|
Boys’ track team returns experience to roster
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · March 12, 2025
The West Branch boys’ track team returns plenty of experience and will incorporate some new faces into this year’s roster.
The Bears had six seniors graduate from last year’s team, including state qualifiers Auron Marsh (long jump) and Joe Hamann (distance medley relay). However, West Branch has 31 members this season including lots of athletes with district meet experience after the Bears took ninth in the qualifying meet as a team.
“We were able to retain almost everybody who was out last year,” Bears Head Coach Taylor Larson said. “We have a really good core of kids. They’re good kids, they work their butts off, they’re dedicated.”
Juniors Conner Capper, Brandon Pedersen, and Lincoln Naber are the lone returning state qualifiers. The group ran alongside Hamann in the distance medley, which took 18th in Class 2A with a 3:38.49.
Capper also competed at districts in the 4x100 Meter Relay. Pedersen ran the 200 Meter Dash, 4x100, and shuttle hurdle, while Naber ran a leg of the 4x400 that came close to qualifying for state.
Larson said that Naber will be a big part of the team’s plans this season, while he has had laid out some goals for Pedersen that might included entering the junior in more individual races to help the team score points.
West Branch has just two seniors–Nathan Hills and Connor Rios–on this year’s team. Hills competed in districts in both the high jump and 100, while Rios took part in both the 4x100 and 4x200.
The coach said that Rios “has put some good time in this winter” while he is excited to have the high jump and hurdle ability that Hills provides.
The Bears have a large and experienced junior class of 16 athletes.
Nolan Staker had a promising campaign in hurdle events and competed in the 100 Meter Hurdles, 400 Hurdles, and shuttle hurdle at districts. Lynden MacGillivray anchored distance events and ran the 1600 Meter Run and 4x800 in the district meet, while Oliver Trepanier pitched in with the 400 and 4x800.
Reid Hansen also emerged late in the season, competing in both the sprint medley relay and the 4x4 at districts. Logan Christoffel was a versatile part of the sprinting corps with appearances in the sprint medley, 4x100, and 4x200. Finn McCullough also competed in both the shot put and discus throwing events.
Larson said that the returning sprinters could mirror the dominant group West Branch had two seasons ago that broke the school record in the 4x100 and medaled at state in the event before having the award stripped away due to a rules violation. The coach said the group from 2023 “took our licks when they were freshmen and took our licks when they were sophomores” before seeing big improvements in their final two seasons. He added that MacGillivray had a “really good cross country season” while running for Iowa City High in a co-op agreement.
Three returning sophomores gained district meet experience. Joseph Schlitz competed in the 1600 and 4x800, Preston Mayhew ran the 800 and 3200, and Josh Zoulek participated in the 4x800.
Junior Brennen Dale and sophomore Eli Farmer also return. Juniors Xavyer Boone, Jayden Harris, Bodee Morehead, Maddux Rushton, Griffin Seydel, and Wesley Strong join this year’s squad, while junior Michael Montgomery returns after a one-year hiatus to compete in throwing events. Kaleb Rios is another newcomer this season as a sophomore.
The coach said that getting Montgomery back in throwing events “is a huge win for us,” while Seydel and Boone showed talent in middle school track but will have to get reacquainted with training in their first high school years.
Six freshmen will work to slot in the lineup. Garrison Culver, Arik Marsh, Masyn Nicholson, Ty Stout, Garrett Tisinger, and Benjamin Ziehr make up the freshman class. Larson said that Stout could help form a promising shuttle hurdle team that could place at state alongside Staker and Pedersen and that the freshman also hopes to compete in individual hurdle events.
The Bears will gear up for the main meets of the year later in the season, starting with the River Valley Conference meet before heading into districts for a chance to qualify for the 2A state meet.
Larson said that 2A and the local competition “is tough for track,” but that “we’ll find some pieces and do some good things.” The coach added that he believes Stakers will qualify in the 110 hurdles along with the shuttle hurdle team, while the Bears will aim to “sneak in” some relay events as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
