Eagles, Knights Lose Lots Of Experience In Track
Frontier girls track
Long-time Frontier League girls track powers East Valley and West Valley have taken hits to their rosters this year for varying reasons.
Graduation, accidents, injuries and decisions not to return have cut into the strength and depth of both teams.
“Right now we’re not the same team we were at the end of last season,” said Knight coach Glenn Gunderson. “We graduated only one senior, but lost a lot of kids, which kind of hurts us a bit.”
That may not prevent EV from defending its league title however. The Knights last year ended WV’s string of five straight Frontier titles.
Their challenge this year could come from Clarkston which easily beat the Eagles and Cheney while winning its invitational last weekend.
West Valley, which has fewer than 20 returnees, must rely heavily on freshman newcomers this season.
Knights have bases covered
Among several Knight losses are defending shot put champion Loretta Serbell, auto injury, versatile junior sprinter-jumper Tami Brining, work, and April Tomblin, knee injury, both district placers.
But the Knights do return defending 800 champ AnnMarie Adams and high jump champ-400 district placer Crystal Gerky who were part of the school’s third straight state cross country title and ‘97’s state 1,600 meter relay qualifier.
State qualifying 800 runner Korinda Godwin, twins Melanie and Melissa Frostad, Cara Smith, Joanne Adams and Kayloni Zamora are the league’s best from the 800- through 3,200-meter runs.
Also back are district placing shot putter-discus thrower Ashley Likely, long jumpers Kelly Daly, near 17 feet, and Amanda McManus, hurdler Michelle Estell, sprinter Amanda Kline and high jumpers Jenny Kann and Alicia Tonani.
District veterans include javelin throwers Raquel Trillo and Jeana Boisen, hurdler-sprinter Chrissy Cox, hurdler Secrett Thompson, triple jumper-pole vaulter Carmen Moss, and pole vaulters Stacy Merrill, MacKenzie Rogers and Mary Bartlett.
Others who will figure in EV’s season are high jumper Jill Fautch, sprinter-thrower Rachelle Schultz and jumper-sprinter Heather Lock.
New freshmen prospects are multifaceted jumper-sprinter-hurdler Randi Orton, sprinters Gretchen Moore, Andrea Meckel and Cheree Walser, javelin thrower Brittany Hauser, distance runner Missa Heid, hurdler Emily Nichols, twin jumpers Melissa and Christine Frazier and multi-event athlete Amanda Gillespie.
New-look Eagles hard workers
Although West Valley has a new feel, the young Eagles are hard workers.
“We had a workout in the rain that would have killed my past teams,” said coach Dori Robertson, “but they were great about it.”
Leading the way is the league’s best sprinter-hurdler and state placer Staci Adams. Her early times are already approaching last year’s bests.
District placers include distance runner Jessica Ferguson, hurdler Bonnie Krous and pole vaulter Jenny Gregorak.
District veterans are Cori Watke, Madeline McNeill, Missy Baca and Amy Martinson, distances, Emily Williams, hurdles, Vanessa Parvey, Beth Seeley and Stephanie Lawler, throws and Heather Huffman, high jump and discus.
Other returnees are Danna Vermeers in the jumps, Emily Williams in the hurdles and Kim Williams in the sprints.
Additions are freshman thrower-pole vaulter Shannon Groh, distance runners Kelsie Lounder and Jaime Peterson, sprinter-hurdlers Kelly Cole, Melissa Mathis, Adrienne Tucker and Kimberly Trower.
In the field are newcomer Summer Rieger in the throws and freshman high jumpers Tina Ferguson and Sara Biesen.
, DataTimes