Thompson Valley
In 2012, the Eagles’ girls won the Class 4A state title and the boys were a major contender. Flip the calendar a year, and coach Matt Norton expects both squads to make a major push for titles in the Northern Conference and state.
“We lost Gus (Waneka) and Josh (Mielke), who were pretty big components, but coming back, this is the best boy’s team we’ve had coming into a season since I’ve been here,” Norton said. “Considering we were second at conference and fourth in the state, all these boys have set a goal to win both, and they’re going to be in the hunt.”
A pair of Daniels — Lara and Bloom — give the team a strong distance base, while Sam Baca returns after taking second in the shot put and just missing out on a discus placing at state. Josh Strobel, Andrew Bradberry, Kraig Burleson, Nash Doughman and Lucas Dominguez will help fill out quality relays while scoring points in the sprint, hurdle and jumping events. With some new blood on the roster, Norton feels the team will definitely score in every event at conference and has a good chance to duplicate the feat at state.
Norton said the girls have definitely not rested on their accomplishments, saying the group has worked their tails off in preparation for another state run. While they will miss their emotional leader and state individual champion Karina Ernst, Norton likes the makeup of the squad.
Lindsey Kroboth comes back to defend her state title in the high jump, while Hailey Stephens is back after placing third in the long jump. Ali Artzberger gives the Eagles another potent scorer in jumping events, while the running versatility of Megan Irvine, Kendra Larson, Hayley Berg and Carly Feuerstein should build up point totals as individuals and through the development of potent relays.
“We have all the pieces except we have to replace the fire of Miss Ernst on game day,” Norton said. “That’s really the only question is who is going to step up and say we’re not going to lose. The best way to characterize it is figuring out how to be edgy on race day and kind of tough without being mean. It’s just the attitude on race day that it belongs to me and I’m not letting anybody else have it.”
Loveland
With tradition comes expectation, and they are naturally high around the girls program that has won three consecutive Class 5A titles. It also brings about a work ethic coach Paul Quere loves, as each new team tries to keep up with the last one.
Loveland’s relays are always strong, and figure to be again this year with the group of Kailie Fuchs, Brittany Kielar, Michaela Know, Celine Packham and Taylor Buschy on the sprint side, with Kailie Hartman and Katy East anchoring the longer runs. The sprinters always seem to find their way into individual successes, which Quere said seems to change year to year. But the depth goes beyond the track, with thrower Lorell Stuht and pole vaulter Heather Waite factoring into the point scoring.
“I would say relays is still our team strength,” Quere said. “Our individuals, we’ll wait and see. They’re a talented group, and their roles change year to year, so we’ll see where they fit. The tradition is a plus. The kids are willing to work harder when a lot is at stake.”
The boys have their own talented group of athletes, too. John Freismuth, who Quere thinks is a decathlete in the making, qualified for state as a long jumper but could fit in anywhere. Dylan Miller gives the Indians a middle distance threat, Trevin Long comes back as the top sprinter, Dylan Dunham leads the distance group and Joshua Ouimet will help in the throws.
Quere said many of the boys are coming off winter sports, so their development may take a bit of time.
“We are still learning about them as coaching staff, and I think they’re still learning about themselves,” he said. “Our main goal is to compete to the best of our abilities every time and see where that takes us.”
Berthoud
Moving up into Class 4A isn’t going to bring any kind of culture shock to coach Colby Schultz’s team, not with the way the Spartans schedule.
“It’s one of those things, because of our schedule, they’ve always seen 4A and 5A teams and they’ve always set the standard to compete with those teams,” Schultz said. “I think we’ll be able to do it, because they see it week in, week out, and they step up to that standard.”
The boys will have a horse to rely on in senior Troy Johnson, who was the 3A state runner-up in both the 100 and 200 meters. He, Caleb Price and Ryan Vasquez will help boost the relay teams, and some older Spartans out for the first time — Nick Dietz and Alex Kingsley — will add to the flow. Schultz hopes to get back Michael Woodiel, who is out for now with a knee injury. But watching Johnson compete should always be a highlight.
