Marysville High School’s boys track and field squad is pictured from left, front row, Ryan Kern,TJ Sahor, Logan McSwords, Pao Pena, Nick Kessler, Max Miller-Brown and Zach Paliga; second row, Elijah Hull, Shane Hothem, Riley Karnes, Daniel Snodgrass, Gavin Cossette, Caleb Newland, Caleb Dilsaver and Parker Reese; third row, Cole Macey, Rex Boampong, Grant Urban, Drew Montgomery, Griffin Rigel, Zac Galvis, Cameron Jones, Andrew Bentz and Chris Valentine; fourth row, Brian Boston, Lane Coil, Fernando Rios, Wes Laurenson, Cameron Smith, Joseph Bates, Demitrious Wilson and Gabe Filbert; fifth row, Max Daugherty, Ethan Boylan, Cameron Butler, Tyler Calvert, Austin Bentz, Dylan Garber, Aiden Grome, Justyn Bernard and Tyler Heap; sixth row, Caeden Hanf, Ethan Moeller, Marc Galvis, Joey Hazelbaker, Matthew Vollrath, Matthew Sheperd, Carter Stowell, Daniel Kruse, Grayson Niemi and Ben Evers; seventh row, Devon Boatright, Connor MacArthur-Senediak, Preston Herring, Blake Murgatroyd, James Heap, Luke Caltrider, Keegan Allen and PJ Patterson; eighth row, Jack Flanagan, Caleb Rice, Matt Hull, Aaron Schlemmer, Quinton Bodine and JT Hiltscher; top row, coaches Luke Sundermeier, Heather Plumb, Luci Howard, Scott Hamilton, Trevor Rayburn, Chris Terzis, Jesse Ramirez and Allen Lamb. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
MHS’ girls track and field team is pictured from left, front row, Brynn Rychlik, Maddie Andrews, Kendal Ellerbrock, Adelaide Agyemang and Katie Krueger; second row, Meghan McKinney, Aleyna Smith, Breanna Bailey, Carly Shaner, Josie Wolfe, Molly Armstrong,Ava Elliott and Katheryn Mager; third row, Malia Burkhardt, Hannah Carney, Olivia Brooks , Ava Zwiezinski, Shannon Cordle, Carys Gossett, Emily Cogossi, Sylvia Eley and Isabella Deahl; fourth row, Emily Krueger, Nicole Cadiang, Alyssa Rodman, Emily Thomas, Kiersten Chambers, Hayley Conrad, Anna Downie, Paige Krueger and Bryn Hothem; fifth row, Maddie Burgdorf, Ashley Boston, Kaylee Morton, Lilly Cunningham, Grace Walker, Aelyn Baumbarger, Mallorie McCracken, Chloe Koren and Taite Johnson; sixth row, Jackie Rychlik, Monica Lamb, Grace Golla, Alex Schlemmer, Kaitlyn Evans, Seva Sherrick, Lizzy Cline, Kelsey Murphy and Emerson Bautsch; seventh row, coaches Luke Sundermeier, Heather Plumb, Luci Howard, Scott Hamilton, Trevor Rayburn, Chris Terzis, Jesse Ramirez and Allen Lamb. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
The 2021 campaign will be extra special for the Marysville High School track and field program.
For one thing, the Monarchs will return to competition for the first time since 2019.
The 2020 season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It was also supposed to be the first season for competition on the school’s new track and field complex.
“Last year’s canceled season and the lack of a facility (due to construction) in 2019 means we haven’t had a ‘normal’ season since 2018,” said Marysville head coach Luke Sundermeier.
“Since that time, many athletes have come and gone without ever experiencing the crescendo of a successful season,” he said. “Now, we look to begin again in 2021.”
MHS has boys and girls rosters that both number more than 70 athletes.
Key returners and potential contributors during the 2021 campaign are as follows:
Boys
-Logan McSwords, senior, jumps and sprints;
-Riley Karnes, senior, distance events;
-Shane Hothem, senior, middle distance;
-Ryan Kern, senior, sprints;
-Nick Kessler, senior, sprints, jumps;
-Paulo Pena, senior, sprints;
-Griffin Rigel, junior, sprints;
-Drew Montgomery, junior, sprints;
-Andrew Bentz, junior, throws;
-Jack Flanagan, junior, distance;
-James Heap, junior, distance;
-Cameron Jones, junior, sprints, jumps;
-Preston Herring, sophomore, distance;
-Marc Galvis, sophomore, jumps, sprints;
-Zac Galvis, freshman, hurdles, sprints;
-Blake Murgatroyd, freshman, distance.
Girls
-Brynn Rychlik, senior, pole vault;
-Kendal Ellebrock, senior, hurdles;
-Katie Krueger, senior, distance;
-Carys Gossett, junior, throws;
-Taite Johnson, sophomore, throws;
-Malia Burkhardt, sophomore, sprints;
-Paige Krueger, sophomore, sprints;
-Hayley Conrad, sophomore, pole vault;
-Jackie Rychlik, sophomore, pole vault;
-Paige Thallman, sophomore, sprints, hurdles;
-Bryn Hothem, sophomore, distance;
-Emerson Bautsch, freshman, distance;
-Ava Elliott, freshman, distance;
-Emily Thomas, freshman, sprints, hurdles.
“Overall, the teams are very young and inexperienced,” said Sundermeier. “The early-season goals revolve around testing athletes and getting them organized into appropriate event groups.
“Our coaches are working hard to develop the teams’ track IQ and prepare them for the rigorous challenges of a Division I season in Central Ohio,” he said. “Early on, many athletes are rising to the challenge and pushing hard to build a successful team.”
The core of the girls’ squad is a group of distance runners who return from the 2020 cross-country season.
They also hope to build on their experience from the indoor state championship this winter.
Krueger, Hothem, Bautsch and Elliott (plus others) have been training hard through the brutal winter cold and look to continue their progress as the group expands.
The pole vault group is led by nationally-ranked senior Brynn Rychlik (the state indoor runner-up), who hopes to continue raising the bar this spring.
“Our throws group has a good deal of potential with junior Carys Gossett and some underclassmen who will continue to progress under the tutelage of Coach (Chris) Terzis,” said Sundermeier.
“The sprints, jumps and hurdles athletes are young, but have shown potential to develop later in the season,” said the coach. “They are led by veteran Kendal Ellerbrock and young leaders like Malia Burkhardt.”
A strong group of multi-sport athletes looks to make an impact for the boys squad.
McSwords and Kessler are strong leaders who will help lead a group of potential scorers in the sprints and jumps.
That group also includes several Monarch football players such as Griffin Rigel, Drew Montgomery, Cameron Jones and Ryan Kern.
Paulo Pena and TJ Sahor have also been impressive in their early season workouts. They will look to develop a new crop of pole vaulters.
Grayson Niemi, Andrew Bentz and others have shown promise in the early season testing for the shot put and discus.
The distance crew had a dedicated winter and looks to take its fitness to the next level this spring.
Veterans Herring, Boston, Heap and Flanagan, along with freshman Blake Murgatroyd, are poised to help score and have their sights on several relay records.
“I feel that by May, we will be organized for a strong showing at the OCC Cardinal meet and the postseason,” said Sundermeier. “Building competitive relays will be a focal point, as will identifying and developing field event athletes.
“We are looking forward to utilizing our new facility and hosting four meets this spring.”