Onalaska High School's boys track and field team has been in contention for the Mississippi Valley Conference championship nearly even season in the last 15 years. Logan and Central look to have more strength than Onalaska entering Tuesday's league meet at Logan, but the Hilltoppers always seem to be a factor in the meet.

Logan should be led by sprinter/horizontal jumper Jake Whitewater and thrower Mitch Weber, while Central should be led by middle-distance runners Brandon Zink and Mitch Wilson, along with triple jumper Drew Sierzant. OHS should be able to secure lots of points to counter Whitewater and the Red Raiders middle-distance crew with Caleb Lehman in the sprints and Dan Roth in the middle-distance events, among others.

“It's a little different trying to forecast the meet than in past years with all the poor weather this year,” Onalaska head coach Darin Shepardson said. “But I think we'll be competitive and be a top-three team again.

“Central, Logan, us and Holmen are the four strongest teams. I've seen Central more than anyone, but they look like a pretty tough team, and Holmen has some good athletes. I'm hoping we can be in the top three and find a way to compete for a title.”

Roth also should be challenged by Zach Wilhelmy of Aquinas in the 800. Wilhelmy and Tomah's Derek Storkel likely will be Roth's top competition in the mile.

“I think Dan is the favorite in the half-mile, but it's pretty close,” Shepardson said. “He's running pretty well. He's the third-fastest guy in the conference in the mile and shouldn't do any worse than that.”

Shepardson also thinks the club's relays should score well, including the 4X100, 4X200 and 4X800 races. James Pauer finished in a tie for third overall and first among underclassmen at last year's league meet after clearing 12 feet in the pole vault. No one in the conference has cleared 12-6 this spring.

“He'll need to be clean through 11-6,” Shepardson said. “His best is still coming. 12 feet may be enough to win it.”

Matt Klos also is a possibility to score well in the discus. His top throw of 134 feet is 11 feet off the best throw in the league thus far this season, wtih competition likely to come from Weber and Adam Poellinger of Aquinas. Kyle Staff enters the meet as the best high jumper.

“Matt gets better and better every meet,” Shepardson said. “Overall, depth is a big thing. You have to be able to match other team's strengths and be deep in our own area. Our sprinters are coming in as our strong suit.

“Kyle has shown he is capable of doing well in the jumps and the sprints. We are still working on combinations for him to see what he might be doing at conference. His high jump and triple jump are very respectable, and we will see him in those events for sure.”

Tuesday's home triangular with Chippewa Falls and Sparta was rained out, meaning several of Onalaska's better competitors got their final tune-up for Tuesday at the April 29 Bangor Invitational. Top competitors included Brice Wizner with a time of 2 minutes, 4 seconds in the half-mile, Lehman and Jake Rick in the open 200, Pauer, who took third in the pole vault, Klos, who took third in the discus, and Roth, who ran 10:15 in the two-mile. Friday's Hanson Relays at Central also were rained out and will not be made up.