By Jane Palen

Managing Editor

The number of athletes in track continues to grow every year, creating the type of challenges that head coaches Paul Stevens and Carl Fruechte like to tackle.

ìWeíre excited about the numbers,î said boysí coach Carl Fruechte. ìIím glad more kids are coming out instead of going home and sitting on the couch.î

This year the team will be looking to its experienced sprinters, including Andy Marnach, Travis Steele and Clint Grabhorn. Chris Jandt and Kyle Hunzeker will be participating in field events, Jandt in the long jump and triple jump and Hunzeker in the high jump. Mike Roellich will be competing in the distance events. Hunzeker went to the section finals last year. Jandt was prevented from going due to an injury.

Chris Summers will likely return in the shot put event, and Eddie Hodges, an eighth grader, will be participating in field events as well.

ìWe let kids pick their events,î said Fruechte, the head boysí coach. ìWe need to make sure the kids are happy. Theyíll work hard at what they like.î

Lucas Muenkel, who graduated last year, is helping out this year as a volunteer coach.

Mabel-Canton students are eligible to participate on the track team this year, along with Spring Grove. The team also had several juniors join the team, including Adam Zard, Kevin and Karl Klug, and Sam Gerardy.

The first week of competition will be a hard one with two meets close together. The first meet of the season was in Holmen on Tuesday, and on Thursday Caledonia will host Westby.

ìItís hard on kids to have meets back to back,î commented coach Fruechte.

A record 39 athletes have joined the girlsí track program this year, said coach Paul Stevens. Some are interested mainly in track, while other want to stay in shape for other sports or to maintain their fitness level. Stevens said he is a little short on uniforms, but likes to see those numbers.

With the increased numbers, the team added Reese Waite as an assistant coach.

Stevens is returning some athletes that did well last year, and is expecting to be strong in the sprints. There are some returning athletes who have injuries, and Stevens is hoping that they will recover and be able to contribute to the team this season.

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