This spring, the track and field will be running once again, with eyes on state. Last spring, the girls won the 6A State Championship while the boys finished as runners-up. Head Coach Mike Wallace, for the 25th consecutive year, will lead a team whose goal is to run hard, make and win state, looks back at last season.

“Last season, our girls were state champions. We were really senior heavy, graduated a lot of kids that went to run in college, so that was pretty cool. Our boys lost one meet the entire year; that was the state meet. It was bittersweet. We ended up getting third,” Wallace said.

One of the leaders for the boys team, Senior Tyler Heidnebreck reflects on last year.

“Last season was an interesting one. We had a ton of great talent. Two years ago, when we won the state championship, we got a ton of returning seniors who were going to help us place at state. We had a ton of seniors leave, however we do have some great talent this year coming back this year,” Heidnebreck said.

On the girls, Senior Emily Schmeeckle looks back on last year.

“Last years highlights not only included winning a state title which was very awesome, but being a part of a team that worked so hard and dedicated time and effort to gaining success,” Schmeeckle said.

The track and field team has a rich tradition as being one of the elite in the state of Kansas. All of that goes to the training that they do.

“Our distance kids took a week off from state cross-country, and they have been running ever since. The rest of us have been doing conditioning since the third week of January,” Wallace said.

Looking ahead to the schedule, the team will be looking to win another state championship.

“Regionals and State are the two main events that we cater towards. Wallace is training us, so we can perform at a high level]. The adrenaline will be flowing,” Hendibreck said.

Jacob Stofer // Managing Editor