VCHS HI-LINER GIRLS TRACK & FIELD

The Valley City HiLiners Track and Field team sought to build and define themselves this season, and have already racked up a long line of personal records – and at least one school record.

“We graduated a pretty big group of seniors last year, so we have a young team,” Coach Trevor Bakalar said.

“(We’re) very light on seniors. You talk about throwers, (though), first couple of meets we’ve had kids have set personal records, which… they’re already coming in and achieving higher than they did last year.”

At the fore of these achievements stands Dylan Hunt, who quite recently claimed a new record for Valley City High School, breaking

the Freshman Outdoor School record of 39’5.5” set in 1977, delivering a 40’ shot put throw that’ll land his name in the record book. Over 17 other Hi-Liners broke their personal records in a variety of events, and the team continues to sharpen up as the season heads for the big state meet.

“The big thing here is … we focus more on kids’ personal achievements

throughout the season,” Bakalar said. “The goal at the end of the season is regionals and state.”

Bakalar is a 24-year veteran coach who has spent his whole career in Valley City, and for him the opportunity to help shape a younger roster of students is satisfying.

“I like it ‘cause it’s almost a fresh start sometimes, when you see the

achievements and the personal accomplishments of the kids,” He said. “Sometimes going to different meets is a different experience.”

The atmosphere of track meets is unique among sports, and the divisions between the spectator and athlete are diminished – as are the divisions between competitors.

“They like being at the meets, the crowd

that’s there is kind of a different thing. You can play a football game and the crowd is there but they aren’t right on the track, they aren’t right in the events and cheering and things like that,” Bakalar said. “A lot of these kids here, they’re familiar with students in Maple Valley who competes, Barnes County who competes…it’s a big, it’s a social event.”

Fourth Row (l-r): Brian Engelhard, Jovi Borg, Greta Goven, Carly Goven, Sydnee Ingstad, Hadley Thoreson, Brad Sufficool Third Row (l-r): Deb Deilke, Chesney Thompson, Tricia Pfennig, Joesphina Spengler, Maggie Dockter, Asya Borg, Maxima Korkodilos, Victoria Sanchez, Scott Roehrich. Second Row (l-r): Trevor Bakalar, Layni Bakalar, Kadie Kocka, Katie Jones, Reagan Berg, Kinlee Sufficool, Jessica Gregerson First Row (l-r): Brenna Schroeder, McKenley Fladeland, Cadence Fetsh, Claire Powell, Tyana Judd, Cierra Pabst, Natasha Howard.