Panthers On Track For 14th Straight Title 125-Boy Turnout Bolsters Depth Of Mead Squad
When the Greater Spokane League boys track season begins this afternoon, Mead will attempt to extend its record 117 straight dual-meet wins.
The Panthers, who have won the past 13 GSL titles, will again be favored, with Ferris, based on earlyseason marks, the most likely challenger.
The Panthers have 125 boys turning out and depth unapproached by other GSL teams.
Shadle Park is trying to get there. Rogers and North Central are hoping to advance athletes into the district and regional meets, which will be at Spokane Falls Community Colleges May 11-12 and May 19-20.
Three athletes in each of 17 events will qualify for the Star Track, the revitalized two-day Class AAA and AA state meets in Tacoma.
Mead loaded as usual
Don’t be surprised if the Panthers’ winning streaks reach 125 meets and 14 years.
And it is unlikely to stop there. The track team is young as well as strong.
“We’re loaded up pretty good,” said Gary Baskett, who stepped down as head coach this year but was speaking on behalf of his replacement, Pat Tyson. “I’m impressed.”
The Panthers have proven distance strength, but it is in the field events where they may prove untouchable.
“We can score in a lot of places,” said Baskett. “But I think where we will hurt others is in the throws.”
Brian Buchanan is back and Cliff Poage has already joined him at over 54-0 in the shot put. Sophomore Scott McGlocklin is a 50-footer, and there are a bunch more in the wings.
Buchanan and Jason Morgan are over 150-feet in the discus, and Mike Moore adds depth.
Former soccer player Zach Mercer is the next in Mead’s line of 180-footplus javelin throwers. He’s joined by Beau Chandler, Mike Dircks and Jared Eddington.
Mead has three high jumpers at 6-4 or higher - Curt Bergheim, Tri Nugyen and Merrill Alley.
In the horizontal jumps are Alvin Shaler, Jay Bell, D.J. Miller and Travis Morgan, who is the only senior.
John Parry, a 14-0 pole vaulter, returns.
On the track, Mead boasts sprinters Tony Crego, Matt Sturm, newcomer John West, 400 runner Rich Naccarato and some sophomores.
“We’ll be fine,” said Baskett.
Distance runners include Micah Davis, Skiy DeTray, Adam Cyr, Cody Enzler and sophomore Morgan Thompson.
Al Faulkner is the lone returning hurdler, Mead’s thinnest event.
Can the team win another state title?
“We’ve got a shot. That’s what we’re pointing for,” said Baskett. “We have to keep healthy and progressing.”
Rogers may have long dual year
After being part of a three-way fifth-place GSL finish last year, Coach Dave Carson is downplaying his chances this season.
“We’ll be lucky if we win one meet this year,” he said. “We’re not very strong.”
The Pirates do have tournament hopes in sprinter-horizontal jumper Anthony Gardner, shot-putter Ed Tomlinson and perhaps 400 runner Isaac Hudson.
“I don’t see anyone else,” said Carson.
Pirate sprinters include Sean McMackin and Jason Murray. McMackin also throws the javelin, and Murray runs the hurdles.
He’ll be joined there by John Watson.
Middle-distance and distance runners include Cam Hatch, Aaron McCarty, Nick Sampson and Buddy Honshell.
In the field, Carl Gaumer backs Tomlinson in the throws, and John Herbert is a javelin thrower and triple jumper. Sophomore Aaron Evans will pole vault.
“We might have a couple kids to to the state track meet this year,” said Carson. “But we’re down in terms of numbers and the kids who graduated we can’t replace.”
Shadle seeking upward mobility
Coach Ivan Corley has been a tireless recruiter. The Highlanders have a large turnout.
“Track is my first love,” he said. “It’s what I did in college, and I want to exhaust a lot of energy on it.”
The boys team continues to grow in numbers, and Corley said the athletes’ expectations are matching his.
Now the key is translating that to wins.
Distances are a led by sophomore Casey Perry and experienced seniors Brian Olson and Marty Aguilar.
Sprinters include senior Clarence Tate juniors Trevor Walters, Aaron Baltzell, who also pole vaults and triple jumps, Aaron Caprye and sophomore Ben Tate, who also throws the javelin.
Senior Xavier Medina returns in the hurdles. He is backed by senior newcomer Eric Walberg.
Throwers include Eric Anderson and John Nelson along with several juniors and seniors.
NC transfer Mike Dean, a junior, Jeremy Wynn and transfer Gino Williams, a sophomore, are in the horizontal jumps. Williams also sprints.
High-jumpers include seniors Brian Downer, a district returnee, and Chad Tissue, who was the junior varsity meet champion.
Other pole vaulters are senior Chad Johnson and junior Tim Smith.
“We’ve grown in numbers again and will bring bodies with which to compete,” said Corley.
NC depth still a problem
North Central’s problem is not lack of quality but lack of quantity.
Still, the team can compete.
During an early dual track meet, the Indians kept it close before losing.
“That was good, considering we had nobody in four events,” said Coach Joe Schauble.
After being injured the past two seasons, sprinter-shot-putter Paul Riley is returning to form, including 11.4 and 23.5 dash times and a 48-10 shot put.
Pete Loiseau was third at nearly 175 feet in the district javelin last year. He also sprints and is giving up the pole vault to hurdle and long jump.
Shauble is looking at several other sprinters, including senior Anthony Elder, who also long jumps.
With one of the league’s top hurdlers graduated, NC is looking for a replacement. Troy Kapelke is running them for the first time.
Distance runners include youngsters John Caballero and Justin Hill.
Shot put is a strength area for the Indians, with athletes including Dan Lynch, Rance McCullough and Kapelke.
“We’re still looking for some high jumpers,” said Shauble.
He’s hoping to find them in junior Marshall Kuhlman and freshman Greg Barre.
Horizontal jumpers include Seth Schaffer, who has pole vaulted 13-foot-9, and Todd Laush. Sophomore Stacy Bruce is another pole-vault prospect.