Stratford’s Kowlok Repeats As State Champion In Pole Vault
Lukas Kowlok headlined by repeating as the state champion in the pole vault soaring over the bar at 4.85 meters.
By Rob Gantt
Special to the HSSR
GOOSE CREEK - Stratford High School's track and field teams capped the spring on the grandest stage Thursday, May 14, in the Class 5A Div. I state championship meet at Spring Valley High School.
Lukas Kowlok headlined those performances by repeating as the state champion in the pole vault. Kowlok soared over the bar at 4.85 meters. The senior edged Cane Bay’s Mayson Samuel by 1.5 meters.
The next best showing for a Stratford athlete came from sprinter Patience Grant. Grant finished second in the girls’ 400-meter dash, crossing the line in 53.50 seconds and .18 seconds behind the winner.. She added a seventh-place finish in the 200-meter dash. Also making the awards podium - top 8 - for the Knights was Matthew Peterson in the boys’ triple jump, finishing seventh. The boys’ 4x400-meter relay added a seventh-place finish.
Baseball
The Stratford baseball team capped the season with a 19-10 record after going 1-2 in the district tournament. The Knights defeated Summerville, 5-1, on a grand slam by designated hitter Lucas Kline in the bottom of the seventh May 9, then fell to James Island and Fort Dorchester May 11 and May 13.
In the Fort D game, first baseman Micah Adams and outfielder Jarrett Wagner finished 2-for-3 at the plate and scored all three runs. Wagner, who is headed to The Citadel, also starred on the bump in the start against Summerville. He hurled a complete game with eight strikeouts. He surrendered just one hit.
Softball
The Stratford softball team finished up 10-9 with a pair of competitive losses in the playoffs to River Bluff and Wando. Knights first baseman Ella Bruorton finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs versus River Bluff. Stratford pitchers Katie Bond and Kyliegh Malmede combined for 14 strikeouts in the one-run loss. Bruorton also knocked in a run during the Wando game.
Boys soccer
The Stratford boys soccer team capped its first campaign under Tyler Tekac with a 17-5 record. The Knights finished up with a double overtime loss at Wando May 13 in the third round of the playoffs. Before falling to Wando, Stratford blanked Sumter and James Island.
Guilherme Santos and Kevin Ramirez tallied goals against James Island. In the win over Sumter, Aiden Ferguson and Daniel Sales each recorded two goals. Angel Castillo, Luiz Moura and Maddox Pompey chipped in goals.
Tekac and the Knights return a strong squad for 2027.
