Boys and girls track at Wheaton High School consolidated with Herman-Norcross in 1991, and the coaches recognize Wheaton records and WHN records separately. On the boys’ side, three tracksters have won a total of five state championships. Peder Naatz won the 110m High Hurdles in 1985 as a junior, then as a senior he won the same event again as well as the 300m Intermediate Hurdles.
Prior to Naatz, Harry Nash was the most prestigious trackman to race in Wheaton. Nash won the state championship in 1951 in the 100 Yard Dash. Nash went on to set records while running for the Minnesota Gophers, and I highly recommend reading this article about his life. Gary Fabel also won a state title for the Warriors in the high jump in 1958.
In 1950, Nash finished 2nd in the 220 and 4th in the 100. In 1951, Nash also placed 2nd in the 220. Naatz competed in both hurdle events as a sophomore, junior and senior — 1984-1986.
Other competitors in the state track meet include James Mills: 220 Yard Dash in 1955, Fable: High Jump in 1958, John Deal: 880 Yard Run in 1958, Allen Weick: 440 Yard Dash in 1964 and 1965, Joel Determan: 2 Mile in 1974, Jim Doll: Shot Put in 1974, Doug Wohlenhaus: Shot Put in 1975.
John Tauber was the legendary long-time coach of both Wheaton and WHN track.
The girls track program began in Wheaton in 1972 and was immediately successful. The first team coached by Diane Atkinson (before Lynette Johnson took over) won the first Region 6 track championship and competed at State. The girls tracksters won the District 21 championship in 1974, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 and 1986.
Some of the top individual finishers for the girls were 880 yard relay team in 1980 taking home 2nd Place (Karen Henkes, Suzanne Ringdahl, Lynn Fiedler and Andrea Satter.)
Other state track meet participants include Deb Wohlenhaus, Julie Fridgen, Lori Gail, Joan Behrens, Sarah Hopkins, Shelly Itzen, Laurie Blasing, Donna Conroy, Vicky Boom, Lisa Koob, Jay Krenz, Laurie Henkes, Sue Krumwiede, Mary Henkes, Jean Johnson, Ginger Hagen, Linda Behrens, Betty Wieser, Lisa Cook (finishing 3rd in high jump in 1981,) Sondra Weick.
Below are the record books. The track teams closed the Wheaton record book when they joined with Herman-Norcross, then closed the WHN record books when the teams became Border West. I have gone through and bolded the “overall” best mark for each category combining the teams.
Wheaton Boys Track Records to 1991
Event
Time or Distance
Record Holder
Year
110m Hurdles
14.50
Peder Naatz (2x State Champ)
1986
300m Hurdles
38.89
Peder Naatz (State Champ)
1986
100yd
10.0
Harry Nash
1951
220yd
21.9
Harry Nash
1951
440yd
51.4
Allen Weick
1964
800m
2:02.7
Shawn Dobberstein
1982
1600m
4:33.8
Mark Dobberstein
1978
3200m
10:21.8
Joel Determan
1974
Long Jump
21’1″
Greg Deal
1976
Triple Jump
39’10”
Jon Behrens
1989
39’10”
Dan Rinke
1990
Shot Put
51′ 10.5″
Doug Wohlenhaus
1975
Discus
152′ 10″
Matt Benson
1987
Pole Vault
10′ 6″
Orin Behrens
1972
High Jump
6′ 4″
Josh Behl
1987
6′ 0″
Gary Fabel (State Champ)
1958
400m (4×100) Relay
45.8
Scott Tinklenberg, Carl Hasbargen, Scott Frisch, Mike Neumann
1978
800m (4×200) Relay
1:36.2
Steve McAloney, Scott Frisch, Carl Hasbargen, Scott Tinklenberg
1978
1600m (4×400) Relay
3:30.8
Carl Hasbargen, Scott Frisch, Brett Manthey, Steve McAloney
1978
3200m (4×800) Relay
8:48
Mark Dobberstein, Ron Schmitz, Brett Manthey, Shawn Dobberstein
1978
1600m Medley Relay
3:46.5
Mark Johnson, Chadd Berger, Troy Wetterling, Mark Behrens
1988
Wheaton Girls Track Records to 1991
Event
Time or Distance
Record Holder
Year
100m Hurdles
15.5
Lori Gail
1974
300m Hurdles
47.8
Sonda Weick
1987
100m
12.6
Susan Krumweide
1975
200m
26.0
Andrea Satter
1978
400m
—
Andrea Satter
1978
800m
2:25.5
Denise Sumerfelt
1989
1600m
5:31
Kim Krenz
1990
3200m
11:47
Kim Krenz
1990
Long Jump
16’8.5″
Sarah Naatz
1989
Triple Jump
Shot Put
42’9″
Deb Wohlenhaus
1978
Discus
110’4″
Mary Lampe
1986
Pole Vault
High Jump
5’6″
Lisa Cook
1981
400m (4×100) Relay
51.5
Ginger Hagen, Laurie Henkes, Linda Behrens, Susan Krumweide
1974
800m (4×200) Relay
1:46.3
Karen Henkes, Suzanne Ringdahl, Lynn Fiedler, Andrea Satter
1980
1600m (4×400) Relay
4:09.5
Deb Wohlenhaus, Laurie Henkes, Linda Behrens, Andrea Satter
1976
3200m (4×800) Relay
10:07.05
Sherri Tauber, Michelle Tauber, Denise Sumerfelt, Kim Krenz
1988
WHN Boys Track Records 1991 to Present
Event
Time or Distance
Record Holder
Year
110m Hurdles
15.76
Jeff Sailer
1997
300m Hurdles
41.1
Dane Mitteness
2002
100m
11.05
Jon Behrens
1991
200m
22.65
Jon Behrens
1991
400m
50.8
Adam Russell
2011
800m
2:03.8
Scott Vipond
1991
1600m
4:45.6
Scott Vipond
1991
3200m
11:08
Steve Edlund
1993
Long Jump
21’1″
Jon Behrens
1991
Triple Jump
41’8.5″
Dan Rinke
1991
Shot Put
48’8.5″
Matt Wohlenhaus
1997
Discus
144’2″
Matt Wohlenhaus
1997
Pole Vault
12’8″
Brandon Grimes
2002
High Jump
6’2″
Mike Tauber
1992
400m (4×100) Relay
44.8
Austin Haupert, Chris Tauber, Mark Gail, Jeff Sailer
1997
800m (4×200) Relay
1:34.8
Austin Haupert, Chris Tauber, Josh Becker, Shimon Cohen
1991
1600m (4×400) Relay
3:29.8
Jon Behrens, Mark Behrens, Andy Kennedy, Scott Vipond
1991
3200m (4×800) Relay
8:48
Andy Tauber, Lou Raguse, Ryan Schroeder, Chris Larson
1997
1600m Medley Relay
3:46.2
Mark Behrens, Andy Kennedy, Dan Rinke, Scott Vipond
