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Wednesday
April 04, 2007
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SPORTS
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Friday, March 30, 2007
Ready, Willing and
Able
By Mike
Smith
Capital Journal Staff
PIERRE - A team that
is coming off its first state track championship in 60 years remains
hungry.
Despite graduating 10 seniors from last year's team,
including state champions Quincy Christie and Michael Tveidt, the
Pierre Governors will again be one of the contenders for top honors.
The Govs and Lady Govs are in action Saturday at an indoor meet in
Aberdeen. They open the home season Tuesday at the annual Early Bird
meet.
"We've got about 62 boys and a lot of talented kids,"
said boys' coach Geoff Gross, starting his fourth year as head
coach. "We're having trouble getting everyone an event (in
Aberdeen). That kind of depth is a good problem to have. A couple of
years ago, we were having to run some distance runners in the
sprints. We don't have to do that anymore."
Gross said this
year's team is just as determined as last year's state
champions.
"We had a lot of great seniors last year
obviously," said Gross. "But this team also has some lofty goals.
Hopefully our returning state place-winners can assume the roles of
the star performers and we have enough individual depth to be
competitive in the conference and state."
Even with loss of
Christie, the short sprints will be a team strength again. Senior
Cameron Rogers was bedeviled by hamstring injuries all of 2006 but
is making up for lost time.
"He was starting to get it
together at ESD and then pulled the hamstring again at the end of
the prelims," said Gross. "He's been looking good. Lucas Solberg is
another senior sprinter. He is a powerful runner and I'd put him up
against anyone on a straightaway."
Jarett Klinger was fifth
last year in the 100-meter dash finals at state. Only a sophomore,
Klinger is the top returning sprinter in Class AA.
"He's
been very hungry all winter long and is chomping at the bit," said
Gross.
Another top athlete is Matt Tetzlaff, the defending
110-meter hurdle champion as a freshman. Gross said Tetzlaff will be
utilized in the sprints as well.
"Obviously the hurdles are
going to take priority but we want to use him to the fullest," said
Gross.
Tallis Couto, a senior exchange student from Brazil,
has been learning on the run, so to speak.
"We've got a lot
of young sprinters including a good freshmen class (Jayme Hipple,
Graham Schuetzle, Zach Merwin, Jake Parsons)," said Gross. "They are
all looking good and we have some other freshmen that are coming
along."
Tetzlaff will lead the hurdlers and will be supported
by Hipple, Quinn Holden and Seth Brotherton.
"Quinn and Seth
are both veterans," said Gross. "Seth is just a sophomore but he's
continuing to improve."
The distance runners are led by
junior Travis Fitzke, who was second in the 1,600-meter run and
third in the 800-meter run at state. Matt Bump is the only senior.
He is a four-year performer for the Govs
"Matt's approached
the season much more aggressively and has assumed a leadership
roles, as have all our seniors," said Gross. "We have a slew of
middle distance guys (junior Sean Melmer, sophomores Alec Espeland,
Bryce Drapeaux, and Dillon Paulsen and freshman Kris Monroe). Our
distance is very deep."
Triple and long jumpers are unproven
but have potential. Aaron Trimble, Sid Intorn, Devin Rounds, Merwin
and Schuetzle.
"At the end of last season, they were just
starting to get things figured out," said Gross. "If they can keep
up that learning curve, that will be a place where we can score some
points."
The pole vaulters, which graduated team record
holder Tane Owens, is also looking to make their marks in the coming
season. Names to remember as the season progresses include Trey
Owens, Even Fuller, Matt Blake, Ryan Blake, Trent Thompson, and
Danny Meyer.
Senior Brandt Payne, sixth in the shot put at
state, will lead the team in the field events. Nate White is another
returning senior who will be a shot and discus thrower. Gross has
attracted a couple of other newcomers joined the team.
"We
have a couple of seniors who are out for track for the first time
after a hiatus," said Gross. "Chad Johnson and Lucas Leidholt have
both shown good potential."
Andy Smith is the top returning
high jumper and will be joined by Tetzlaff.
"That is an
event where someone can go to 5-10 and have a chance to place at
state," said Gross.
Gross said Pierre is the most balanced
team in the ESD but Watertown will be strong in the jumps and
throws. Yankton has dominating distance runners.
"With our
diversity, we have to be hoping for a top two finish at ESD," said
Gross.
Lady Govs coach Craig Ulmann is also dealing with the
graduation loss of some stellar performers.
"We're down a
little bit this year in numbers but the quality-wise will be pretty
good," he said. "We're going to lean on our state
performers."
One Lady Gov to watch is discus thrower Drew
Miller (fourth at state last year). "We also have Polly Gill and
Paige Burkett, a freshmen who came on strong last year," said
Ullmann. "Loryn Schuetzle is a senior who is also a thrower for
us."
Jen de Hueck, who was hampered by injuries last year, is
expected to bounce back her last year.
"(De Hueck), Katie
Buehler and Abbie Mitchell will carry the load for us in the
distance races," said Ullmann. "But for the most part we are going
to be very young, track-wise.
One of the youngest performers
will be eighth-grader Jordyn Anderson, who will be competing in the
short sprints for the Lady Govs. Sophomore Alexa Berg is a long
jumper, hurdler and will compete in the relays.
Others who
will be competing in Aberdeen include freshman Morgan Finley and
Mollie Holden, sophomores Amy Miles and Raven Cummings and juniors
Jenna Chalcraft, Kaley Intorn and Morgan McLain. Senior Pamela
Storozynski will also compete Saturday.
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