The boys track and field season is already underway for West Michigan Conference teams, but it begins in earnest now that spring break is in the rear-view mirror.
Whitehall has the depth and talent across the board to be a decided favorite to repeat as conference champion, and achieve more beyond that, but don’t count out Hart.
Here are preview capsules of the 2022 season in the conference based upon info submitted to CatchMark. Teams are arranged alphabetically:
HART PIRATES
Coach: Ken Kimes (2nd season at Hart, 22nd year overall)
Last year: Second place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Kellen Kimes: Shot put, discus (broken school records already this season in the discus at 162 feet, 11 inches and shot put at 52-10).
Clayton Ackley: 1600, 3200
Noah Bosley: 1600, 3200
Seth Ackley: 1600, 3200
Wyatt Dean: 400, 800 (has a shot to break school record in the 800)
Easton Vanderswagg
JoseLuis Andeverde
Revin Gale: Pole vault
Hunter Chaffee
Caleb Westerbeek: 300 hurdles
Blane Bromley
Austin Bowen
Josef Bromley
Mason Contreras: High jump
Key newcomers:
Kaden Bond
Eman Hertzler
Max Stitt
Austin Martinez
Zane Thomas
Connor Edwards
Season outlook:
Ken Kimes believes the Pirates will make a run for the West Michigan Conference championship. “I think our season will go great with a possible top-three team placing at the state meet,” he said. “We won our first invitational (of the season) at MCE, scoring 64 more total points than the second place-finishing team.” Hart has strong distance runners, but Kimes pointed out that with regionals so close to the conference meet, sometimes tough decisions have to be made whether to compete fully or hold off a bit for regionals.
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL SPARTANS
Coach: Patrick Nelson (3rd season)
Last year: Third place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Andrew Quinn: Throws (runner-up in shot put at Division 3 state finals)
Ethan Wood: Pole vault, long jump, sprints (state qualifier in pole vault and long jump)
Jeremiah Patterson: Jumps, sprints
Russell Schade: Middle distance
Max Nichols: Hurdles, sprints
Gavin Shirey: Distance
Key newcomers:
Hunter Sanford: Distance
Kenton Spyker: Sprints
Quintin Lange: Jumps
Season outlook:
The Spartans have more depth than previous seasons. According to Nelson, their strength will be in the field events and sprints. Mason County Central will be looking to improve in the middle-distance events. The Spartans should be in contention for another top-half finish in the West Michigan Conference this season.
MONTAGUE WILDCATS
Coach: Terry Fick
Last year: Fourth place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Dylan Everett: Sprints, long jump (state qualifier in 100, 200 and long jump)
Silas Jancek: Throws, sprints
Cale Coppess: Middle distance
Clay Johnson: Distance
Rodney Brassfield: High jump
Kevin Roll: Pole vault, long sprints
Kendall Degan: Pole vault
Andrew Kooi: Long jump, sprints
Gabe Lohman
Vincent Maginity
Marshall Short
Key newcomers:
Adam Baird: Sprints, relays
Isaiah Atchison: Long sprints, relays
Brody Dietz: Sprints, relays
DaCarri Williams: Sprints, relays, high jump
Paul Olson: Sprints
Zach Henderson: Pole vault, relays
William Neubauer: Hurdles
Joe Winkleman: Throws
Tristan Winkleblack: Pole vault
Riley Mulder: Middle distance
Aydan Everett: Sprints, throws
Alex Dravesid: Distance
Hunter Phipps: Middle distance
River Jarka: Sprints
Kaden Priese: Throws
River Slamkowski: Sprints, throws
Diego Velazquez: Throws
Tyler Risch: Sprints
Jason Randall: Sprints
Trent Benninger
Talan Degan: Sprints, long jump
Jack Degan
Season outlook:
Montague’s numbers are up this season. The Wildcats lost to graduation a couple top throwers in Walker Martin and Chris Kessler, plus their top distance runner in Kaden Hainer, but they boast a strong group of sprinters led by Everett and should still be strong in field events. “I think just going out and competing every meet will make for a good season,” said Fick, who will be assisted by Craig Graham, Justin Dennett, RJ Nordlund, Chelsea Binder, Joe Brunsen and Dick Smith.
