Above: CCAC Most Valuable Athlete Ben Wilson helps win the 4×400 meter relay for his team. Photo courtesy of Gavin Stalzer.

With the school year coming to a close, that doesn’t mean that classes are the only things stopping. Clubs, internships, and sports also come to an end. That was the case this past weekend for the St. Ambrose Track and Field squad. The team made the trip out to Joliet, Illinois, on Friday to compete in the CCAC Track and Field Conference Championship. Facing off against familiar foes such as St. Francis and Olivet Nazarene, the Fighting Bee’s looked to secure their first conference victory since the 2022 Outdoor Season.

“The conference meet is so important to us because of what it represents. I want to be a part of a team that wins it all, and get to see all the hard work my teammates and I put in pay off, says junior pole vaulter Joshua Mottet.

For the past few years, Mottet has taken first place in pole vault time and time again. He constantly puts in the hard work and sees it pay off for him year after year, yet he says he feels there is more that can be accomplished. Bringing home an overall conference championship with his teammates would make victory even more sweeter. 

The Meet

The meet began and the Bees took off, securing an early lead. On the men’s side, junior Brandt Williams secured 10 points for his team by taking 1st place in the javelin throw. He threw 58.78 meters, which not only secured him gold, but also grabbed him the school record and a Nationals qualifying B standard mark. On the girls side, Kaitlyn Knoche also set a school record, as well as a conference record in the 3000m steeplechase which she won. Head Track and Field Coach Tyler Mulder summed it up by saying, 

“I’m overall happy for both teams; we saw lots of personal records across the board for all events. We got a school record with Brandt in the men’s javelin throw and national qualifier. Joe Reinhart set the conference record and hit the national standard in the hammer throw. We were in the team title hunt for most of the meet!”

Silver Runnings

Though they fought valiantly, the Fighting Bees were not able to secure their conference victories. The men would go on to take second, while the girls would end up finishing in fourth. This past weekend had highs and lows for the Bee’s and much to learn from. 

“I ended up getting second place this year, and honestly I’m disappointed with how I did. I feel I could have done better, and I know exactly what I have to change and work on for next season.” says Joshua Mottet.

Coach Mulder says he also felt his team did very well, but could learn many things and carry them with them into next season.

“We did a good job of maximizing our team’s scoring potential, now it’s just about getting the younger crew to make finals so we can be more well rounded across the board. It’ll take a total team effort to win a conference championship, says Mulder.

The Final Victory

Though not an overall victory, there were also many successes for this team. For example, a senior leader in the form of Ben Wilson, was nominated the Most Valuable Athlete (MVP) for the CCAC championship.

“It means alot to me. This is a goal I’ve had since I stepped on campus. My old teammates and close friends, Will and Jack Reemstma, had both won the award in previous years, so I really pushed myself to be the best athlete I could be. I couldn’t have done it without the training and support of my coaches and teammates that trusted in me and believed I could do it.”

Wilson had three all conference performances this past weekend, including taking first place in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 54.34 seconds. Wilson then went on to take second place in the 110 meter hurdles, and a third place time in the open 400 meter dash. Wilson finished out his day taking first place in the 4×400 meter relay alongside his teammates Charles Huesmann, Dylan Grandon, and Alex Fuller. 

Though Ben is moving on from St. Ambrose, his love for his team and school will always remain.

“I would tell an incoming freshman that you have to be able to ride the highs and learn from the lows. This sport gives you both enjoyment and stress from many different aspects. You just need to trust the coaches, training, and yourself to become the best athlete you can be.”

The bees finished the season strong, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to next year, and working toward the next conference championship.