Brillion's Schmidt, Reedsville's O'Connell qualify for state

May 30, 2025

By David Nordby

The Brillion News

MARINETTE – Logan Schmidt is headed to state.

The Brillion senior qualified for next weekend’s state track and field competition in La Crosse with a fourth-place finish of 52-03.5 in the shot put in the Division 2 sectional on Friday at Marinette.

The top four in the event were Christian Pyles (Two Rivers, 59-00), Richie Flanigan (Green Bay Notre Dame, 54-03), James Flanigan (Green Bay Notre Dame, 52-06.5) and Schmidt. Schmidt was ahead of Howard Roloff (New London, 50-08), who was in fifth, for the final spot for state.

“It means the world to me (to qualify),” Schmidt said.

Schmidt has been working since seventh grade in the shot put and discus events. He had been close to reaching state before; he reached regionals as a freshman and sectionals as a sophomore.

“This year, I’ve been coming out strong at the end of the year and want to keep going strong. Just want to do my best at state, just to show who I am, prove to myself that I’ve put in the work and I can see the results,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt, who will be a part of the UW-River Falls track team next year, set a new personal record with a 53-06.25 throw in Tuesday’s regional at Chilton, which earned him his spot in Friday’s sectional. His final of 52-03.5 was the second highest of his career.

O’Connell qualifies in 3200

Reedsville junior Allena O’Connell qualified for state with a third-place finish in the 3200-meter run in 11:45.54 at the Division 3 sectional at Marathon.

O’Connell’s time set a new personal record.

This is the first time O’Connell has made it to La Crosse but not the first time she’s reached a state competition. Last fall, she competed in the state cross country meet in Wisconsin Rapids.

Complete coverage of the sectional track and field competition will be featured in the June 6, 2025, edition of The Brillion News.