Track team looks for strong season despite losing 14 graduates years ago
Staff writer
The Hillsboro High School track begins its new season with 45 athletes — 30 boys and 15 girls participating. Head coach Dennis Boldt is in his 13th year and hopes to build a strong team despite the loss of 14 of its members to graduation.
"We graduated, especially on the boys' team, those who had so much experience," Boldt said.
Both boys' and girls' teams won league last year. And the teams are returning a few state place winners this year.
"We should do well at league this year," Boldt said. "Our experience is strong."
The boys' relay teams will be strong, but Boldt said he will also have the athletes concentrate on individual events.
This is especially true for the girls' team since there are only 15 of them.
"My focus has always been to build relay teams when possible," Boldt said. "Right now, I hope to have one or two girls' relay teams because we do have the athletes."
"I will talk it over with the girls, and we will see what they think. We may try to have relay teams for just a few meets and see how it goes," he said.
Three members of last year's girls' relay team graduated. So the relay team will be less experienced, according to Boldt.
Because of their inexperience, the girls will focus on individual events.
Boldt said he will look to his "single senior," Alan Yoder as the returning leader.
"Alan went to state twice and was part of the 2000 state championship team along with brothers, Aaron and Danny," Boldt said.
The team will have quite a number of juniors returning this year for the boys' team.
"We have some strong juniors and a great young boys' freshmen class," he said.
Last season, juniors Brodie Unrau was league high jump champion, and junior Derek Mayfield was league triple jump champion.
Returning seniors for the girls' team will be Jessica Boese, Alisa Jost, Elise Matz, Andrea King, and Cheryl Prieb.
"We will be looking to them to be a strong senior class," Boldt said.
"We also have one of our high point leaders from last year returning — sophomore Charity Davis," he said.
Davis is second to Shannon Kroeker in total number of season points earned last year.
Along with serving as head coach, Boldt will also serve as long jump coach this year.
Assistant coaches are Don Penner in throws, Mike Jilka in hurdles and sprints, Corey Burton in pole vault and javelin, Collette Burton in jumps and newcomer Keith Schobert in jumps.
"Each of these coaches is experienced in his or her field," Boldt said.
As for Boldt's overall outlook for the team, he said, "This group, all around, will take time to develop this year," he said. "We will have to wait and see."
The team will begin its season on April 8 at home in the Little River Central Kansas Track League meet at 4:30 in Hillsboro.
The Trojans will host the second James Thomas Invitational on May 2 and would like the community to come out and support the team.
