PREVIEW: Young Panther squad looks to move up

Published by admin on Wed, 03/28/2018 - 9:32am

The Monticello boys track and field team, first row from left: Wade Picray, Gavin Baugh, Keagan Glawatz, Levi Temple, Gavin Cooper, Ethan Tallman, Jasper Nietert, Zach Chapman and Lake Stahlberg. Second row: Cole Wilson, Jayden Orcutt, Mason Reuter, Christian Nieto, David Titman, Caden Ungs, Ben Barnhart, Ben Oswald and Brody Brokaw. Third row: Adam Schmitt, Tyler Blattner, Dane Thomas, John James, Reid Barnhart, Adam Terry, Jon Mootz, Ian Lorenzen, Spencer Avery and Brady Cleeton. Fourth row: Cole Cruise, Aaron Loes, Wesley Henderson, Max Keleher, Alex Nealson, T.J. Nealson, Luke Weber, Avery Martensen, Caleb Hogan and Carter Cruise. Not pictured are Kain Luensman, Colin Jordan, head coach Greg Williams and assistant coach Donnie Kremer. (Photo by Pete Temple)
BOYS TRACK
By: 
Pete Temple
Express Sports Editor

     Monticello hopes to return to its usual place among the top boys track and field teams in the state as the 2018 outdoor season begins.

     The Panthers finished 28th in last year’s state meet with eight points, all scored by Aaron Loes, but the team’s goals remain high according to the Monticello captains.

     “We’re young, I’ll say that,” said Loes, now a senior. “But I think we have assets on our team. I think we can perform well in meets, and there are events we can get to State.”

     Head coach Greg Williams and assistant coach Donnie Kremer have plenty of athletes to work with – there are 38 boys out for the team, including 15 returning letter-winners.

     “I think we have a lot of kids that are committed to what we’re doing,” junior Gavin Cooper said. “It’s not going to happen in the blink of an eye; you’ve got to follow what Greg and Donnie have us do, to get to where we want to go.”

     Among the returning letter-winners are four athletes who competed at last year’s state meet. Loes ran fifth in both the 3,200- and 1,600-meter runs. Junior Avery Martensen qualified in both the 110 high hurdles and the high jump. Senior Max Keleher and Cooper both ran in the 4x200 at State, and Keleher was also in the 4x100.

     Other returning letter-winners include seniors Alex Nealson, T.J. Nealson, Wesley Henderson and Ben Barnhart; juniors Wade Picray, Jon Mootz and David Titman; and sophomores Carter Cruise, Cole Cruise, Adam Schmitt and Luke Weber.

     As always, Monticello’s goals remain high.

     “We definitely want to get a few events in State and Drake (Relays),” Henderson said, “and get a lot of improvement out of the young crowd we have.”

     The Panthers also want to improve on last year’s fifth place finish in the River Valley Conference Meet. Martensen said he believes Mid-Prairie, Northeast of Goose Lake and North Cedar will be among the strongest conference opponents.

     “We’ll compete,” Martensen said. “We’ll be right up in there.”

 

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