Arcadia’s Teske, Lyga finish careers on state podium

In the most literal sense, Arcadia senior Ted Teske saved his best for last.

With the final attempt that Teske would ever take in the long jump as a Raider, he let loose the best leap of his entire career — hitting 22 feet, 10.75 inches to set a new school record in the event and punctuate a second consecutive year where he reached the state podium.

Teske’s grand finale came last Friday at the 2025 WIAA State Track & Field Championships at the Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex in La Crosse, where he took part of the field for the Division 2 boys’ long jump.

Teske, who placed sixth in the same event at state as a junior, came into the day with a career best of 21 feet, 9 inches. He surpassed 22 feet with five of his six jumps on Friday.

By the time his final attempt rolled around, Teske had already hit 22 feet 6.75 inches. That was good enough to already lock up third place, but a little short of the existing school record of 22 feet, 7.5 inches set by Isaac Vazquez in 2009.

Teske’s very last jump left everything he had out there.

“I knew it was going to be close,” Teske said when asked if his final jump felt like it was good enough to break the school record. “I didn’t know for sure, but it felt really good. And when I saw that tape, I was excited for sure.”

It proved to be the storybook ending to Teske’s high school athletic career that now leaves him as the new standard that future Arcadia long jumpers will be gunning for.

“I came in knowing this was going to be my last high school track meet. So, there’s no reason to leave anything out there,” Teske said. “Everybody tells you to leave it all out on the field. I feel like that’s what I did today.”

On Saturday, fellow Arcadia senior Trey Lyga wrapped up his Raider career with a poetic ending of his own that finally landed him on the podium at state.

For a third straight year, Lyga competed in La Crosse in D2 boys’ discus throw. In 2023, he placed eighth in the field with a top throw of 147 feet, 4 inches. In 2024, he improved that mark by nearly 15 feet with a toss of 162 feet, 1 inch, but still wound up two spots short of the podium again in eighth place.

Through three throws in Saturday’s competition, Lyga sat in sixth with a top toss of 160 feet, 6 inches, but knowing he would likely need better to secure a podium spot (La Crosse Logan senior Jacob Hackbarth ended up in sixth at 164 feet, 10 inches.)

In his first of three throws in the final round between the top 10 remaining competitors, Lyga unleashed a throw of 171 feet, 2 inches that eclipsed the 170-foot mark he felt would lock up a podium spot.

Though he didn’t quite hit his personal best (and school record) of 173 feet, 9 inches, Lyga’s fourth throw proved good enough to earn him fourth place and a long-awaited state medal to cap off his career.

“Just looking around, it’s kind of emotional but at the same time it’s the best way to go out,” Lyga said of his final track meet as a Raider. “I’d much rather have it here than anywhere else.”

Green Bay Notre Dame senior James Flanigan, son of former 10-year NFL veteran Jim Flanigan, won the D2 discus throw with a mark of 188 feet, 5 inches. Flanigan, a standout tight end as well for the Tritons, is committed to play football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college.

Prairie du Chien senior Blake Thiry won the D2 boys’ long jump with a top leap of 23 feet, 6.75 inches. Thiry also won both the triple jump and 110-meter hurdles while taking second in the 300-meter hurdles. Thiry is committed to play football at Indiana University. 

In her state debut, Arcadia junior Jaylie Dahl missed out on advancing from the D2 girls 200-meter dash prelims by a mere three hundredths of a second.

Dahl placed 12th overall in Friday’s prelims with a time of 25.84 seconds, just barely behind Seymour junior Maya Vande Kolk (25.81) in 10th and Mosinee senior Britt Fitzgerald (25.83) in 11th. The top 10 sprinters from Friday’s two heats advanced to Saturday’s finals, which was won by Catholic Memorial senior Analena Peterson and her time of 24.19 seconds.

“I hope she had some fun and I hope it gives her some confidence coming into next year,” said Arcadia co-head coach Mike Hennig. “It was tough with her not having a postseason last year after injuring her hamstring. Our goal was to get her to state healthy, get the experience for her. It was a very tough break, missed out on the 100 qualifying for state by .01. Missed out on the finals in the 200 by .03. She’s just somebody who battles and battles. I’m very proud of her with the maturity she’s show in the last year and a half.”