Opener coming, just delayed
CULVER - The first week of the outdoor high school track season is here and usually begins in earnest with the annual Culver Academies Relays. This year that meet was set for this Saturday and was to include the boys and girls teams from Plymouth HS among others.
Unfortunately, it was announced late Wednesday night that the meet has been scratched due to a lousy weather forecast.
So now the first chance to see the defending sectional champ CMA tracksters will be next Tuesday at home against Triton. Here is a preview of the boys team this season.
“We’re a small squad with pockets of strong talent with a lot of desire to improve,” said CMA head coach Scott Johnson, who is assisted by Paul Patrick, Dana Neer, Troy Heckaman, Ramsey Bradke, Dave Lawrence and Hiro Kawakatsu. “We have a few new seniors that will help us round out some relay teams and fill in the throws. Our goal is to always win with integrity, defend our sectional title, and advance as many athletes to regional and state as possible.”
Returning letterwinners include seniors Sam Tullis (distances), George Bourdier (sprints, pole vault) and Gavin Salyer (pole vault), juniors Hunter Miller (distances) and Andrew Galas (sprints, long jump), along with sophomores Ansen King (sprints), Joseph Parker (sprints) and Michael Patipe (sprints, long jump, high jump).
Tullis (University of Chicago) and Bourdier (Washington University in St. Louis) are team captains and have both signed to continue their track careers in college.
Newcomers to watch are seniors Jackson Carver (discus, hurdles) and William Booth (sprints), plus sophomore Dionte Obertein (distances).
The team will host five other meets to go along with some intriguing competitions on the road.
“I’m particularly looking forward to taking a small squad to the Midwest Prep meet at Lawrence Central on April 16, as well as the Zionsville Invitational on April 29,” added Johnson.
Sectionals are May 19 at Plymouth HS.