Falcons, Lancers on track for season start
the Glenn and Laville high school boys and girls track teams are ready to flash their skills with season-opening meets this week. Here is a preview of what to look for from each.
Large flock of Falcons
there are 40 boys out for the Glenn boys track team and that alone has head coach Austin O’connor excited.
“this is the most excited I’ve been about a track season in the eight years I’ve been coaching,” gushed O’connor. “(With that many boys out) it means a lot more depth and the ability to not overload runners in events. We have a lot of athletic boys that we can put in events wherever we are lacking that could get us some points. I’m very optimistic for the season. Goals include finishing in the top 2 at our Rippy Invitational (May 7) and in the top half of the Northern Indiana Conference meet (May 13). We’d love to advance some boys out of the sectional.”
Returning letterwinners are seniors Andrew Schmalzried (sprints) and Noah Ziolkowski (sprints/ hurdles), along with juniors Blake Malstaff (distance) and Will Baldwin (hurdles).
Newcomers to watch include senior Chase Howe (long jump), sophomore Jackson Perry (sprints) and freshman ty’ron Larkin (sprints).
the Glenn girls team also has a large number of athletes competing.
“We are excited to be able to compete this season,” said first-year head girls coach Kurt Foster. “We have a lot of experience with our junior and senior class mixed in with a lot of exciting freshmen and sophomore girls who are looking to compete for the first time. We expect to have a competitive season and continue to improve as the year goes on.”
Returning letterwinners include seniors Maya Vermillion (high jump, 200m), Cici Delinski (100m Hurdles, 300m hurdles, long jump), Seja Lang (long jump, shot put, sprints), and Olesya Indeikina (1600m, 3200m, 800m), plus juniors Madison Platz (high jump), Katelynn Braun (1600m) and Haley Vermillion (3200m).
Newcomers to watch include senior Jordan Keeley (shot, discus), sophomores Emma Borton (shot, discus), Kayla Snyder (shot, discus) and Lanie Day (400m, 800m), plus freshmen Eliana Lang (1600m, 3200m), tara Woods (100m, 200m), Sophia Romer (100m hurdles) and Sophie Minnick (100m, 200m).
Assistant coaches for both the boys and girls programs are Chris Lawler, Jenn Carr and John Bogucki.
Lancer pride
Returning for the Laville HS boys team are seniors Kaiden Rush (sprints) and Nathan Watts (pole vault), plus juniors Dawson Beam (middle distance), Conner Henry (mid distance/distance), Alex Menting (distance) and Charlie Lemberis (sprints).
Newcomers to watch include sophomores Owen Smith (long jump/sprints), AJ Bedock (throws), and Collin Allen (throws) along with freshmen Lincoln Hulsey (pole vault/sprints) and Erik Bedock (throws).
“It’s a true rebuilding year for sure,” said LV head boys coach Kathe Beehler, who is assisted by Jt Beehler, Bill Hulsey and Angela Dunlap. “the goal is to be competitive. It’s been two years since most of them have competed so we are working on getting them all in competition form: mentally and physically.”
Schedule highlights include competing at the Jimtown Invitational (April 30) and the Dennis Rippy Invitational (May 7). Laville will host the boys Hoosier North Athletic Conference championship (May 13).
On the girls side, there are five returning that lettered in the 2018-2019 season: senior Rebekah Beehler, plus juniors Madelyn Fuchs, Olivia Goze, Abby Leonhard, and Faith Rock. they will be joined by Lauren Edison, Ava Fuchs, London Kwiatkowski and Lucy Sherk, who were on the 2018-2019 HNAC Middle School Championship team.
“Our numbers are down, so we are lacking the depth that we have had in years past,” said girls coach Erin Ecker. “We have nine girls with experience though and a handful of newcomers that work hard every day
and do what we ask. It will be hard to fill some events with much depth, but we couldn’t ask for a better group of young ladies. Winning meets may be hard with the lack of depth, but we should fare well in individual events. I expect a strong season from Rebekah Beehler. We could throw her in just about any event and she would perform very well. We really have so many high-quality athletes that could have stellar individual seasons.
“Abby Leonhard is recovering from a meniscus injury and is hopeful to return to at least pole vault at some point in the season. We just want to see that she is fully healed before that is even considered. London Kwiatkowski is working through some issues. When she is at 100 percent her dance card will be full with running events.
“When we were figuring out the schedule in January we decided against doing the bigger invitationals due to COVID. The Dennis Rippy Invite is the only one on our schedule this year until we get to HNAC (May 11). Having had a year off I think this was a good option. We have several dual and triangular events so it gives more athletes more opportunities to participate and get back in the swing of things and it gives the ladies time to really perfect their events.”