“He’s a competitive kid, and he and Alex Mead of Mead, who also moved up, will have that rivalry,” Schultz said of the guy who beat Johnson at state last year. “He’s very level headed. He’s not a kid that seems to ever get out of that shell of being comfortable with what he does and going out and performing.”
Kiah Leonard will do the heavy lifting in the distance events for the girls, while Allie Klaes and Anna Megenhardt will give the team a pair of talented triple jumpers, even while Megenhardt’s specialty will be the pole vault. Hannah Kirk will lead the sprinters, but the squad as a whole is young and building.
“We are, and the young kids are really looking forward to seeing what they can do,” Schultz said. “We have a lot of depth, but we are short on experience. If we can keep them healthy and working hard, we can look forward to a few years of some good things.”
Roosevelt
If the RoughRiders can stay healthy, coach Abe Sauer feels both of his squads can make a run at Tri-Valley Conference championships at the end of the season. In 2012, that was the issue — many of his Riders weren’t able to compete at the final few big meets, including a few who had qualified for state.
There is a bevy of senior leadership to be found on the boy’s squad, with Tanner Starr coming back as the only non-senior state placer in the pole vault. Viktor Baeza was a state qualifier in the hurdles, as was Josh Semmler in the pole vault, who was one of the injured Riders down the stretch.
Michael Mitchell (high jump), Jakob Bernhardt (throws) and Zach Lagunas (middle distance) are expected to add depth and range to the team’s ability to score.
“We’re pretty solid all the way around, and we have a pretty veteran team with a lot of seniors,” Sauer said. “Our hurdles and the pole vault have lately been our strong areas, but I think we’ll be solid in every event. They’ve been second the last two years in conference, and with a veteran group, they’re looking to take a step forward.”
The girls, like their male counterparts, have also been the TVC runner-ups the past two seasons. While Sauer feels that race to the title will be even closer, he also sees his team as one that will be able to compete at the end.
The Riders have plenty of sprinters to help solidify relays and score points in individual events. Haley and Kylee Placke are back, as is Hannah Eining and Madison Kilcrease. Becky Eidson gives the team a quality thrower, and Kiera Maldonado is adept at the pole vault. It is a squad Sauer feels has a lot more range than in year’s past.
“In the past, we’ve had four girls for a relay, and if somebody was hurt or had an off-day, that was it,” he said. “We have better depth this year, so our relays should be a strength. Our numbers are up a little bit, so I think we’ll do a better job of filling in gaps we have had in past years. I think we’ll score some points in the middle and distance events we haven’t scored the past few years.”
Resurrection Christian
The sport was new to the school last year, and Luke Appleton is already seeing some growth in the program. The roster is loaded with younger classmen, and the returning athletes have done a good job of recruiting in the hallways.
“It’s so cool to see,” Appleton said. “I always encourage the kids to talk to their friends to come out and try it. The coolest thing to see is just their excitement. The kids who did the sport for first time last year experienced some success, so they coming back excited and motivated.”
The boys have a few state returners to lean on, with Taylor Dewald back after placing in the discus and qualifying in sprint events. Cole Watson was fifth in the 110 hurdles in 2A, and most of the guys who made up the relay teams are back. Brock Buxman and Danny Weaver return after strong first showings.
“We have a lot more depth, and we have young depth in the sprints,” Appleton said. “We have a lot freshmen an sophomores that could help us a lot, and we’ve developed Sawyer Pehkonen in the mid distances. We’re pretty excited about some of the depth we have on guy’s side this year.”
The girls have their own strengths, starting with the return of state qualifiers Madison Webb (hurdles) and Preston Lienemann (high jump). Rileigh Lienemann gives the Cougars a strong sprinter, and Annemarie Stocker will lead the jump crew.
“The key is continuing to develop of some of our younger girls that had some success,” Appleton said. “We’re filling out the team in different events with girls who will run in distance races for us. Last year, it was trouble just to fill all the events, so that will be nice.”
— By Mike Brohard
