Wisconsin –Jake Wallenfang looked like a duck on water at the WIAA state track and field meet this year. On the surface, the Green Bay Preble senior appeared cool, calm and collected sitting in a camouflaged lawn chair with black sunglasses while waiting to compete in the pole vault on June 1. But deep down, Wallenfang couldn’t hide the nerves that were making knots of his stomach before getting the opportunity to take flight down the runway and break the state record by clearing 16 feet. “It was nerve-racking and my heart was definitely pounding,” Wallenfang said. “I’ve learned over four years how to calm myself down because you can’t pole vault when you’re tense. I stand on the runway, take my deep breathes and just go have fun.” Wallenfang stood on the state podium four times, earning top-three finishes in all of his events to become the first four-event medalist at the meet in Preble history. For his efforts, Wallenfang is the 2013 Press-Gazette Media boys track and field athlete
of the year. “He’s just a cool customer, nothing really fazes him,” Preble coach Nick Marcelle said. “He’s just focused all the time, and he’s going to get the job done.” more at Green Bay Press Gazette
