The boys track will have a tough time repeating as league champs this season. With the loss of six key seniors, the bulk of the points are gone. Multiple runners will have to step into new roles for the boys team to contend this season.
The main schools that the boys team will have to contend with are Stoney Creek and Groves. Their first meet is against their arch rival Groves on March 31st, which will truly show how talented the Maples squad is this year.
“I always get psyched for a meet against Groves,” junior Jimmy Feiten said. “A loss to the Falcons is just unacceptable.”
The boys squad has a young sprinting team that have really struggled to keep up in previous years. The long distance is the strong point for the boys track team, but the middle distance will need improvement with the loss of multiple seniors graduating.
With Ted Howard, Dave Barton, Michael Bender, Max Klindt, Justin Johnson, and Jack Rockiki all graduating, freshman phenoms Zach Demko and Jack Howard will be relied on to make an impact right off the bat.
The captains for the boys track are seniors Will Kane and Ryan Schloff. The two of them will be called upon to lead the team and prepare the boys for each meet.
“The captains are out there to set an example,” said Kane.
There are mixed emotions when it comes to expectations for this season. Junior Ryan Petry feels that their chances at winning leagues aren’t nearly as good as they were last year.
“I think we will be decent, but not as good as last year,” said Petry. “Winning the leagues will be quite a stretch for us.”
On the other hand, senior captain Will Kane is still setting the bar high even with the loss of so many key contributors.
“I would like to win the league,” said Kane. “It would be so nice to repeat.”
Training on the boys track team differs from each type of distance. Sprinters do shorter intervals and practice leg speed.
Distance runners go on the road for a long run twice a week, and also do long distance intervals on the track.
The training is tough for junior Nick Hill, but he knows that the tough training will show in his times during the meets.
“The practices make me feel miserable, but they help me out in the long run,” said Hill.
The team chemistry and the intense meets will help the boys team persevere throughout the season. These are the two key factors that the boys will need in order to be a successful team, which Nick Hill agrees with.
“The meets always come down to the wire, making track so exciting,” said Hill. “You also get to meet so many people.”
With a bulk of the girls track team returning this season, they look to be much improved from last year. With the team being moved down to Division two, the team hopes at winning leagues and regionals seem to be at an all time high.
Junior Alex Mathews believes that the team will make a complete turnaround after a dreadful year in Division one last season.
“Our goal is to win leagues and to get either first or second at regionals,” said Mathews.
Junior Maggie O’Reilly- Treter also believes that multiple people this season on the girls squad will be able to make the state cut.
“With the girls team moving down to Division two, I believe that many girls on our team will be able to qualify for the state meet,” said O’Reilly- Treter.
The tough team that Seaholm will have to face off against is their arch rival Groves. The meet against Groves is next Tuesday, which could decide whether the Maples win leagues or not. Waterford Mott was another tough track team, but they have moved out of the OAA division.
Key losses for the girls team last year were junior Dara Holliday and senior Ashley Harte. Holliday’s specialty was the 800 meters and Harte was known for her 400 meters, high jump, and long jump.
Incoming freshman Sarah Feiten will be called upon to be a contributor in the long distance races.
The same type of training that is done for boys track is applied to the girls team. The sprinters do shorter intervals and leg speed. The distance runners go on a 4-5 mile run on the road, and do intervals that the head coach Jeff Devantier sets.
The captains on the girls squad are seniors Lindsey Mandich, Sydne Hudson, and Lauren Nichols. They help organize the team, pick out team clothes, and decide what the team has to wear on the day of a meet.
These leaders will be called upon in order for the team to have a shot at leagues and regionals. With the help of these leaders and successful times, the 2009 season could be a bright one for the girls team.
