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Mar. 24—BEMIDJI — Spectating the Craig Haugen relays at Bemidji State's Gillett Wellness Center, three Bemidji High School students approached boys track and field head coach Steve Sneide.
The students had been taking in the Lumberjacks' first meet of the season on Tuesday, but what they were watching got them inspired. They asked Sneide if there was still time to join the team.
"I was like, 'Yeah (of course),'" Sneide said. "So they came to watch and they want to be a part of this. It's kind of fun. We're building something that everybody wants to be a part of, which is cool to see."
Track has become one of the hottest sports to join at BHS in recent years. In 2025, the Lumberjacks recruited over 50 freshmen to join the track and field team. This year's class almost equaled that number, with around 48 freshmen joining.
No one could be happier about it than Sneide and girls head coach Brian Berntsen, who have worked hard to build a welcoming culture focused on personal improvement.
"We even tell these kids, you don't have to be the best track athlete on this team, but it's going to help you maybe become the best soccer player on the team, or the best football player, the best basketball player," Sneide said. "This will translate into your other sports."
With a large number of underclassmen, senior leadership is all the more important. Two important ones are Liv Thompson and Tanner Johnson.
Thompson has been pointed to as a leader for the girls team well before her senior year. Her welcoming personality and her experience at state —
including last year in the 1600-meter race
— make her an easy senior to look up to.
Johnson also has state experience for the boys squad and has been a good leader for the distance crew. But he's a valued person to look up to in the classroom as well, especially after he was the first BHS student to receive
the Triple 'A' Award over the winter,
which recognizes a student's excellence in academics, arts and athletics.
"They're very quality kids," Sneide said of Thompson and Johnson. "They work hard, and that's the thing. Nobody will outwork them.
"But not just that. They're very nice, kind kids who look out for the young kids, and that's how we build a program with those upperclassmen of just constantly helping the young kids, and we develop as a team then."
The Lumberjacks are in one of the toughest sections in the state — Section 8-3A. It features some heavy-hitters like St. Michael-Albertville, Moorhead and Buffalo, with Alexandria joining the fray this year.
Last year, eight out of nine 8-3A girls qualified for state in the 100-meter race based on their respective times alone. The 8-3A boys went 9-for-9.
Does the level of competition help elevate some of the Jacks?
"They kind of have to, subconsciously," Berntsen said. "But sometimes the problem is that they're so good, you have to get over that mental hurdle. So stop focusing on what they're doing and focus on what you are doing, and you get better for you."
Five Lumberjacks claimed first-place finishes in Tuesday's indoor meet.
Senior Taylen Schermerhorn set a personal best in the boys 60 meter with a time of 7.15. Sophomore William Ames took first in the 1600-meter race (4.54.18), while sophomore Blake DeWitt did the same in the 3200-meter (10:58.79). Deven Bentler finished right behind in second at 11:24.08.
Senior Jayden Bondy placed first in the long jump (20-07.25) and second in the triple jump (39-05.75), right behind fellow senior Rhys Sneide, who claimed first (39-07).
Sneide, along with Shermerhorn, Nelson and Noah Wilson, placed first in both the 1600 sprint medley (3:47.71) and the 4x200 relay (1:36.68).
Two other relay teams took first. Ames, Kyle Millar, Caleb Knott and Sean Ryan Aylesworth finished the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:48.72, while DeWitt, Mac Buchan, Kyle Millar and Zaden Graf completed the 4x800 relay in 9:13.34.
Sophomore Chloe Derby had the best girls finish on the track, finishing third in the 1600 (5:48.40). Kendel Barry also had a third-place finish in the high jump (4-08).
Top 10
1-Bemidji (131); 2-Grand Rapids (113); 3-Bagley/Fosston (67); 4-Pillager (64); 5-Crosby-Ironton (37); 6-Nevis (32); 7-Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale (30); 8-United North Central (24.5); 9-Frazee (21); 10-Clearbrook-Gonvick (14.5).
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The students had been taking in the Lumberjacks' first meet of the season on Tuesday, but what they were watching got them inspired. They asked Sneide if there was still time to join the team.
"I was like, 'Yeah (of course),'" Sneide said. "So they came to watch and they want to be a part of this. It's kind of fun. We're building something that everybody wants to be a part of, which is cool to see."
Track has become one of the hottest sports to join at BHS in recent years. In 2025, the Lumberjacks recruited over 50 freshmen to join the track and field team. This year's class almost equaled that number, with around 48 freshmen joining.
No one could be happier about it than Sneide and girls head coach Brian Berntsen, who have worked hard to build a welcoming culture focused on personal improvement.
"We even tell these kids, you don't have to be the best track athlete on this team, but it's going to help you maybe become the best soccer player on the team, or the best football player, the best basketball player," Sneide said. "This will translate into your other sports."
With a large number of underclassmen, senior leadership is all the more important. Two important ones are Liv Thompson and Tanner Johnson.
Thompson has been pointed to as a leader for the girls team well before her senior year. Her welcoming personality and her experience at state —
including last year in the 1600-meter race
— make her an easy senior to look up to.
Johnson also has state experience for the boys squad and has been a good leader for the distance crew. But he's a valued person to look up to in the classroom as well, especially after he was the first BHS student to receive
the Triple 'A' Award over the winter,
which recognizes a student's excellence in academics, arts and athletics.
"They're very quality kids," Sneide said of Thompson and Johnson. "They work hard, and that's the thing. Nobody will outwork them.
"But not just that. They're very nice, kind kids who look out for the young kids, and that's how we build a program with those upperclassmen of just constantly helping the young kids, and we develop as a team then."
The Lumberjacks are in one of the toughest sections in the state — Section 8-3A. It features some heavy-hitters like St. Michael-Albertville, Moorhead and Buffalo, with Alexandria joining the fray this year.
Last year, eight out of nine 8-3A girls qualified for state in the 100-meter race based on their respective times alone. The 8-3A boys went 9-for-9.
Does the level of competition help elevate some of the Jacks?
"They kind of have to, subconsciously," Berntsen said. "But sometimes the problem is that they're so good, you have to get over that mental hurdle. So stop focusing on what they're doing and focus on what you are doing, and you get better for you."
Five Lumberjacks claimed first-place finishes in Tuesday's indoor meet.
Senior Taylen Schermerhorn set a personal best in the boys 60 meter with a time of 7.15. Sophomore William Ames took first in the 1600-meter race (4.54.18), while sophomore Blake DeWitt did the same in the 3200-meter (10:58.79). Deven Bentler finished right behind in second at 11:24.08.
Senior Jayden Bondy placed first in the long jump (20-07.25) and second in the triple jump (39-05.75), right behind fellow senior Rhys Sneide, who claimed first (39-07).
Sneide, along with Shermerhorn, Nelson and Noah Wilson, placed first in both the 1600 sprint medley (3:47.71) and the 4x200 relay (1:36.68).
Two other relay teams took first. Ames, Kyle Millar, Caleb Knott and Sean Ryan Aylesworth finished the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:48.72, while DeWitt, Mac Buchan, Kyle Millar and Zaden Graf completed the 4x800 relay in 9:13.34.
Sophomore Chloe Derby had the best girls finish on the track, finishing third in the 1600 (5:48.40). Kendel Barry also had a third-place finish in the high jump (4-08).
Top 10
1-Bemidji (131); 2-Grand Rapids (113); 3-Bagley/Fosston (67); 4-Pillager (64); 5-Crosby-Ironton (37); 6-Nevis (32); 7-Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale (30); 8-United North Central (24.5); 9-Frazee (21); 10-Clearbrook-Gonvick (14.5).
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