MORENCI — The 2025 varsity boys track and field team will once again battle low numbers this spring, but still has enough potential to shine.
Head coach Jonathan Boesger will actually enjoy a slight increase in numbers as his team grew from 16 student athletes to 17, and among them are many key contributors from last year’s team.
“We went to state in the 4x800m and 4x100m last year and both of those teams are still intact,” Boesger said of his state qualifying relay teams from 2024. He also sees an opportunity for some athletes to make big strides in their individual events.
Beau Shaffer, a senior, was a member of the 4x800m relay last season, and will look to add a state qualifying bid in either the mile or two mile this year. Sophomore Kylan Lester is close to qualifying time for both the 100m and 200m as well as the anchor for the 4x100m relay team.
Senior Wyatt Berger continues to improve his discus performance and a state qualifying toss is within his reach.
Boesger also sees another group of competitors as potential bright spots for this year’s squad. “We have a ton of potential in our boys’ pole vaulting and our hurdlers,” he said. “I feel fairly confident they will be a bigger part of the team this year.”
Seniors Zach Martinez and Kevin Kaufman take on the pole vaulting duties in conjunction with hurdling. Classmate Van Ekins is close to a state qualifying time in the high hurdles.
Michael Rising, a senior sprinter, will run the 400m and fill in for sprint relays. Four senior foreign exchange students, Ishman Nafis Choudhury, Danilo Goranovic, Anil Guler and Jaloladdin Rahimov, will all compete across sprints and distance events with Rahimov potentially competing in long jump or discus.
Junior Emmanuel DePalma will compete in both shot put and discus and will be joined by sophomore Briar Price and freshmen Brennan Harsh and Drew Joughin.
Unfortunately the low numbers make filling out a meet and competing at a team level very difficult.
Fortunately there are multiple invitationals that offer a unique format with events that differ from traditional meets.
Clinton will host a “Thrower’s Only” meet on April 17 where the Bulldogs took second place last year and look to compete for the top spot this year.
The “Bobcat Legacy Relays” in Whiteford and the “Royals Invitational” in Blissfield will be on back to back Saturdays (April 12 and 19) and will feature co-ed mixed relays, freshman/sophomore relays as well as sprint and distance medleys. The shakeup in format provides an intriguing twist for coaches, athletes and fans alike.
Another twist this year is the opportunity for athletes to qualify for the state meet earlier than at the regional meet.
“It has to be at a certified meet, you have to have over six competitors, has to be FAT timed, has to have two MHSAA officials there,” Boesger said of the new standards in place this year. “It has to run the exact order of events set forth by the MHSAA, and cannot have any additional races or events.”
Not every invitational will meet these standards, but no matter where they compete, Boesger is optimistic about the season.
“They’re going to shine in their events no matter what invitational or meet we’re at, because they are good at what they do,” he said.