Mt. Pleasant, IA- The girls’ and boys’ track teams made their way to Mt. Pleasant High School yesterday for their annual postseason banquet where memories are relived from throughout the season and awards are handed out to the top performers and leaders from the respective teams. With three new school records, the Panthers enjoyed a successful 2025 season.
(Picture Courtesy of Scot Lamm: Front Row (L-R): Kynlee White, Izzy Sloat, Ellie Freeman, Alexis Wagner, Natalie Freeman, Linzy Striegel, and Alex Scott)
(Back Row (L-R): Kaden Schadt, Silas Hulett, Avin Truong, and Mason Frueh)
Starting on the girls’ side, the Panthers rattled off six meet victories before reclaiming the Southeast Conference crown from Washington with a strong performance from their relay teams and short distance sprinters.
The 4×200 meter relay team broke four meet records, including the SEC meet record before setting a new school record of 1 minute and 43 seconds at the state qualifier. The team of Kynlee White, Ellie Freeman, Kiyah Sanders (not pictured above), and Alex Scott finished in 10th at state in the 4×200.
Izzy Sloat received rookie of the year as she attended state for two events: the sprint medley relay and the long jump, taking 12th place in the latter with a leap of 16 feet and 3.25 inches. Linzy Striegel joined her at the long jump pit, claiming 21st place at state, earning Most Improved along with Alexis Wagner.
Scott could not ask for a better season, breaking the school record in the 4×200 meter relay and the 200-meter dash, rushing to a time of 25.56 seconds at the state prelim for 13th place. Additionally, she finished in 6th place in the 100-meter dash and the 4×100 meter relay at state. She was the leading scorer of the team.
Also having an incredible season was junior Paityn Ensminger. The junior consistently reshaped the record book with her best toss of the season of 39 feet and 11.5 inches ranking 4th in school history. Ensminger would claim 3rd place at the SEC meet and 8th place at state.
For the boys’ team, Kaden Schadt took home Rookie of the Year as he led the team with a height of 6 feet in the high jump. Silas Hulett joined him in Rookie of the Year honors as he paced the long distance team. Mason Frueh earned Most Improved as the junior tossed the discus 140 feet and 10 inches for a team personal best.
Lastly, Avin Truong collected Leading Scorer for the season, despite suffering an injury in the later half of the season. Nevertheless, the senior broke the 23-foot mark in the long jump, setting a school record with a distance of 23 feet and 8 inches.
Payton Walker (not pictured above) and Natalie Freeman received the Panther Award.