Whitehall, Montague and Hart are coming off strong girls track and field seasons in 2021 and they again look to be the cream of the crop this spring in the West Michigan Conference.
Whitehall is the defending champion in both the league and the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association. Meanwhile, Montague and Hart return athletes who earned state championships and other top state finals finishes in relay events.
Here are preview capsules of the 2022 season in the conference based upon info submitted to CatchMark. Teams are arranged alphabetically:
HART PIRATES
Coach: Calvin Ackley (3rd at high school level, 27th overall)
Last year: Placed fifth at Division 3 state finals
Key returnees:
Alyson Enns: Returning all-stater and member of the state champion 4×800 relay team
Audrey Enns: Returning all-stater and member of the state champion 4×800 relay team
Lauren Vanderlaan
Kendall Williamson
Savanna Owens
Aspen Boutell
Lynessa Fielder
Selena Herrera
Abby Pretty
Natalie Rodriguez
Abigail Simkins
Gina VanderKodde
Key newcomers:
Addi Hovey
Jessie Jazwinski
LexieBeth Nienhuis
Laura Bitely
Audrey Aerts
Season outlook:
Hart is hoping to improve upon its fifth-place finish at the state finals. Typically, the Pirates have had a real strength in the distance events, which continues to be the case, but this season they are more well-rounded, which should help their chances down the road. “Not only do we have goals at the state finals, we are a PR team,” Ackley said. “We also strive for personal improvement no matter what ability, having fun and to be a serving and helping member of our team.”
MASON COUNTY CENTRAL SPARTANS
Coach: Maria Holbrook (20th season at MCC, 31st season overall)
Last year: Fourth in the West Michigan Conference, seventh at regionals, 10th at the Division 3 state finals
Key returnees:
Ava Brooks: Mid-distance; scored 74 points last season
Jayden Baker: Mid-distance and sprints; scored 57 points last season
AshlynRose Kelley: Mid-distance; scored 11.75 points last season
Reaghan Brooks: Throws; scored four points last season
Season outlook:
Holbrook said it is difficult to prediction how her team will do this year so early in the season. The Spartans have only one upperclassman in Kelley, who is a senior. They have three sophomores and four freshmen. “They are good athletes. We have good leaders and have a great work ethic,” Holbrook said. “It will be fun to see the season progress and see how well they improve heading towards the conference meet (which Mason County Central hosts). We have a small team, but other teams in the conference have the same numbers.” Holbrook specializes in girls and boys hurdlers and jumpers, while assistant Katie Cooper works with girls and boys throwers.
MONTAGUE WILDCATS
Coach: Terry Fick
Last year: Division 3 regional champion, eighth place at state finals; 4×200 relay team won the state title and 4×100 relay team placed second at state
Key returnees:
Natalie Erickson: Member of 4×200 relay team that won state title and 4×100 relay team that placed second at state; also all-state in the 100 and 200
Claire Meacham: Do-everything athlete, who competed in shot put, discus, high jump and 300 hurdles as she scored big in all four events
Maddie Meacham: Member of 4×200 relay team that won state title and 4×100 relay team that placed second at state; also qualified in pole vault
Brooke Stark: Member of 4×200 relay team that won state title and 4×100 relay team that placed second at state; also scored in the 200
Lauren Smith: Member of 4×200 relay team that won state title and 4×100 relay team that placed second at state; also scored in 100 and long jump
Emma Pendell: Scored for the Wildcats in pole vault
Isabelle Auch: Scored in distance events
Britta Johnson: Did whatever was needed, including hurdles, 4×800 relay, 4×400 relay and 400 dash
Cammie Erickson: Scored in the 300 hurdles, 4×800 relay and 100 hurdles
Brooke Berry: Scored in the throws
Hanna Metcalf: Scored in long jump
Elizabeth Woller: Mid-distance
Sam Beishuizen: Mid-distance
Autumn Phipps: Hurdles and pole vault
Key newcomers:
Haylee Schwarz: Pole vault and sprints
Orianna Byslma: Pole vault
Amanda Cederquist: Hurdles
Jocelyn Rodriguez: Throws
Liv Seaver: Mid-distance
Grace Torsch: Mid-distance
Annie Jensen: Pole vault and sprints
Ella Hain: Mid-distance
Lizeth Guzman: Distance
April Howard: Distance
Ella Flynn: Mid-distance
Natalie Basset
Aubrey Misiora
Henni Semi
Dania Ibarra
Season outlook:
As usual, Montague’s top meets in the West Michigan Conference will be those involving Whitehall and Hart as well as the overall conference meet. The Wildcats are looking to defend their regional title, likely having to do so against an always strong Kent City squad. Montague will be hosting the regional. “Going out and competing at every meet, trying to PR and try to be at our best come end of May,” Fick said. “We will have to compete against an always strong Whitehall team, and Hart’s distance team has added a very good sprinter. It should be a great conference race, and we plan on being right in the middle of it all.” Montague has added some new coaches along with Fick, including Justin Dennett, Craig Graham, RJ Nordlund, Chelsea Binder and Joe Brunsen.
