The Wayne State Wildcats travelled to Seward on Saturday, Jan. 21 for the Polar Dog Invite hosted by Concordia University. 

The Wildcats faced off against Concordia, College of Saint Mary, Concordia University Irvine, Doane University, Friends University, Hastings College, Kansas Wesleyan University and York College.  

“It’s a good meet for us,” Head Coach Marlon Brink said. “We got to see a few different teams we don’t see as part of our conference competition. We [saw] Concordia and Doane and they both have pretty large squads.” 

Senior thrower Brooklynn Chipps has practiced greatly and felt ready throw at the Polar Dog invite.  

“Throwing requires a lot of technique, I’ve been working on a couple of new things, so hopefully I can put it all together for some solid throws,” Chipps said. “I [felt] excited to get into the ring, compete and drop some bombs with my squad!”  

With a few upper classman throwers and a big group of underclassman throwers, this meet gave the younger throwers some experience.  

“For the most part, other than a couple upperclassman, we’re pretty young so getting some of those younger kids some experience at some of those meets [helps a ton],” Assistant Coach Carly Fehringer said. 

“Getting into the season, this will be our third meet for some kids. For some others, it’s only their second meet,” Brink said. “We’re trying to build some consistency and some momentum. Kids getting better marks each week and trying to be ready to peak at the end of the season which is really the most important [time] for track.” 

“We are trying to gain some momentum each week and be ready to go come late February. That is when it is really going to count,” Brink said. 

The Wildcats started off this 2023 year going to the University of South Dakota Opener in Vermillion, South Dakota.  

On the men’s side, Pierce sophomore Loan Moeller took first place in the long jump and triple jump. For the long jump he jumped 23’ 1 ¾” and for the triple jump he received top mark of 47’ 2 ½” a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) provisional qualifying mark. 

On the Wildcats women’s side, Chipps recorded an NCAA provision mark in the Weight Throw. She led WSC women’s track and field. Chipps placed fourth in the Weight Throw with a distance of 62’ 8 ¾”, a season best. Lindsey Stuckey got first in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:14.79.