Saint Alphonsus Seventh Grader Declan Ritzenthaler Takes First in IESA Pole Vaulting Competition

Saint Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School sent three students to the IESA State Track and Field meet on Friday, May 10, at Eastside Centre in East Peoria. More than 2,400 middle school athletes attended.

Declan Ritzenthaler competed in the pole vault and became the seventh grade boys 2013 State Champion with a vault of 9'9". The second place finisher vaulted 8'3".

Jessica Talken competed in the pole vault at the seventh grade girls level and, with a vault of 6'9", finished in 7th place out of 23 athletes.

Emma Strozewski competed in the shot put at the seventh grade girls level and finished in 28th place out of 39 athletes.

“I always say its quality versus quantity,” says Saint Alphonsus Athletic Director and Track and Field Coach Darrel Talken. “Even though only three of our athletes qualified for the state competition, they all performed very well and made our school very proud.”

For over 50 years St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic School has celebrated its Catholic values with a strong math, science and technology curriculum. For more information, call 847-255-5538 or visit http://www.saintalphonsusschool.com.

###

ABOUT SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI PARISH SCHOOL

St. Alphonsus Liguori is a Catholic elementary school educating students from preschool through eighth grade. Faculty and staff are committed to developing each student as a whole by providing an outstanding Catholic education designed to promote religious, spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development. Saint Alphonsus is a proud recipient of the U.S. Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award.