BURLINGTON, Vt. – Green Mountain Union High School seniors Ian Bernier, Sophia Cherubini, and Wyatt Koch were some of the standouts at the Vermont High School Decathlon State Championship on June 17 and 18, at Burlington High School.
Bernier was the top finisher locally, placing fifth out of 75 competitors for the boys. The senior’s versatility was on full display throughout the two-day event, as he earned top-20 finishes in nine out of the 10 events. Bernier’s best event was pole vault, where he took the top spot by clearing 11 feet, 11.75 inches.
Cherubini was the top local finisher on the girls’ side, placing 16th out of 82 athletes. Cherubini finished in the top 10 in four events, including pole vault (6th), javelin (9th), shot put (9th), and high jump (10th).
Koch placed 22nd overall for the boys, but the senior really made his mark in the throwing events, with victories in shot put and discus, and a runner-up finish in javelin.
Bellows Falls also competed, with freshmen boys Colton Shanks and Brady Benoit placing 30th and 46th, respectively. Shanks’ top finishes were in long jump (9th) and the 100-meter dash (11th), and Benoit placed 13th in pole vault.
Green Mountain’s Kord Hinkley (11th in javelin, 54th overall), Isaiah Bonneville (18th in long jump, 57th overall), Mackenzie Koch (36th in discus, 52nd overall), and Sarah Birmingham (45th in discus) also had strong finishes for the Grizzlies.