Area track teams prepare for season By JEFF OLSON Special to The Gazette SPASH girls SPASH girls track coach Mike Olson was pleased with the effort the Panthers put in last year, but sees a lot of undeveloped potential on this year's team, with 87 athletes going out for track. "We are thin in some areas, but will be strong in the sprints and middle distance," said Olson. Amber Perri and Kim Klosno are expected to do well in the 400 meters. Seniors Cassie Dudeck and Kelly Konopacki are the Panthers' top sprinters. Laine Willkom and Alexis Sustman are the top distance runners. Also, Abby Ofori-Amoah should have a strong performance in the shot put for the Panthers, along with Sara Sherbert in the long jump. With these girls, and the other members of the team, coach Olson hopes that the Panthers can do well, and finally defeat D.C. Everest, who they lost to by two points a couple of weekends ago at the Point Invite to start the season off. Pacelli Last year was the last time the Stevens Point Pacelli Cardinals would compete in the WISAA conference for track, and they finished well. This year, they compete in the WIAA, and hope to be just as successful. "We are really excited to be in the WIAA," said Cardinals track coach Rebecca Jacoby. "We will have to see how we match up with some of our neighbors." However, they will have to do it with a small senior class. For the boys, they have small numbers, but still have some key athletes that they will be relying on. Senior Greg Snow is the main pole-vaulter for the Cardinals, and senior Jeremy Proulx is a strong thrower in the shot put and discus. Sophomore Tim Schwarz is expected to do well in the sprints, the long jump and triple jump. The boys also have some good freshmen distance runners. The girls have multi talented junior Emily Swenson who competes in the hurdles and the triple jump. Also Kim Schulist will be key in the 100 meters, the relays, and the long jump. Also expected to contribute for the Cardinals are a couple of freshmen in Jenny Koch and Megan Kielesiszewski. Rosholt Rosholt track coach Mike Trzebiatowski thinks the Hornets will have a good year, but under a couple of conditions. "We need to stay healthy and keep training hard," said Trzebiatowski. Both the boys and the girls teams return some key athletes from last year's team. For the boys, both Ryan Boll and Luke Lane return from the successful two-mile relay team. Boll and Lane are both great middle distance runners, and Lane is also expected to compete well in the triple jump. Sophomore Brady Staszak, who ran cross country for the Hornets, is expected to excel in the distance events. Senior Andy Hartvig will be returning as the shot putter, and Nathaniel Miller, who is also a senior, will be strong in the 110-meter hurdles and the triple jump. As for the girls, who sent 11 to state last year, they also have some key returns. Senior, Jenna Eschenbach can be expected to put up good numbers in the high jump this year. Sisters Tammy and Amy Scott are the key distance runners, with Amy also competing in the high jump as well. The Hornets will also be competitive in the field events with Junior Steph Wierzba in the shot put and Senior Carry Kurszewski in the discus, in which she won the conference in last year. Also expected to contribute to the team are Kate Lemke and Kate Flick. Almond-Bancroft It could be a whole different year for the Almond-Bancroft track team, with some new faces and more runners than they have ever had before. With 22 boys going out for track, they hope to accomplish something they have not done for a long time. "We hope to win a boys meet this year, which is something we haven't done in a while," said track coach Brad Baumgartner, who shares coaching duties with Randy Wedig. "We also hope to get at least one athlete down to state," said Baumgartner. The boys will be strong in the 400 meters and the 800 meters with Mike Johnson leading the way. They will also have a new student, Gabe Lopez, who will be their strong sprinter and hurdler. Along with these two boys, Almond-Bancroft also has some strong relay teams. Christyn Johnson will be strong in the hurdles and the high jump for the girls. Also, Renee Reince and Cindy Nickel are excellent sprinters for Almond-Bancroft's girls' team. Jumpers are also expected to do well.