GRAFTON, N.D. -- Grafton is one of the largest schools in North Dakota Region 2 high school track. But when Wade Berg was a freshman, the Spoilers managed only five points in the 2006 boys region meet.
"It was embarrassing," said Berg, now a senior. "Most people would want to quit. You felt like a real loser.
"But the kids in my grade, and the one below it, stuck it out."
Perseverance paid off. Grafton won the boys region team title here Saturday. The Spoilers ran away with the title, scoring 167 points to 107 by runner-up and defending champion Griggs County Central, with Mayville-Portland-Clifford-Galesburg third at 103.
Griggs County Central's girls extended their domination in the region, taking the title with 164 points followed by Park River Area (123) and Grafton (103).
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The climb to the top has been steady for Grafton's boys program. After the five-point performance in 2006, the team had 29 in 2007 and 81 points in the regional last season, when the Spoilers finished third. But Saturday's point total was just two fewer than the combined number of points the Spoilers have scored in the regional over the past five seasons.
"We knew we'd get better," Berg said. "But to get first place -- we never thought that would happen. But sticking with it, and the hard work, paid off."
Berg won the 800. But the star of the meet was Grafton junior Reilly Mathiason, who won the 100, 200 and 400. Grafton also won the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
The big thing is we got the kids out when they were younger and kept them out,'' Spoilers coach Mike Dietz said. "And we can cover every event.
"We told the kids at the beginning of the year that we could win this. We knew we had some great athletes back in Reilly and Wade. And we have a lot of average athletes who have worked hard and gotten better. Every point counts. And a kid like Reilly is a difference maker.''
Grafton's athletic programs have had success. In recent years, Spoiler teams have won region baseball, golf and boys basketball titles, with the basketball as well as the Grafton-Park River hockey co-op winning state titles in the 2007-08 season. "There's a competition factor,'' Berg said. "We didn't want to get outdone by other teams in our school.''
Thompson's Adam Monson (1,600 and 3,200) also was a multiple individual winner. Mayville-Portland-C-G's John Clancy, who won the high jump, was named the region's male senior athlete of the year.
Griggs County Central maintained its dominance in the region girls division. The Cougars won the region for the seventh consecutive season.
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The Cougars had a double-winner in Beth Jochim (200 and triple jump), and also got wins from Carissa Nelson in the long jump, Kali Hook in the shot put and the 4x400 relay.
The Cougars finished 1-2-3 in the shot put and had the 2-through-6 places in the discus.
"Our throwers and jumpers really came through,'' Griggs County Central coach Nancy Paintner said. "It's a typical group for us; I don't know that we have a dominant thrower, but we have good balance.''
Thompson's Brooke Shimek (800 and 1,600) joined Jochim as an individual double winner. Grafton's Nicole Woinarowicz, who won the 3,200, was named region senior athlete of the year.
