DGN story vs. Glenbard West/Glenbard East

The beginning of another indoor track season certainly had an impact on Downers Grove North senior Rebecca Ridderhoff Feb. 9.

“The first meet’s always the hardest to go into but the best walking away because it gets you really pumped for the rest of the meets,” Ridderhoff said.

There was plenty to be excited about following the season-opening triangular at Glenbard West. The varsity’s 76 points easily won the meet over the host Hilltoppers (49 points) and Glenbard East (30). The sophomore-level’s 57 points was just behind Glenbard West’s 64 while Glenbard East had 25.

Ridderhoff contributed to three of the Trojans’ eight varsity event victories. She won the 50-meter hurdles (8.37 seconds) and ran the second leg on the 4-lap relay with sophomore Rachel Schuetz, senior Barbara Armstrong and junior Mary Rounce (1:29.18) and the third leg on the 1,600 relay with junior Meghan Bonfield, sophomore Zayna Jan and junior Stephanie Urbancik (4:23.0).

Ridderhoff gave the 1,600 relay the lead for good.

“That’s kind of my race," Ridderhoff said. "I haven’t even run a 400 at practice, yet, so that was my first actual 400 of the season so it felt good to run one."

Freshman Kaitlyn Bonfield, Meghan Bonfield and Rounce each had one individual victory and were part of a winning relay. Kaitlyn Bonfield won the 1,600 (5:46.90), Meghan Bonfield won the 800 (2:35.52) and Rounce won the 200 (28.90).

The 3,200 relay of Kaitlyn Bonfield, junior Micah Pfotenhauer, senior Kate Weyers and junior Sandra DiPauli prevailed in 10:59.3. Sophomore Jessica Ridderhoff, Rebecca’s sister, won long jump with a distance of 14 feet-11 1/2 inches.

The Trojans went 1-2-3 in the 800 with Meghan Bonfield, Zayna Jan (2:37.00) and Alana Osterling (2:47.52) and 1-2 in the 200 with Rounce and Schuetz (28.96).

Downers North was 2-3 in triple jump with Evangeline Tuohy (31-7 1/4) and Megan Sybeldon (30-11 1/2) and the 300 with Urbancik (45.75) and Armstrong (47.65).

Urbancik later finished third in the 400 (1:03.93). Also taking third were Grace Maletich (3,200 in 12:21.08), Lauren Dawson (50 hurdles in 9.33), Grace Roman (26-4 in shot put).

Rebecca Ridderhoff competed at the 2012 Class 3A state meet in the 400 and with a 1,600 relay lineup that also included Urbancik and Meghan Bonfield. Ridderhoff was The Trojans finished 15th (4:01.76) after a second-place 3:59.89 at the Downers North Sectional, and Ridderhoff was 27th in the 400 (59.45) with a time slightly slower than her 59.18 that was second to Urbancik at sectionals.

This season, Ridderhoff not only is a state veteran but among three team captains for the sprinters and jumpers.

“It’s just nice for me to be able to talk to the girls. I feel like I get to know them more and they’re more open to talk a little bit because I have that goal where I’m supposed to (as a captain),” Ridderhoff said. “I just want to be a good role model. I like being with the girls. There are a lot of friendly people on the team. It’s just nice to help kind of contribute and keep them together, like family.”

Even with her experience and added responsibilities, one thing didn’t change for Ridderhoff at the opening meet. She still gets the same emotions for every race.

“I’m always nervous,” Ridderhoff said. “At the middle or before race, people think, ‘Is there something wrong with you?’ but I’m always just nervous and then afterwards, I’m fine.”

Freshman Margaret Schaub and sophomores Erin Dunphy and Megan Scantlen were individual winners on the sophomore level.

Schaub captured the 400 (1:09.87), Dunphy won shot put (23-2) and Scantlen, a first-year track member, won long jump (13-11 1/2) and high jump (4-5) and was second in the triple jump (28-6 1/2).

Scantlen and Wendy Goes finished 1-2 in both high jump and long jump with Goes’ respective distances of 4-3 and 13-5.

Dunphy and Joyce Pozniak (22-9) went 1-2 in shot. Mercedes Gonzalez (4-1) made it a clean sweep of the top three places in high jump. Scantlen and Lily Kollker (27-8 3/4) finished 2-3 in triple jump.

Aysia James was second in the 200 (31.18) and third in the 50 hurdles (10.47). The 3,200 relay of Alyssa Blashill, Jenna Murphy, Fiona Kelly, Alexandra Hohnsen was second (11:19.4), and Shannon Kennedy (800 in 2:53.72), Olivia Vander Leest (3,200 in 14:34.46) and the 1,600 relay (Hannah Henry, Arianna Calleja, Kelly, Hohnsen in 4:48.34) also finished third.