Redbirds soar to state title

LA CROSSE – For the first time in school history, the De Pere Redbirds are Division 1 boys state track and field champions — and they didn’t just win. They soared.

Led by historic performances from Grady Lenn, Andrew Cartier and Connor Fontaine, De Pere clinched the WIAA state championship trophy, lifting the golden runner for the first time ever. The Redbirds scored 46 points, edging out Homestead by one and finishing just two points ahead of perennial powerhouse Arrowhead.

Lenn’s double-record performance in the 1,600 and 3,200 didn’t just bring him individual glory, it served as the backbone of De Pere’s title run. He contributed 20 points across two races, winning both with a mix of tactical patience and record-breaking speed.

His 4:01.79 in the 1,600-meter run demolished a 27-year-old WIAA all-time record by more than three seconds. A day later, he returned to the track and delivered again — 8:52.79 in the 3,200, outkicking longtime rival and future UW–Madison teammate Manny Putz, and breaking a record set just three years ago.

“It’s a big deal [winning the championship]. It’s awesome for the school,” Lenn said. “Obviously, I come here to do my job and compete my best. If my teammates can do the same, it’s a nice little cherry on top.”

Lenn's emotional finish in the 1,600, with tears in his eyes as he crossed the line, set the tone for what would become a historic team push. By the end of the meet, his trademark modesty was replaced by a rare flash of swagger. After his second win, he pointed to the stands and shouted, “That’s two now!” — fully aware of the role he played in something much bigger than himself.

In the field events, Andrew Cartier delivered in dramatic fashion. The senior, who has battled plantar fasciitis for the last two years, won the Division 1 triple jump on his very first attempt, leaping 47 feet, 5.5 inches.

Cartier grimaced after nearly every jump, unsure whether he’d even be able to compete at all during the week leading up to the state meet. But his early mark held through all six rounds — a gut-check victory that added 10 crucial points to De Pere’s total.

“I didn’t even know if I was going to jump this weekend. It was a blessing to jump today,” Cartier said. “I was icing my foot even last night. I could barely walk on it.”

Asked why he kept jumping after his winning mark, he didn’t hesitate:

“It’s my last high school meet. I don’t want to regret anything.”

Senior thrower Connor Fontaine was a force in both the shot put and discus, finishing as the state runner-up in both events. 

Fontaine’s 60-foot, 10-inch throw in the shot put was a lifetime best by over 2 feet and secured his spot on the podium in a loaded field. He returned in the discus and uncorked a 193-foot toss — one of the longest in WIAA history that didn’t win a title, but still good for another runner-up finish.

“It could have gone a lot better, you just had to stay locked in, not look at the past, stay in the present.” said Fontaine commenting on his discus attempt.

Few athletes in state history have medaled in both events in the same year, let alone with such huge throws. Both distances were monumental to the Redbirds team victory.

“It feels great. We haven’t ever won one in our school’s history. It’s a first,” Fontaine said. 

De Pere’s path to the top of the podium didn’t happen overnight. The Redbirds have been building toward this moment for years, investing in their program, developing talent across event groups and creating a culture that balances intensity with trust.

From the long-distance grit of Lenn, to Cartier’s explosive jumps, to Fontaine’s dominance in the ring, the Redbirds showed what’s possible when every point matters and every athlete shows up.

When the final scores were tallied, and the margin of victory was revealed to be a single point, the De Pere athletes huddled on the turf, arms around each other, smiles beaming and tears falling.

For the first time, they weren’t just part of the meet — they were part of state history.