Members of the MHS boys track and field squad are from left, front row, Gary Markin, Kevin Kruse, Nick Marinelli, Jared Smith, Anthony Kessler, Thomas Rice, Cole Bautsch, Jacob Ranker, Blake Angel, John Speasmaker, Tyler Marsh, Josh Zweizig and Kaleb Jeffers; second row, Tyler Hamlett, Elijah Newland, Parker Reese, Triston Mohler, Nathan Zweizig, Trace Mahood, Cody Swayne, Nate Francis, Demitrious Wilson, Riley Karnes, Shane Hothem and Tristan Karnes; third row, Cody Braun, AJ Grose, Colin Kovinchick, Trevor Cantwell, Dylan Given, Sean Waitkus, Caleb Dilsaver, Zach Paliga, Jeriah Hanf, Daniel Snodgrass, Caleb Newland and Sawyer Bix; fourth row, Cameron Jones, Trenton Siefring, Aiden Lambert, Drew Hardy, Brennan Bassinger, Ethan Shaw, Jack Ford, Jerry McNeil, Lane Coil, Fernando Rios, Harley Caruso and Luke Caltrider; fifth row, James Heap, Zach Young, Kam Antrim, Paolo Pena, Dustin Webb, Dominic Gaetano, Logan McSwords, Brian Boston, Bryce Thomas, Griffin Rigel, Wyatt, Leiter-Griffith, Cole Macey and Barrett Hatch; sixth row, Nick Kessler, Chris Lambert, Elijah Hull, Tyler Yates, Max Miller-Brown, Anthony Coy, Austin Bentz, Matt Hull, Nick Irving, Graham Guider and Cameron Smith; back row, head coach Luke Sundermeier, coach Chris Terzis, Drew Montgomery, Andrew Bentz, Wes Laurenson and coaches Caleb Downey, Scott Forney and Carrie Cook.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
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The 2019 track and field season will present the Marysville Monarchs with some challenges.
The stadium renovation project has left the program without a home facility for the season.
As noted in past Journal-Tribune articles, the boys and girls squads have improvised practice areas, but will not host a home meet this spring.
“As a coaching staff, we have to be creative and find ways to continue working to shift the standard in a positive direction,” said head coach Luke Sundermeier. “We do not have a home track facility, but we cannot let this fact serve as an excuse.
“Difficult cannot be confused with impossible.
“The teams have embraced the challenge of defining their season in a positive way and are prepared to do the necessary work,” he said. “Track and field is based around physics, but ultimately, physics doesn’t care about our logistics.
“Accountability is real and we’re all looking forward to another strong postseason run,” said the coach. “In the end, this is a valuable life lesson in overcoming adversity and not losing sight of your goals.”
The boys’ team totals a roster of 89 athletes.
It includes three-year lettermen Anthony Kessler (sprints and jumps) and Jacob Ranker (hurdles).
Two-year veterans are Blake Angel (hurdles and jumps), Chris Lambert (middle distance), Triston Mohler (hurdles) and Thomas Rice (throws).
Those who have earned one varsity letter to date include Trevor Cantwell (sprints), Jeriah Hanf (sprints), brothers Tristan and Riley Karnes (distance), Aidan Lambert (sprints and jumps), Nick Marinelli (jumps), Gary Markin (pole vault), Tyler Marsh (distance), Logan McSwords (hurdles and jumps), Elijah Newland (pole vault), Jared Smith (sprints), John Speasmaker (distance) and Cameron Strickland (sprints).
The veterans will be joined by newcomers Cole Bautsch, Lane Coil, James Heap and Bryce Thomas (distance), thrower Andrew Bentz, jumper Trenton Siefring and sprinter Paolo Pena.
“The boys team continues to grow and develop,” said Sundermeier. “It will be anchored by a strong hurdles group led by senior Jacob Ranker. The sprints and distance groups showed a lot of potential in the early weeks of practice and we expect several freshmen to be key contributors.
“As usual, we hope to build a few strong relay teams in order to make a postseason run.”
The coach said the senior boys – Kessler, Ranker, Angel, Rice, Marinelli, Markin, Marsh, Smith, Speasmaker, Strickland and Bautsch – have communicated their expectations and plan to hold the whole team accountable in pursuit of big goals.
“Overall, we have lots of multi-sport boys who are prepared to run, jump and throw while learning about their potential as part of the track and field program and developing as athletes,” said Sundermeier.
The Lady Monarch squad is approximately half the size (45) as the boys’ unit.
Third-year letter winner Katie Miller, a senior, leads the team as she competes in the sprints and jumping events.
Those who have earned two letters include Mary Calvert (sprints and pole vault), Haley Cook (hurdles, jumps and sprints), Caitlin Cotner (middle-distance and jumps), Grace Keller (pole vault), Leanne Eichorn (distance), Rhiannon Gossett (throws), Leah Hardy and Jacquelyn Witt (distance), Anna Kinney (middle distance), Katelyn Rabe (hurdles and pole vault) and Jenna Rioch (sprints and middle distance).
One-year letter winners are Kendal Ellerbrock (sprints), Grace Leonard (throws), Kala Michalak (distance), Tyshondra Russell (sprints and jumps) and Brynn Rychlik (pole vault).
Newcomers include hurdler Breanna Bailey, sprinters Leah Emmons, Raegan Landon, Emily Madsen and Josie Wolfe, thrower Carys Gossett and middle-distance runner Rachel Chesbrough.
The Lady Monarchs return a strong group of experienced middle distance runners and those in various specialty events such as the pole vault.
Last spring, the 4×400 and 4×800 relays nearly made the state meet with at-large qualifications.
“Being so close to qualification serves as a motivator for the 2019 campaign,” said Sundermeier. “The girls are prepared to put in the necessary work to achieve big goals and have a successful season.
“Our upperclassmen leadership is outstanding this year and has been honed all off-season with meetings of the T&F Leadership Council,” he said. “The athletes are taking ownership of their goals and promoting positive changes on the team to make them happen.”
Sundermeier said the girls squad is still looking to fill some spots in the lineup for hurdles and high jump, but has several athletes showing potential.
He said the relays will serve as a strength, adding, “we hope to continue setting new school records this year.”