SECTION IV INDOOR TRACK & FIELD: WAVERLY'S BAIRD LOOKING FOR EXPERIENCE TO OVERCOME LOWER NUMBERS IN 2019-20 (2019-12-16)
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Story was originally posted Saturday, but did not appear due to a coding error.)
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY "” Longtime Waverly indoor track & field coach Scott Baird, entering his 22nd season, believes the experience both the boys and girls teams return will make up for the overall lack of numbers in 2019-20.
GIRLS"First, 9 of our 14 girls are seniors," said Baird. "I would say that's the bad news.
"The good news is that this is probably the most number of girl seniors who have a lot of experience and talent that I've had," he noted. "So, even though the overall team numbers are low, I would say there is a lot of fire power of quality experience and talent to be competitive in just about all events against the entire section, as well as competing in the Small School Class Sectional Championship.
"The key will be in finding where we can be at our strongest within certain events," added Baird. "Both coach (Nate) Culver and myself are excited to see how far this team can go.
The Lady Wolverines return state qualifiers Melina Ortiz and Sheridan Talada - both seniors, as well as senior Paige Ackley, Marissa Eisenhower, Elizabeth Fritzen, Zoey Lunduski, and Alyssa Simonetti, sophomore Emily Tully, and 8th-grader Elizabeth Vaughn.
A key newcomer for the Lady Wolverines is outdoor state qualifier senior Cora Smith. Other newcomers are senior Rachel Ovedovitz, sophomore Taylor Hall, and freshman Sarah Noto and Kelsey Ward.
BOYS"Our numbers are on the low side, but there is a lot of quality experience and talent that will allow us to be very competitive in most events within the entire section, as well in the Small School Class Sectional Championship," said Baird.
"As with the girls, coach Culver and myself are excited to see how far this can go," he added.
The Wolverines return senior Isaac Chandler, who qualified for States in the pole vault and the hurdles last year.
Also returning are senior Brandon Bubniak, junior Skyler Dengler, Jayden Rose, Caden Wheeler, and Collin Wright, sophomores Nate Ackley, Hunter Elston, Gavin Schillmoeller, Sam Vandyke, and 8th-grader Ralph Johnson.
Newcomers for Waverly this year are Matt Atanasoff and Paul Bartlett, and freshman John Price.
"If we can take our newcomers and be able to have them possibly give us some extra depth in some events, this could be a very exciting season," said Baird.
Waverly returns to action Saturday at the Ithaca Bomber Invite at Ithaca College.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Isaac Chandler.
