(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) RSM coach Steve Erdmann encourages junior Drew Theisen as he prepares to hand the baton to the next runner in the 4x100. In addition to this race at the WEC indoor, Theisen also tied for third place in the high jump with a jump of 5-6 at Dordt on Monday night. [Click to enlarge]

With no team scores kept, it was hard to tell who came away winners from Monday's season-opening War Eagle Conference Indoor at Dordt College.

One common theme surfaced for area boys teams from Akron-Westfield, Hinton and Remsen St. Mary's, however. Youth.

"We're pretty young," Hinton coach Steve Diediker said. "We've only got two seniors and one of those is a discus thrower, so this meet didn't do much for him. But we have a bunch of good sophomores, freshmen and juniors."

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) A-W's Kyle Groon cleared 6-foot-2 in the high jump to take first place at Monday night's War Eagle Conference indoor meet at Dordt College. Second place went to RSM's Louis Pick, with a jump of 6-0. [Click to enlarge]

Evaluating those underclassmen was the primary focus for coaches like Diediker. Remsen St. Mary's coach Steve Erdmann also has just three seniors on his squad and Monday was a first look at what the Hawks have to work with over the next two months.

"We are a thinner group this year in terms of experience. We're going to work with what we have, establish that we're going to take the season in thirds," Erdmann said. "The first third is so sort out what we have in terms of running and field events, try to place people where they can benefit the team the most."

While not many top finishes came about for area teams, the meet did provide a glimpse of what should be a season-long battle to watch between high-jumpers Louis Pick of RSM and Kyle Groon of A-W.

(Sentinel photo by Roy Tucker) Hinton junior Eric Held paces himself through the 1600 at the WEC indoor meet Monday night. [Click to enlarge]

Both state qualifiers in the event a year ago, Groon cleared 6-foot-2 for first Monday and Pick was second at 6-0.

"I talked to Louis earlier on and even talked with Kyle a bit after it was over. Kyle's going to be right there along side Louis at all these meets we're at together," Erdmann said. "It's healthy competition and something that can be embraced."

Pick nearly caught Groon Monday, but just missed at 6-2 on his second attempt.

"Louis had a great jump on his second try at 6-2," Erdmann said. "His calf just clipped it a little bit. But he's further ahead then what he was last year at this time."

Pick cleared a career-best 6-4 at the state meet last season to place sixth, while Groon only managed 6-0 for a disappointing 17th after finishing ninth as a sophomore.

The Hawks' only other place in the top six was also in the high jump as junior Drew Theisen tied for third (5-6).

Kent Johnson's A-W team had the most productive outing of the three area schools, placing eight events in the top six.

Groon's high jump was the Westerners' only win, but junior Joe Sievert provided a pair of runner-up finishes in the hurdle events. Sievert clocked in 8.9 seconds for second in the 55 highs and 28.64 in the 200 lows.

Braxton Bursell added a second-place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.7 and was also the anchor for A-W's second-place 4x400. Bursell, Anthony Miller, Groon and Chris Carlson clocked in 3:52.28.

Carlson tacked on a third-place run in the 200 lows (28.79) and a fifth-place showing in the 55 highs (9.47), while Miller was fifth in the high jump (5-6).

"It was nice to get that little competition early in the year," Johnson said. "I was impressed with our 4x400 and I think we can run faster.

"We had some nice runners in the hurdles events, too. It will be good to get another chance to run and spread the kids out. I'm anxious to see them in another meet."

Johnson will have to wait awhile for that opportunity as the Westerners' next meet will not be until April 7th in Marcus.

Erdmann and Diediker have less time to wait. Both RSM and Hinton will run at the Dan Lennon Invite next Tuesday in Vermillion.

The Blackhawks had only two events in the top six Monday at Dordt, including the 4x400 team of Aaron Book, Ryan Wenzel, Tim Youtzy and Kyle Huggenberger in fourth (4:05.3). Huggenberger was also fifth in the 200-meter dash (25.3).

"Tonight was good for our guys because we got a lot of opportunities to compete," Diediker said. "It was a good night all-around and we get another chance to face some good competition next Tuesday."

Gehlen Catholic results for the WEC Indoor were not available at deadline.