De Pere’s Matzke a model of consistency

Neve settle for less than your best.

That’s the advice Grace Matzke has received from her parents from the time she began competing in track and field.

The De Pere senior has used those words to establish herself as the best girls sprinter in the Green Bay area.

“She’s a gamer,” De Pere track and field coach James Boyd.

Matzke completed the triple crown May 15 at the Fox River Classic Conference meet by claiming titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs.

Not only did she become a four-time champion in the 400 and capture her third straight titles in the 100 and 200, but she did so by setting personal records in all three events.

“Each year, over and over again, I would get nervous that I’m not going to do what I could do the last year, but I think this year I really upped my training,” Matzke said. “I feel like I’ve just gotten a little bit better and better.”

Matzke once again finds herself as the leader in the Green Bay area for the 100 (12.38 seconds), 200 (25.45) and 400 (57.63).

Track & Field Honor Roll: May 20

However, she is seeking a return to the WIAA Division 1 state podium, which is something she hasn’t experienced since her freshman season when she placed fourth in the 400 and served on the anchor leg on De Pere’s 1,600 relay that placed sixth in 2015.

Matzke has qualified for the 400 the past two years, but hasn’t been able to place. She also qualified in the 1,600 relay as a sophomore and in the 100 last year.

The De Pere senior is hoping to qualify for state in the 100, 200 and 400 in her final season.

She has the fastest times among anyone in her sectional and ranks in the top 12 for each event on the state honor roll, according to Wisconsin Track Online.

“If I can run a better time, I think that will carry me from there,” Matzke said about the prospect of placing at state.

Regardless of how her final season ends, Matzke has accomplished a lot through the sport.

She overcame scoliosis just to compete in it in middle school.

Although she is a fierce competitor between the lanes, Matzke is one of the nicest people you’ll meet on or off the track.

“I like to talk before races,” Matzke said. “I like to chat before races. … I’ve just gotten to know those girls so well over the years and that’s something I’ll really take away from the sport are the people that I’ve met.”

Matzke had been aiming to become a four-time FRCC champion in the 400 ever since she saw Bay Port’s Jenna Long become a four-time FRCC champion in the 100 in 2015.

“I trained with her in the winter, so I definitely was looking up to her winning all four (years),” Matzke said.

Matzke said she has worked hard to be the same, positive role model that Long was to her and show other girls they can be consistently successful in the sprints.

For Matzke, her senior season will serve as her last run in the sport. She’ll attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and doesn’t plan to compete in track and field.

“I love track, and it has been great, but I’m just trading it in for something I know I will love, too,” Matzke said.

Whatever career she pursues, Matzke will strive to be the best she can at it. That’s the only pace she knows.

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