By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
ALLEGAN
Coach: Mike Chalupa (20th year)
Returning letter winners: Lillie Barnhart (throws), sr.; Christa Lambert (throws), sr.; Hannah VandeVorren (throws), sr.; Sabrina Mills (high jump, sprints), jr.; Josie Navarro (distance), jr.
Season outlook: Some people see the glass as half empty. Others see it as half full.
Allegan coach Mike Chalupa falls into the second of those two categories.
Because while his team is facing some challenges due to lower participation numbers, Chalupa is choosing to look on the bright side rather than complaining about the situation.
“Obviously, the low numbers is always an issue, especially in a sport like track and field,” said Chalupa, who led the Tigers to 1-7 showing in the Wolverine Conference last year. “But we are looking to make the best of the season by working hard, staying positive and competing everywhere we can.”
One area in which Allegan has some depth and experience is throws, as the senior trio of Lillie Barnhart, Christa Lambert and Hannah VandeVorren all return to compete in the shot put and discus.
Juniors Sabrina Mills (high jump/sprints) and Josie Navarro (distance) join that group as returning letter winners.
“It’s a small group of girls this year, but we do have a solid returning core,” Chalupa said. “It’s a hard-working group of athletes who bring a lot energy and positivity every day at practice.
“I look for us to compete and improve each meet and find the positives in return for the hard work they will put in.”
Freshmen Maddie Antkoviak (high jump/sprints) and Dawn Everetts (throws, sprints) are among the team’s newcomers.
“As a team, it will be difficult for us to cover all the events,” Chalupa said. “But we will emphasize those bright spots and look to build on our accomplishments.”
HAMILTON
Coach: Travis Pertner (23rd season)
Returning letter winners (partial list): Stella Kotowski (mid-distance, relays), jr.; Jeralyn Hoppes (mid-distance, relays), jr.; Mila Tasma (throws), sr.; Trina Farris (distance), jr.; Elyse Genzink (mid-distance), jr.; Ashley Koopman (throws, jumps), jr.; Ella Schwartz (hurdles, mid-distance), jr.; Aliyah Springer (throws), soph.
Season outlook: The year may change, but the goal he has for his team remains the same for Hamilton coach Travis Pertner.
“We are always looking to build a strong program with a lot of depth,” he said.
The “depth” portion of that goal could be a bit more difficult this season, at least when it comes to the running events.
“We are somewhat challenged this year with only 14 runners,” said Pertner, who guided the Hawkeyes to a second-place finish in the OK Blue Conference last season and a third-place showing at regionals.
Even with those low numbers, Pertner expects sprints and hurdles to be among his team strengths, along with throws.
The junior duo of Stella Kotowski and Jeralyn Hoppes lead the group of returning athletes after being part of the state-qualifying 4×400-meter relay team last season.
Senior Mila Tasma and sophomore Aliyah Springer will spearhead the throws.
All in all, Hamilton’s roster is one that Pertner believes will be competitive with most teams in the league.
“Allendale will be the team to beat again this year in the OK Blue,” he said. “Our dual meets with many teams will be very competitive. We are likely to finish in the middle of the eight-team league.”
MARTIN
Coach: Damon Blackburn (third year) and Caryn Blackburn (second year)
Retuning letter winners: Kylie Ritchie (high jump), sr.; Mercedes Morin (mid-distance, relays), sr.; Ellie Castora (hurdles), sr.; Jenna Marsman (relays), sr.; Zoie Tuinstra (long jump, relays), sr.; Emma White (throws), sr.; Annika Dillenbeck (throws), jr.; Kylee Gonser, jr.; Lynsey Jager (sprints, mid-distance), jr.; Samantha Stone (hurdles, sprints), jr.; Elizabeth Reinke (pole vault, sprints), soph.; Lily Stocking (mid-distance, distance), soph.
Season outlook: Last season marked the first time Damon Blackburn and his wife Caryn coached together at the high school level. And from the beginning, the pair decided they wanted to run the program as a single unit as opposed to having the girls and the boys training as separate entities.
That approach worked well, so the Blackburns aren’t changing a thing heading to the 2022 campaign.
“We will continue to run the two teams as one cohesive program,” Caryn Blackburn said.
When it comes to the girls team, a group of seniors will help lead the way.
Jenna Marsman will be the team’s jack-of-all-trades, competing “wherever we need her,” according to Caryn Blackburn. Mercedes Morin, meanwhile, will lead the mid-distance and distance crew after competing at the cross country state finals last fall, while Kylie Ritchie should provide points in the high jump.
“Kylie would have qualified for state last year, but missed the meet because of a family event conflict,” Caryn Blackburn said.
Fellow senior Gracie Shettler is out for track for the first time in high school after focusing on softball the past three years.
“She has great potential in the throws and sprints,” Caryn Blackburn said.
Other seniors include returning letterwinners Ellie Castora (hurdles), Zoie Tuinstra (long jump, mid-distance, distance) and Emma White (throws) along with newcomers Makaila Pardee and Alexis Manwarren.
