Eager Eagles Battle-Tested Septet Of Seniors Will Go For Four
Frontier girls track
West Valley’s girls track team already has earned a Frontier League championship threepeat.
Seven seniors who have been with the team from the outset like to make it four in a row.
“I think this is the best team I’ve had for total depth,” said Eagle Coach Jeana Haag. “And having seven seniors on the team for four years helps.”
The Eagles and East Valley went one-two in league last year and likely will battle for the Frontier title again primarily because both have the bodies it takes to succeed.
“We’re going to be the same or stronger because of our depth,” said Knight Coach Glenn Gunderson. “WV will be tough because they have the speed.”
The two teams meet at West Valley on April 27.
WV builds around veterans
The septet of senior athletes who have been a party to WV’s years of success are a testimony to speed, strength and spring.
Terra Inman is a state-placing high jumper who has emerged as a topquality triple jumper.
State placer Kaci Stansbury has 40-foot and 130-foot shot and discus credentials. Thrower Vicki Mudd was second in district last year with a 120-foot-2 javelin throw.
Sprinters Shawna Lydon, Ruth Gerber and Jenny Lebsack have taken relay teams to state each year.
And Shannon Mortensen has been vital to the distances.
Unfortunately, Gerber, Mortensen and long jumper-sprinter Katy Snow are nursing injuries and their status is unclear.
“We’re hoping to get Ruthie and Katy healthy and back in there,” said Haag. “Until then we have pretty good backup.”
One of those is sophomore sprinter Erica Frampton, joined by Cindy Simpson and host of newcomers. Rhonda Barney is back in the 400, joined by newcomer April Davis.
State placer Jessica Riehle heads a distance crew that includes state qualifier Heather Harmon, plus Mara Kjeldgaard, Kelly Burke, freshmen Missy Baca, Amy Martinson, Jill Leong, Alina Pitman and Maggie Keon.
Hurdlers are Arin Craig and newcomer Tia Gregorak.
The Eagles should be untouchable in the weight events with state fifthplace shotputter Aimee Aldendorf joining seventh-placer Stansbury over 40 feet. She’ll also do discus and javelin.
Others are shot putter Sherry Shollenberger and Stacey Roberts, Julie Bonner, Bonnie Krouse, Monica Beach, Beth Seely and Mena Brusckern in the discus and javelin.
Inman not only was fourth in the state high jump but is approaching 36 feet in the triple.
Long jumpers include Craig, Schollenberger, Kjeldgaard and freshman Jamie Tracy.
EV needs to replace only trio
The Knights are without only three athletes who made major contributions to last year’s runner-up season, one to graduation.
“We lost them,” said Gunderson. “But look at it this way. We had only three senior graduates.”
East Valley has only three seniors on this year’s team as well.
Heather Sylvester is one of the league’s top three javelin throwers, Lilac Princess Emily Mattoon is a horizontal jumper and sprinter and Brook McLachlan is solid in the distances.
The Knights have 18 juniors, 15 sophomores and 17 freshman from which Gunderson will form his team.
Juniors Star Olson and Christal Nicholson are state qualifying long jumper and hurdler respectively.
Michelle Griffin already is at 35 feet and over 100 in the discus. Becky Moore shores up the sprints and hurdles.
Others include sprinters Dana Langford, Sara Bartlett and Lynn Gillett; hurdlers Angie Richardson and Holly Warner; distance runners Shanez Hanson and Amber Sine; jumpers Desa Rae Hendren, Sasha Jackowich, Christy Van Dyne and Katie Buller; throwers Sara Cochran, Anjie Blindauer and Michael Perry.
Sophomore Angie Simmers is among the league’s best distance runners. Sprinters Renee Volland and Crystal Cook will contribute, along with newcomer April DeGroot in the 400.
Nicole Griffith shores up the hurdles and long jump and Christy Blindauer is over 100 feet in the discus.
Other sophs are jumpers Breanna Combs, Kristina Manchester, Jocelyn Sly and Kellie Olson, Star’s sister; distance runners Holly Weiler, Heidi Williams and Sally Wulf; hurdler Lanaya Gilmore and javelin thrower Grace Musser.
Already several of freshman have contributed during early season meets. Included are the distance runners off EV’s state cross country champion, Carmen Cook and Ann Marie Adams, sprinter Amanda McManus and high jumper Jennifer Kann.
Other freshmen Gunderson is counting on are 400 runner Becky Gahl; shot putters Anita Heaton and Loni Kurtz; high jumpers Jill Fautch, Debbie McThirsty and April Tomblin; javelin thrower Carrie Eller, hurdlers Nicole Shaw and Secrett Thompson and versatile first-time trackster Elisha Stickel. Rounding out the team are sprinter-jumpers Jessica Williams, Amber Lewis and Sharon Radmer.