Mattsey, Knott leading SJO boys’ track and field this spring

Almost a month into its first full outdoor season since 2019 and the
St. Joseph-Ogden boys’ track and field team has put together some
impressive performances. Like seniors Hayden Knott and Brandon Mattsey
placing first in at least one event during every meet the Spartans
have had so far.

And SJO winning the 12-team Rantoul Invitational on May 1. Here’s a
look at what has transpired so far for the Spartans, with a look at
what’s ahead:

WHAT’S HAPPENED
Monticello Invitational (May 7)
In a non-scored meet, the Spartans captured first place in four
events. Knott led the way for SJO by placing first in the shot put
with a toss of 54 feet, 4 3/4 inches and also winning the discus with
a heave of 157-5.

Mattsey took home the title in the 800-meter run with a time of 2
minutes, 2.93 seconds, and the 1,600 relay added another first-place
finish in 3:35.21.

Sophomore Aidan McCorkle took second in the 400 (54.31), junior
Charlie Mabry was second in the 1,600 (4:44.97) and junior Braden
Clampitt finished second in the 300 hurdles (46.83).
The Spartans also had two third-place results, with the 3,200 relay
touring the course in 9:10.p3 and junior Elijah Mock taking third in
the 1,600 (4:51.37).

Rantoul Invitational (May 1)
Backed by strong showings from Mattsey and Knott, the Spartans won the
12-team meet with 178 points, just ahead of the 162 points compiled by
runner-up Monticello. Rantoul (106), Danville (83) and Pleasant Plains
(78) rounded out the top five schools.

Mattsey bested all competitors in the 1,600 run with a time of 4:53.12
and the 3,200 relay was also tops in the field with a time of 8:45.82.
Knott shone in both of his throwing events, winning the shot put in
56-2 3/4 and the discus in 176-2.

Senior Brady Buss added a second-place finish in the 200 (23.13) and
Mock came in third in the 800 (2:12.25).

Spartans place second at four-team meet (April 27)
In a home quadrangular that also featured Shelbyville, St. Teresa and
Judah Christian, the Spartans finished second with 77 points.
Shelbyville won the event with 98 points, while St. Teresa (19) and
Judah Christian (11) also competed.

McCorkle and Knott each won two events, with McCorkle winning the 400
in 53.69 and the long jump with a leap of 19-5 1/2. Knott took home
first-place finishes in the shot put (53-8 1/4) and the discus
(172-2). Buss in the 200 (23.19), Mattsey in the 800 (2:01.93), junior
Luke Stegall (5:12.80) and the 1,600 relay (3:45.25) also turned in
winning performances.

Freshman Brock Trimble had two second-place finishes in field events,
with Trimble tossing the discus 123-4 and leaping 33-4 1/2 in the
triple jump.

Freshman Spencer Wilson in the 400 (56.89), senior Lukas Hutcherson in
the 1,600 (5:13.69), senior Max Shonkwiler in the shot put (38-11 3/4)
and the 400 relay (46.08) added second-place showings.
Senior Evan Schmitz took third in both the shot put (37-3 3/4) and the
discus (122-9), while sophomore Tyler Burch in the 200 (23.57) and
sophomore Ethan Blackburn in the 1,600 (5:17.39) chipped in with
third-place results.

Spartans shine against Eureka (April 22)
SJO won four events in an unscored home dual meet against Eureka.
Knott won both the shot put (54-4) and the discus (157-3), while
Mattsey took first in the 1,600 (4:43.62). Senior Logan Wolfersberger
also finished first by winning the 800 in 2:08.65.

Buss placed second in the 200 (23.90) and the 400 (54.81), while Burch
in the 100 (11.67), Hutcherson in the 800 (2:19.11), freshman Carson
Maroon in the 1,600 (4:48.94), Clampitt in the 300 hurdles (46.99),
Shonkwiler in the shot put (39-8 3/4) and Trimble in the discus
(123-0) all added second-place finishes.

McCorkle in the 200 (24.21), freshman Aiden Armstrong in the 800
(2:20.21), Mabry in the 1,600 (4:48.96), Schmitz in the discus (119-9)
and the 1,600 relay (4:07.91) contributed by placing third.

Spartans thrive in season opener against Clinton (April 13)
Buss and Knott both won two events during the season opener against
Clinton in St. Joseph, which was an unscored dual meet.
Buss swept the 100 (11.51) and the 200 (23.35), while Knott did the
same in the shot put (52-11) and the discus (164-3). Mattsey also
placed first in the 800 (2:04.61).

Junior Jonathan Poulter was second in the 100 (11.86), while McCorkle
in the 200 (24.32), Mabry in the 800 (2:13.19), Shonkwiler in the shot
put (39-0 1/4), Trimble in the discus (123-4) and the 1,600 relay
(4:05.28) also took second.

McCorkle in the 100 (11.96) and Poulter in the 200 (25.10) added
third-place results, while Schmitz took third in the shot put (37-8)
and the discus (113-7) and Wolfersberger did so in the 800 (2:13.90).

WHAT’S AHEAD
The Spartans are set to travel to Tolono on Friday for the Unity
Invitational that begins at 4 p.m. before hosting their own Spartan
Classic at 4:30 p.m. on May 21 in St. Joseph.