Duneland Dots and Dashes: Colby Bullock wins sectional title




Colby Bullock

Colby Bullock

Colby Bullock’s strong senior season on the track keeps getting stronger.

In becoming a sectional champion in the 100 meters, Bullock ran a personal-best 10.95 to become Chesterton’s lone individual sectional champion in the meet at Portage.

Bullock finished eighth as a junior at the sectional with a time of 11.38 and did so with a back injury that ultimately prevented him from playing football.

“That was when the back issue kind of started,” Bullock said. “It was kind of built up over track and I didn’t realize how serious it was. This year, I’m not really feeling it as much. It’s still there a little bit but it’s tolerable for sure.”

Bullock was every bit as happy about the performance of teammate Will Osafa as about his own.

“It’s nice to see,” Bullock said. “I’m a big fan.”

Out since straining a hamstring in the final indoor meet, Osafa made his outdoor debut at the sectional meet and placed fourth with a time of 11.07, which qualified him for regionals.

Will Osafa

Will Osafa

“It felt good,” Osafo said. “I’m just taking it day by day, getting stronger. I have a lot of faith in my (athletic) trainer, Mr. (Bernie) Stento. Every day I’m in the training room with him working on it, seeing it how it feels. Lot of exercises, lot of stretching.”

And a lot of backing.

“I have a lot of support from teammates, family members. Not getting to run a single meet, knowing I could score points and help my team, that made it kind of stressful.” Osafo’s return gives coach Bryan Nallenweg the option of putting him in the 4×100 relay for regionals.

In addition to Bullock, the Trojans’ 4×800 relay team of Jackson Tuck, Josh Tuck, Bobby Berger and Reece Erow won a sectional title with a season-best time of 8:16.54.

Chesterton took second place in the meet, scoring 124 points, finishing behind only LaPorte (157 points).

The top three finishers in each event automatically qualify for regionals, as do the next four best marks in each event from all the sectionals that feed that regional.

Second-place finishers for Chesterton: Aaron Resto (400 meters, 52.71), Byron Chandler (110 hurdles, 16.51), 4×100 relay (Carson Ochs, Joe Chico, Bullock, Isaiah Wilson), Chad Berdine (pole vault).

Third-place finishers: Kieran Barnewall (100 hurdles, 16.97), Braden Vanderwoude (300 hurdles, 42.93), Brant Westphal (high jump, 5-10) and Owen Edlen (shot put, 45- 2).

Automatic qualifiers Barnewall, Edlen and Resto are freshmen.

Crown Point sweeps Trojans in baseball

Crown Point ran Chesterton’s DAC losing streak to seven games by winning 5-4 in 8 innings at Crown Point and 6-1 at Chesterton.

In the opener, the Trojans took a 4-0 lead into the fifth inning but was betrayed by its defense late and surrendered three runs in the bottom of the seventh and one run in the eighth.

Just one of the four runs Ryan Donley allowed was earned and he also drove in two runs with a double in the first inning. Chesterton finished the DAC portion of its schedule with a 5-9 record. Heading into the weekend, four Trojans were hitting above .300: Ryan Donley .431, Sean Kasper .310, Trevor Donley .305, Greg Guernsey .302.

So so week for golf

Shooting under par as a team is rare in a high school golf match, but Valparaiso accomplished the feat at Forest Park, its home course, playing against Chesterton and Lake Central. The Vikings shot a 2-under 142 on May 17. Aidan Gutierrez shot a 2-under 34 and the other three scorers, Rob Politza, Colin Danzi and Liam Utesch, shot even par. Chesterton shot 164, Lake Central 177.

The Trojans shot a season-low 152 at Michigan City Municipal, led by Owen Pilarski’s 1-under par 35 to defeat Merrillville and Michigan City.

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