MORENCI — The 2025 varsity girls track and field team will rely heavily on individual performances this year changing pace from the relay strength of its 2024 version.
They sent three relay teams (4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m) to the state meet last year, however four of the five members of those teams will not be available this year.
That type of production is not easily replaced. “You’re telling me,” coach Jonathon Boesger opined as he looked over last year’s results. “I don’t see us being able to fill out a meet throughout the entire year,” Boesger said of the shorthanded squad.
The Bulldogs will start the season with just 14 student athletes and look to fill in the gaps where they can.
“We graduated two of our top point earners from last year in Kiana Castillo and Leah Rorick,” Boesger said.
Despite the lost production from last year, there is still potential to qualify for the state meet in even more events this year.
Sophomore Emma Williams is the lone returning member of the state qualifying sprint relay teams from 2024, and has her sights on the individual 100m, 200m and 400m sprints in 2025. She qualified in the 100m last year and ran a qualifying time in 200m in a post regional meet.
Boesger thinks sophomore transfer student Hailey Cleveland will have the biggest impact on the team.
“I think she’s athletic enough to try whatever she wants to try, and get good at it,” Boesger said of Cleveland. “The plan is to try her in sprints and potential pole vault and see where it goes from there.”
Boesger noted that sophomore Tessa Zuvers has shown improvements in terms of athleticism and aggressiveness and he expects her to have a strong showing in long jump this year.
Ava Alcock, a junior, vaulted 7’ last year and will go for the 8’ state qualifying standard throughout the season.
Junior Rachel Meadows and senior Emily Zuvers will showcase their versatility and compete in sprints and throws throughout the season.
Two throwers are eyeing state qualifying tosses as they enter the season.
Senior Zoey Martinez is close to qualifying standard in both shot put and discus, while classmate Makayla Nieman looks to make her mark in the discus.
Six of the 14 athletes primarily compete in the throwing events and are very much looking forward to defending their 2024 Clinton “Throwers Only” championship on April 17.
Senior Paige Cousino, junior Rebecca Cox, sophomore Jayla McCowan and freshmen Lillian Harsh and Shaina Johns will also compete in the throwing events.
“We are returning everybody that was an integral part of winning that meet, so I think the girls have a very good chance of winning that one,” Boesger said. “We have some pretty athletic girls that can move around the track.”
There will be two other unique meets (“Bobcat Legacy Relays” in Whiteford and the “Royals Invitational” in Blissfield) held on back to back Saturdays on April 12 and 19. These invitationals will provide co-ed relays, underclassmen-only relays, and as sprint and distance medleys.
The Royals Invitational will be the best opportunity for Morenci to place high as a team. “That meet is specifically designed for small teams that can’t necessarily fill out entire full relays and other events,” Boesger said.