SMA track and Àeld squads excited to be back competing
The St. Marys Area High School girls’ and boys’ track and field teams are excited to be back competing this spring after missing out on their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of kids lost out on opportunities when our season ended last year, whether you are talking about college recruitment or just the enjoyment of competition,” said St. Marys Area head coach Jimmy Werner. “I’m very excited to have all the student-athletes back, and you can tell by the way they are working that they are happy to be back for this spring season.”
Werner added that, after having last season taken away, it is hard to pinpoint one thing that he is most looking forward to this year.
“I’m just excited to be back with everyone on the team and get back to competing,” Werner said.
Making up the Lady Dutch track and field squad are freshmen Kelsie Bellotti, Maura Caskey, Lily Chemlar, Jillian Kline, Savannah McAlee, Rylee Nicklas, Sophia Radkowski, Mallory Secco, Sydney Smith, Gianna Whitaker, and Maddy Wittman; sophomores Caitlin Blessel, Izzy Catalone, Zoey Nunamaker, Gianna Kastner, Jayna Sette, and Nevaeh Wildnauer; juniors Holly Anthony, Payton Bauer, Madison Blythe, Isabelle Caskey, ViviAnne Catalone, Abigail Erich, Rachel Fleming, Emma Sidelinger, Katlyn Stauffer, and Gina VanSlander; and seniors Brianna Grotzinger, Samantha Hayes, and Kyla Johnson.
Members of the Dutch track and field team are freshmen Matthew Davis, Bryce Mattiuz,
James Pistner, Mason Sheeley, and Romelo VanCedarfield; sophomores Alex Amador, Sam Bowes, Carter Chadsey, Greg Dippold, Justin Dornisch, Wyatt Foster, Nick Hayes, Killian Ramsey, Collin Reitz, Auggie Secco, Graysen Spangler, and Toby Steis; juniors Daulton Bauer, Nick Croyle, Collin Kline, Kobie Snelick, Dalton Steele, and Derek Villella; and seniors James Davis and Aaron Frey.
“As always, we have a very strong distance group,” Werner said. “The girls’ team is looking very well rounded as a whole though, with a good younger group that has moved up from the past two years who will help out greatly. The boys’ team is pretty young, but they are very strong. I’m excited to see what this group brings this year, as I think we will have a few surprises that come out in a big way throughout the season.”
Werner cited the teams’ biggest challenges as being in the “technique events” that require throwing or jumping.
“Missing a full year of practice and meets/ invites takes a lot away from learning and fine tuning your technique and improving,” Werner said.
Werner also cited the lack of high school experience of many of his squad members as being another question mark this season.
“With only having two weeks of practice last year, we are yet to see the freshmen and sophomore groups – at least half of our team – compete at the varsity level,” Werner said. “It’s a big question mark on what they can bring and how they will help the team grow. We are very excited about that though because they show a lot of promise, and we have no doubt we are going to be very pleased this season.”
In terms of the teams’ goals, Werner said that their top priority is keeping everyone safe.
“Then, it’s just everyone have fun and enjoy having the spring season back and competing in track,” Werner said. “After that, we hope to stay competitive at the district meet at the end of the year and have as many athletes as possible making the trip down to Shippensburg to compete at states.”
Assisting this season
Werner are Robbie
Meyer, Nick Hrisch, Emma Daghir, and Doug McAnany at the varsity level and Sam Zimmerman and Mackenzie Gahr at the junior high level.