NORTH MUSKEGON NORSEMEN
Coach: Phoebe Schroeder (1st season)
Last year: 0-7 in duals
Key returnees:
Gabriella Wingard: 1600 and 3200; all-conference last year; state qualifier in the 3200 and in cross country for the past three seasons
Whitney Byard: 100 hurdles and sprints
Carolyn Bennett: 1600 and 3200; all-conference last year; state qualifier in the 3200 and in cross country
Season outlook:
North Muskegon looks to sport a much larger roster than last season, but the Norse will have a lot of inexperienced runners competing in key spots. The team’s focus will be on improving each week and preparation for the regionals on May 21. Schroeder, who is a former Norse runner, takes over the reins from her coach, Doug Clark. Clark retired after coaching track at North Muskegon for 33 seasons.
OAKRIDGE EAGLES
Coach: Danielle Groendyk (1st season as head coach, 2nd in track)
Last year: Seventh in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Raegan Ruel: Distance
Merceydez Patton: Distance
Milla Hanks: Mid-distance
Chloe Slack: Sprints
Saidee Raap: Sprints
Key newcomers:
Destyni Lane: Sprints
Cara Morse: Mid-distance
Jacklyn Wei: Sprints
Season outlook:
Oakridge’s goal this season is to build the program. The Eagles are coming off a season with very few numbers and they’re hoping to build a new team culture for the track program at the school. This season’s roster features 17 athletes. Oakridge again will be hosting the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association meet, this time on Friday, May 6.
RAVENNA BULLDOGS
Coach: Monte Gerwig (8th season)
Last year: 3-4 in duals, fifth place in the West Michigan Conference
Key returnees:
Grace Banuelos
Marissa Calderson
Alexis DeNio
Gabrielle Dohm
Isabelle Emery
Alivia Gilbert
Alison Phillips
Kendra Postema: School record-holder in the 200 and state qualifier in long jump, 100 and 200; all-state in the 200; academic all-state
Claira Schullo
Anabel Skuse
Allison VanWesep: Cleared 5 feet in high jump several times last season
Season outlook:
Ravenna’s goals for the season are to move up in the West Michigan Conference standings and qualify as many athletes as possible to the state meet in June. The highlights for the Bulldogs should be the conference meet at Mason County Central and regional meet at Montague.
SHELBY TIGERS
Coach: Geoffrey Kies (4th season)
Last year: Eighth place in the conference
Key returnees:
Elizabeth Flores-Gonzalez: Sprints
Trinity Bowen: Sprints
Key newcomers:
Claire Kelley: Mid-distance
Morgan Weirich: Mid-distance
Season outlook:
Shelby’s girls roster this season features 14 athletes, which Kies considers a strength. He said that weaknesses will be in hurdles and select field events. The goals are to improve each meet leading up to the regional.
WHITEHALL VIKINGS
Coach: Carrie Goodrich (3rd season after returning from “retirement” 20 years prior)
Last year: First in the West Michigan Conference and champion in the GMAA meet
Key returnees:
Charley Klint: Pole vault, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles
Jenna Smolen: 4×100 relay, 4×400 relay
Neva Hundt: 4×200 relay
Ari Treat: 4×800 relay, 1600
Hayli Fagan: 3200
Maeli Hope: Shot put, discus
Arianna Black: High jump, hurdles, sprints
Rayne Thompson: High jump, hurdles
Emily Miller: Long jump, sprinters
Alyssa Lohman: Pole vault, hurdles, sprints
Mallory Britton: High jump, 400
Kya Mahoney: Mid-distance
Key newcomers:
Cami Kraai
Adalyn Britton
Corina Mitteer
Emily Smolen
Samantha Mead
Sidney Shepherd
Season outlook:
Whitehall captured West Michigan Conference and Greater Muskegon Athletic Association titles last season and the Vikings are looking to compete for those again. Senior leadership and a talented group of freshmen will make a scoring difference for the Vikings, according to Goodrich. Klint will be going for the school’s pole vault record and she has scoring potential in hurdles or wherever she’s needed. Thompson returns after missing the 2021 season with an injury. The all-state volleyball player will be a scoring leader for Whitehall in high jump and hurdles.
RELATED CONTENT:
