West De Pere’s Evans brothers aim to reach state podium together
Jermaine and Tejay Evans are going to enjoy one more go around together in La Crosse.
The brothers both qualified for the WIAA state track and field meet for a second straight season.
After making it in open runs last year, the West De Pere standouts will also get to do so as members of the 1,600-meter relay.
Tejay, a sophomore, is the lead leg, while, Jermaine, a senior, serves as the anchor leg for the relay, which broke a school record at sectionals with a time of 3 minutes, 24.17 seconds and is seeded fourth in Division 1.
Finishing next to each other on the state podium would be the perfect way for the brothers to conclude their last race as teammates.
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“We came a long way,” Jermaine said.
The Evans brothers grew up in Jamaica before being adopted and moving to Wisconsin when Tejay was 9 years old and Jermaine was 11.
“They were split up. They hadn’t seen each other since they were 2 and 4,” said their mom, Cindy Peterson. “It was a really cool experience to get them back together.
“They’re really super, awesome kids. They’re definitely brothers. They fight like brothers and pick on each other, but they help each other like brothers, which is really cool.”
Tejay and Jermaine helped West De Pere win a fifth straight Bay Conference title by sweeping the open runs.
Tejay won the 100, 200 and 400. Meanwhile, Jermaine repeated as the conference champion in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
They combined to win five of the events at the Bay Conference meet last season, which ended with Tejay advancing to state in the 200 and Jermaine in the 800 and 1,600.
This year, the brothers are hoping to bring home some medals from state.
Tejay is seeded sixth in the 200 with a time of 22.02 seconds, which ranks first in the Green Bay area this season.
In addition to the 1,600 relay, the sophomore sprinter also serves as the lead leg for the 400 relay, which is seeded sixth and advanced to state with a school-record time of 42.90 seconds to lead the Green Bay area.
Jermaine qualified for state for a second straight year in the 800.
His qualifying time of 1 minute, 57.23 seconds is seeded second for state and leads the Green Bay area. The senior will compete at University of Wisconsin-Parkside next year.
“He has been a really good brother to me,” Tejay said. “He cheers me on, and I cheer him on. I’m going to miss him when he goes off to (college).”
The West De Pere boys team has qualifiers in six events. Junior Jacob Carriveau advanced in the high jump, while sophomore Davian Willems made it in the 100.
The 1,600 relay qualifying for state was special because it also features seniors Spencer Borley and Devon Hermes.
“I said, ‘Tejay, we have to go out and do everything in our power to get these guys to state,’” Jermaine said about fellow seniors.
“I knew it was coming because of the work we were putting in practice. Teammates, coaches, everything was all together.”
The Evans brothers want to make their final race together as teammates a memorable one.
“Hopefully, we make it on the podium,” Tejay said. “That’s my goal for this year.”
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