MORENCI — The Morenci boys track and field team will begin the year with similar numbers to last year but not nearly as much experience.
“We have a similar sized team as we did last year, which is good as we graduated over 10 seniors,” head coach Jon Boesger said of this year’s squad.
The Morenci boys team lost six seniors to graduation along with four exchange students who competed. They sent six athletes to the MHSAA Finals meet last season but only one returns.
Junior Kylan Lester competed in both the 100m and 4x100m relay at the state finals and coach Boesger will lean on him to provide stability in the sprints once again.
“Kylan set the school 100m dash record last year and we are going to be working hard to break it again this year,” Boesger said of his speedster. Lester will continue to build his stamina as he sets his sights on improving his 200m mark as well.
The Bulldog roster is thin in the running events as nine of their 16 athletes are primarily throwers.
Seniors Emmanuel DePalma and Briar Price and Junior Greysen Perez will provide vital leadership amongst the strongmen.
They’ll be joined by sophomores Drew Joughin, Brennen Harsh, Alex Ferris, Alex Lauffer and Gabriel Pospisil and freshman Colson Waltzer. Boesger noted that Joughin and Harsh ended their freshman campaigns on high notes with late season personal records, and he hopes to see that growth continue into year two.
Lester will be joined in the sprints by sophomore Brennan Mathias and freshmen Noah Zuvers and Hudson Moore. Freshman Aaron Brown will compete in hurdles and long jump.
Juniors Mohamed Adow and Tameem Sarhan will be utilized in both short distance and relays as well as high jump and long jump for the Bulldogs.
“Overall I am extremely optimistic for this group of athletes,” Boesger said. “There is so much potential and room for growth.”