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New coach gets team with returning talent
by Matthew Dickinson, sports editor · Sports · March 12, 2025
The West Branch girls’ track and field team has an intriguing blend of new and returning talent in the program’s first season under Head Coach Tony Senio.
Senio will take over the head role after two seasons as an assistant with a focus on middle distance runners under former Head Coach Luke Posivio, who stepped away from the role after last season. A 1996 graduate of West Branch, Senio has stayed active in various capacities with his alma mater.
“I had a great experience with my high school track coach and he taught me a lot of things that went beyond that season that I could apply to other aspects of my life,” Senio said. “And that’s really what excites me most about doing this. To be able to do it for my hometown is really special for me.”
The transition from assistant to the head role gave Senio a taste of his current role, but the new coach had a bit of a learning curve to start out.
“Frankly, I had no idea how much would be involved in the head coaching aspect of it, like all the administrative stuff–scheduling, getting team meals and pictures and all that put together,” he said. “Administrative duties are not my strength.”
The coach added that the returning assistant staff of Dan Zuniga and Cooper Kabela, along with new assistant Morgan Mason, have helped him out with some of the day-to-day needs to run the program.
Senio also has personal ties to this year’s squad, with daughters Iva Senio (Class of 2023) and eighth grader Kainoa Senio participating in sports alongside several team members.
“When I first assisted on the staff as an assistant, I know some of the girls were skeptical that I was just there because my kid [Iva] was there,” the coach said. “I think over the years I’ve proven to them that I really want to be here for them.”
He added that he is especially interested in coaching the sport since it provides the skills needed for the team’s members to develop a well-rounded skill set that they can apply to other sports they compete in and “increase the athleticism in our female student athletes.”
The Bears will have 25 on their roster this season as of March 10 after West Branch graduated just three seniors from last year’s team. After a few weeks of practice, Senio said that he has a “hardworking group” that stands out because they approach workouts with a positive mindset.
Seniors Alyssa Pierce and Amber Wolf will help lead the charge in their final season. Pierce is coming off her best season of a remarkable throwing career, breaking the school record in shot put before topping her own bests several times throughout the remainder of the season. The senior also qualified for her first Drake Relays appearance in the event while grabbing her first Class 2A state medal with a fourth-place finish and a throw of 40 feet, 9 1/4 inch toss in her third state meet appearance in the class.
Wolf also made significant strides while specializing in hurdle events. The senior competed in both the 100 Meter Hurdles and 400 Meter hurdles but came up just shy of qualifying for state out of a tough district in Tipton.
“It’s great to have girls who are dedicated like that,” Senio said of his two senior captains. “And then also show up and practice, and show others how to work without having to get on them or anything like that. They’re great role models.”
Senior Katey Lenoch is the other senior on the team.
A strong junior class and some returning sophomores will also help the Bears this season.
Sophomore standout Grace Hamann burst onto the scene last season, posting several impressive times during the regular season in middle distance events while qualifying for state in three events. She earned a medal with an eighth-place 800 Meter Run in 2:19.93 while also claiming 10th in the 1500 in 4:56.97. Hamann also ran the 800 leg of the 15th-place distance medley alongside juniors Addi Schultes, Kennedy Simpson, and Lexi Skay, which finished in 4:22.83.
Senio said that Hamann “could train around the clock” and “has a motor that most people don’t, with the athleticism to go with it.” The coach added that the standout sophomore “is a genuinely kind person” who remains humble despite the success she’s seen among several sports in her young career.
Schultes and Simpson will be the team’s top two returning sprinters, while Skay returns as the main 400 runner. The trio also competed in the 4x400 relay at districts, which came close to qualifying for state.
Seven other members of last season’s team which had a ninth-place finish at the district meet return. Junior Caitlyn Harrison ran in the 800 and 4x800, while fellow junior Alyssa Vargason competed in the high jump while also running the 4x100 and 4x200. Sophomore Cassie Swisher ran in the 200 and sprint medley relay as well.
Juniors Saylee Gingerich, Jenie Gomez, Rena Holmes, and Abby Linn also return. Tori Vikel is a newcomer to this year’s team as a sophomore.
“That junior class, I’ve really got to give them credit,” Senio said. “They’re kind of the heart and soul of this team right now. They’re upperclassmen now, basically all of them have gone out or at least tried to compete the last couple of years. And that junior class alone is going to score a lot of points.
An enormous freshman class of 11 will add an infusion of depth and talent to the team. Olivia Becker, Delaney Blindt, Lila Finzel, Halia Gade, Lander Malloy, Emeri Poock, Karly Shelton, Lyla Snyder, Greta Voss, Katlynn Waite, and Cameron Waters make up the incoming high schoolers.
“We’re freshmen heavy,” Senio said. “We need to learn [about] these girls and also see how our other girls grow.”
He added that the team had a big group of freshmen last season but retained only two members from last year’s roster. Senio said he hopes to keep as many of this freshman group as possible next season while looking to add numbers in other classes.
While the Bears have plenty of established talent in several players, each early-season meet should look different. Senio said that he will shuffle lineups around in the early season up until the home meet in order to “not let anybody get too comfortable in any one event.”
The coach said that he will then work to figure out the best events for each competitor to get the most out of the events that will best set the team up for success. Senio also said he will look to focus on the 400 and 800 distances for his runners before determining which athletes would be best suited for longer distances and sprints.
While Senio hopes his athletes find success in big meets such as the River Valley Conference, district, and state, the first-year coach has a grounded approach to this season.
“Before the first practice, you kind of have something in mind of how things might go,” he said. And then it takes about two days and then you’re like, all right. I don’t know why I’m planning like that, but just start over and let’s reset, put in the work, and see where we end up. We’ll try to keep them healthy, try to keep them happy.”
The coach added that he will be emphasizing “fueling and hydration” as well as getting proper sleep.
Despite the possible unknowns, Senio says his team has potential to make some waves at the end of the year.
“The big picture of the season is quiet optimism,” the coach said. “I think that as long as they stay positive, their hard work will pay off, and they will find success.”
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