NORTH MUSKEGON NORSEMEN
Coach: Al Karaba (33rd season)
Last year: 2-5 dual record, sixth place in the West Michigan Conference meet
Key returnees:
Kelty Blastic: 100, 200 (all-conference last season)
Jude Meldrum-Roy: 1600, 3200 (all-conference last season)
Jack Erne: 800, 1600
Parker Maciejewski: 1600, 3200
Evan Atkinson-Miller: 800, 1600
Logan Tyson: 400, 800
Season outlook:
North Muskegon’s numbers are good with more than 20 athletes. Karaba said that a lot of young athletes need to fill spots to help the Norsemen compete in the league. He noted that the Division 3 regional meet at Montague will be a season highlight.
OAKRIDGE EAGLES
Coach: Dominic Taylor (1st season as head coach, 2nd overall)
Last year: 2-4 dual record, fifth-place finish at West Michigan Conference meet
Key returnees:
Gavin Anderson: Pole vault, sprints
Spencer Anderson: Hurdles (high point-scorer last season)
Blake Armstrong: Middle distance
Derek Driscoll: Throws
Lorenzo Garcia: Sprints
Aiden Hascher: Middle distance
Christopher Knapp Jr.: Sprints
Aidan Rios: Throws
Iceton Shappee: Throws
Justin Smith: Distance
Christopher Swarts: Sprints
Michael Thompson: Sprints, long jump
Season outlook:
Taylor said the Eagles are excited for the season, as they have nearly double the roster numbers over last year. Oakridge should be able to have someone compete in each event. Taylor hopes the Eagles can be competitive in West Michigan Conference duals this season as well as improve their final conference standing over last year.
RAVENNA BULLDOGS
Coach: Katie Tumele (4th season)
Last year: 1-6 dual record, seventh place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Grant Becklin: Sprints, long jump
Hunter Hogan: Sprints
Isaiah Kooiman: Sprints
Rafael Barcenas: Distance
Clay Schullo: Sprints
Matthew Anton: Middle distance, distance
Nathan Kooiman: Sprints
Key newcomers:
JJ Houseman: Middle distance
Issac Korson: Sprints
James Lemke: Middle distance
Ulrich Heinreichsberger: Sprints
Season outlook:
Tumele said the Bulldogs are excited to be “somewhat back to normal” after COVID-19 made such in impact on track seasons the last two years. Sprints should be one of Ravenna’s strengths, while Tumele also is looking forward to seeing how her relay teams perform. She believes the Bulldogs’ relays can compete at the top of the conference.
SHELBY TIGERS
Coach: Geoffrey Kies (4th season)
Last year: Eight place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Nicholas Baffi: Sprints
Ricardo Bahena Jr.: Sprints
Hayden Bowen: 400, high jump
Colby Dawson: Throws
Issac Scouten: Throws
Abel Still: 400, 300 hurdles
Joseph Foster: Throws
Key newcomers:
Benjamin Cederquist: Sprints
Levi Cooley: Sprints
Jonathan Carballido: Distance
Bishop Lee: Throws
Chase Mero: Sprints
Season outlook:
Kies said the roster number is a strength this season, as the Tigers have 26 boys out for the team. They’re looking to shore up hurdles and select field events. Overall, the goal will be to improve each meet leading into conference and regional meets.
WHITEHALL VIKINGS
Coach: Kirk Mikkelson (28th season)
Last year: 7-0 in duals, first place in the West Michigan Conference, Division 2 state runner-up and regional runner-up
Key returnees:
David Conrad: Pole vault
Wesley Russell: Throws
Landen Snay: Sprints, long jump
Nate Bolley: Long jump, sprints, middle distance
Malcolm Earvin: Sprints
Red Watson: Sprints
Riley Buys: Distance, middle distance
Jack Houtteman: Middle distance, distance
Carter McIlroy: Distance
Andre Richmond: Distance
Logan Sines: Hurdles, sprints
Zander Brown: Sprints
Lukas Palmer: Jumps, sprints, middle distance
Graycen Shepherd: Sprints, throws
Micah Witham: Pole vault, middle distance
Ca’Mar Ready: Jumps, sprints
Key newcomers:
Camden Thompson: Jumps, hurdles
Kal Koehler: Long jump, sprints
Trannon Aylor: Jumps, sprints
Finn Muller: Distance, middle distance
Season outlook:
With its depth and talent across the board, Whitehall will be considered the favorite to repeat as West Michigan Conference champion and beyond. Mikkelson has been coaching a long time and he’s enjoyed a lot of success, but he said this could be one of the Vikings’ best teams ever. “We have really good athletes, who are already breaking school records or approaching them,” he said. “The attitude and work ethic is convincing me that this group wants to do great things. The younger guys are stepping in immediately and filling the gaps left by the graduating class of last year.”
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