in the competition with an attempt of 155-10. 

The day's highlight was Everest teammates, Natalie Mohring and Danni Langseth, who finished first and second, respectively, in a Division 1 girls discus. The Evergreens' Zach Mueller was second in the Division 1 boys shot put. 

In addition, Colby's Mackenzie Huber was eighth in the Division 2 girls shot put, and Marathon's Katelyn Schmidt just missed placing in the Division 3 girls shot put as she was 10th. 

"It's really special," Mohring said of Everest's domination in the girls discus. "We work together all the time and compete against each other. For us to finish one-two is amazing and happens once in a lifetime."

The third member of the Evergreens, sophomore, Maisie Gelhar, finished seventh. 

Mohring, who finished second in the event last season, won the championship Friday morning with a throw of 141 feet, 7 inches. It came on her sixth and final attempt of the competition. 

"I've been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid," said Mohring, who also had a throw of 137-11 on her fourth attempt of the day.  "I've always wanted to get atop the podium and to it in my senior year, my last go, is amazing."

Langseth, a freshman, finished four inches behind Mohring with a throw of 137-6

She credited Mohring's influence as a reason why she was able to reach the podium as well. 

"Just having Natalie to look up to and watch in both shot and discus is such a cool thing," Langseth said. "It is watching her and how she warms up and doing what she does, really helped me a lot."

Veverka's interest in throwing began when he was a middle school student and saw, "an Edgar kid throw about 167 (feet). Since then I have wanted to be good in discus."

He put the work in to accomplish that. 

"I started practicing and throwing back in December," Veverka said. "It's been a long process and I've just been keeping at it and keeping at it in the weight room and practicing when its raining or snow on the ground. We actually went outside and shoveled so we could practice."

He admitted it might be a while before the state championship sinks in. 

"Probably later tonight, I hope," said Veverka, who finished fourth in the event as a junior. "Maybe a week from now. I don't know but it feels great."

Mueller came into the shot put seeded second and finished as a runner-up to Fond du Lac's Andrew Stone with a throw of 59-4. 

"It means a lot," said Mueller, who finished fifth in the event last June. "It's been four years of (work) to get to where I am right now. I'm very humbled and very proud."

Mueller enters Saturday as the top seed in the Division 1 boys discus with a qualifying throw of 185-6.

"That's kind of my event," the Evergreens veteran said. "I just have to get ready for tomorrow and be ready to go after it."