IAC TRACK & FIELD: WAVERLY GIRLS, BOYS SEEK DIVISION TITLE REPEATS IN 2019 (2019-04-02)
Valley Sports ReportWAVERLY "” The Lady Wolverines will be without a key returner due to an injury, while graduation took a toll on the Waverly boys, but their respective coaches believe they'll remain in the hunt for IAC divisional titles.
GIRLSThe Lady Wolverines return a slew of experienced athletes, including indoor track & field state qualifiers juniors Melina Ortiz and Sheridan Talada, from last year's unbeaten duals team.
Also returning are seniors Stephanie Hyland, Sarah Uhl, Sarah Wood, and Kennedy Wheeler, juniors Elizabeth Fritzen, Alyssa Simonetti, Cora Smith, and Luci Bennett, sophomores Caitlyn Bakley and Kaitlyn Clark, and freshmen Olivia Nittinger, and Emily Tully.
Junior Paige Ackley, a former indoor track state qualifier, will miss the season due to injury.
"We will be without Paige Ackley this season from a winter track injury," said coach Scott Baird. "She was an important piece last year. She will be definitely missed.
"As for the rest of the team, we have a solid group of talent and experience returning," noted Baird. "This alone will allow us to be a competitive team within our division and in big meets.
"Our overall success will depend on whether the newcomers can fill in to give us some strength in our weaker events along with some possible depth," added Baird.
Newcomers this season for the Lady Wolverines are senior exchange student Natalia Urrejola, juniors Marissa Eisenhower, Rachel Ovedovitz, and Sadie VanAllen, sophomore Kiersten VanZile, and freshmen Aubrey Akins and Sydney Nierstedt.
"Time will tell," said Baird. "I do like what I see so far.
"Everyone is working hard," he added. "I'm looking forward to see how far they can go individually and as a team."
BOYS"We've lost some critical pieces of our team to graduation last year and it'll take time and hard work to replace those individuals," said Waverly boys coach David Hogan.
"Our overall numbers remain strong and we have a high degree of confidence in the strengths, talents, and abilities of our athletes whether they are new or returning members," he added.
Waverly returns Isaac Chandler, who is the reigning Section IV pole vault champ, Dylan Ward, Trent Wright, Nate Ackley, Collin Wright, David Hallett, Caden Mint, Brandon Bubniak, Alex Gadow, Tyler Saxon, Caden Wheeler, Jacob Blair, Brandon Clark, Nick Janzen, Max VanDyke, Skyler Dengler, and Austin Kimble.
"We are fortunate to have a highly-capable core of distance and mid-distance runners that we think will be a real focal point of the season," said Hogan. "Likewise, we have field events, sprints, and relays that will continue to be outstanding."
Newcomers for the Wolverines are Ralph Johnson, Kayleb Bechy, Sam VanDyke, Andrew Kimble, Liam Traub, and Jayden Rose.
"Our athletes are working hard daily and our coaching staff anticipates a driven team willing to give unconditionally to find success," said Hogan.
Waverly opens its 2019 campaign this afternoon at S-VE.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Isaac Chandler.
