REBELS CAPTURE SECTION 3A TRUE TEAM TITLE, BOYS ADVANCE TO STATE

Depth, versatility, and total team effort defined the day as the Murray County Central boys track and field team captured the Section 3A True Team championship in Pipestone, scoring 614.5 points to pull away from a competitive field.

Luverne finished second with 544 points, followed by SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton (517), Redwood Valley (487.5), Hills-Beaver Creek (474), Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda (408), Lakeview (406), Canby/Minneota (373), Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (336), Windom Area (334.5), Adrian/Ellsworth (265), and Pipestone Area (207.5).

The True Team meet—unique to Minnesota and established in 1987 by the State Track and Field Coaches Association— was designed to determine the best overall team rather than reward a handful of elite performers. With two entries per individual event and one relay per school, every placement matters, placing a premium on depth across the lineup.

That format played directly into the Rebels’ strength.

Overcoming Adversity

Murray County Central’s title run was even more impressive considering the Rebels competed without two key contributors, Luke Iverson and Beckett Stelter, who were sidelined due to illness. Despite the absence, MCC filled events and scored consistently across the board—an example of the program’s depth and next-man-up mentality.

Balanced Attack Leads the Way The Rebels piled up points in every phase of the meet, highlighted by strong performances in the middle-distance races. Alexander Betz placed third in the 800 meters (2:08.75) and fifth in the 1600 (5:00.69), while Brayden Gilb added a fourth-place finish in the 800 (2:15.29).

Distance contributors continued to deliver, with Micah Janssen placing sixth in the 1600 and ninth in the 3200, and Carter Larson finishing 10th in the 3200.

Lucas Kuball provided a major spark for MCC, placing fifth in the 200 meters (24.00), seventh in the 400 meters (54.21), and second in the long jump (18-11.25). He also contributed in relays, showcasing his allaround impact.

Hurdles and Relays Key to Title Push The Rebels made significant gains in the hurdles. Tyler Reith finished second in the 110-meter hurdles (17.84), while Parker Olson added a third-place finish in the same race and took third again in the 300 hurdles (47.06). Dylan Gilbertson added a fourth-place finish in the 300 hurdles.

Relay events proved critical in building separation. The 4x800 relay team (Brayden Gilb, Tyler Rieth, Carter Larson, Henry Carlson) placed second (9:07.57), while the 4x400 relay team of Henry Carlson, Dylan Gilbertson, Alexander Betz, and Brayden Gilb finished third (3:46.32). The 4x200 relay added

a sixth-place finish, and the 4x100 came in eighth—valuable points in a meet where every place counts.

Field Events Provide Depth In the field, Dylan Gilbertson led with a runner-up finish in the triple jump (39-5), followed by Brett Pieske in fourth. Kuball (2nd) and Parker Olson (7th) added points in the long jump.

The throwing events also contributed, with Broox Platt placing fifth in the shot put (4111) and Gabriel Wolske finishing ninth, while Wolske added a strong third-place finish in the discus (127-11).

In the pole vault, Caleb Rosenbrook cleared 10-6 to place third, with Aubin Licht adding a tie for seventh.

Girls Face Strong Field

On the girls side, Murray County Central placed 11th with 263 points in a meet won by Luverne (685). Redwood Valley (565.5), SW Minnesota Christian/Edgerton (544.5), and Canby/Minneota (528) rounded out the top four. Lakeview (434), Hills-Beaver Creek (422), Heron Lake-Okabena/ Fulda (377.5), Pipestone Area (280.5), Tracy-Milroy-Balaton (273), Adrian/Ellsworth (269), and Windom Area (235) completed the standings.

Despite the team finish, several Rebels stood out. Charley Holm had a strong day, placing fifth in the 100 meters (13.39) and third in the 200 meters (27.99), while also taking fourth in the long jump.

In the 400 meters, Isabela Schreier (10th) and Kenslee Bobeldyk (13th) competed well, and Ainsley Pieske added an eighth-place finish in the 1600 meters.

Kora Kremer placed fifth in the pole vault (7-0), and the 4x400 relay team (Bobeldyk, Schreier, Kremer, Holm) delivered a solid seventh-place finish.

A Tradition of Team Excellence

The Rebels’ performance adds another chapter to a rich True Team tradition. Murray County Central’s boys program includes a state championship in 1997 along with multiple podium finishes, while the girls have also reached the state stage, highlighted by a fifthplace finish in 1993.

With the Section 3A championship secured, the MCC boys now advance to the State True Team Meet, where they will compete against the top 12 teams in Class A—including section champions and wild card qualifiers from across Minnesota on May 16th at Eden Prairie High School.