“Our goal as a team is to work hard and have fun,” Caryn Blackburn said.
OTSEGO
Coach: Justin Scott (ninth season)
Returning letter winners: Jada Bolhuis (sprints, jumps), sr.; Elizabeth Burrill (distance), sr.; Madison Drouin (throws), sr.; Brooklyn Carroll (hurdles, jumps), soph.; Emma Conniff (distance, pole vault), sr.; Megan Germain (distance), soph.; Haley Guerrant (throws), soph.; Molly Jackson (hurdles), soph.; Adriana Morgan (sprints), jr.; Kendall Rockenstein (sprints, jumps), soph.; Kali Schwartz (sprints, hurdles), sr.; Claudia Stachura (distance, mid-distance), sr.; Joy Wolfe (distance, mid-distance), sr.
Season outlook: As he enters is 10th season as head coach for Otsego, Justin Scott carries a 47-7 dual-meet record and has led the Bulldogs to five straight Wolverine Conference championships.
And he is hoping those winning ways continue in 2022.
“For our team this year, we are hoping to continue our streak of conference titles,” he said. “We are going to have to put in a lot of work and will need to make some improvements from where we are today. But I think another championship is something that is possible for this group of young ladies.”
Not that Scott expects winning the league title to be easy.
“As we start this season, I might be the farthest away from predicting the end of the season as I have ever been,” he said. “It is going to be a wild season, and tons of fun. If pressed today I would say we have a real shot to be in the top four when the dust settles at the conference meet on May 14.
“Plainwell, Vicksburg and Three Rivers stand out in my mind at this time as being teams that will be great this season. In the Wolverine Conference, every team is coached by outstanding individuals and there is so much talent in all of the schools. Every meet this year will be a battle.”
In addition to the team goals, Scott also enjoys the pursuit of individual accomplishments that are present in track.
“Track and field is a sport that is great to coach for a lot of different reasons, and one of them is the fact that you can chase all kinds of different goals during a season,” he said. “As a holistic team, you can set your eyes on certain meets and accomplishments, and every single kid has individual things that they are working towards.
“And we have some big goals for individuals this season. There may be a school record or two within reach, and I think we have multiple girls that could earn their way into the state finals in June.”
Scott expects the throws to be one of the primary areas of strength for his team, with junior Haley Guerrant and senior Madison Drouin leading the charge.
“Haley and Madison each had fantastic seasons a year ago and are poised to achieve some great things this year,” Scott said. “They both have the potential to be conference and regional champions in the shot and discus. They are both great kids who work super hard and I think being able to compete with one another on a daily basis might push each of them to impressive distances.”
And as is typically the case, the distance events should be a source of points for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Megan Germain leads that group—which also includes seniors Elizabeth Burrill, Emma Conniff, Joy Wolfe and Claudia Stachura—after winning the 3,200-meter run at the league finals last year.
Seniors Adrianna Morgan and Jada Bolhuis are among the team’s top sprinters.
SAUGATUCK
Coach: Angelia Bauer (14th season)
Returning letter winners (partial list): Cat Pond (pole vault, sprints), sr.; Aerin Baker (hurdles, long jump), sr.; Samantha Sixberry (distance), sr.; Alexis Warren (throws, pole vault, sprints), sr.; Ava Fink (throws), sr.; Elsa Nor (throws), soph.; Maya Veldt, soph.
Season outlook: Talk about being a quick study.
As a junior last season, Aerin Baker competed in the 100-meter hurdles for the first time during the regional meet. Two meets later, she earned All-State honors in the event.
Baker, who also received All-State accolades in the long jump, is one of five returning seniors who will be asked to lead the way for a young squad that is hoping to reclaim its spot atop the SAC standings.
“Last year we broke a nice streak we had going of consecutive SAC championships,” said Saugatuck coach Angelia Bauer, who had led the Trailblazers to seven straight league crowns. “It would be lovely to reclaim that, but it’s going to be really tough as we are an extremely young team with a lot of gaps to fill.”
Cat Pond, a three-time All-Stater in pole vault, joins Baker as one of the returning seniors. The rest of that group includes Samantha Sixberry (distance), Alexis Warren (throws/pole vault/sprints) and Ava Fink (throws).
Sophomore state qualifier Maya Veldt should also provide plenty of points for Saugatuck.
“Seventy percent of our team is brand new this year,” Bauer said. “For this reason, we have no idea what to expect.
“We do have some major guns returning for us in Cat, Aerin and Maya, but only time will tell if we end up with the depth we need to be successful at the meets that we are looking to be competitive at this year.”
And while Saugatuck fell short of winning the overall SAC title last year, the Trailblazers did win the SAC Lakeshore Division before winning their ninth straight regional championships. They also placed fifth at the Division 4 state finals.
“We are definitely a young team that’s kind of in the rebuilding process,” Bauer said. “But every year we always get some surprises, so we will see how things unfold.”
WAYLAND
Coach: Ray Antel
Returning letter winners: Elliot Antel (mid-distance), soph.; Emma Byers (hurdles, high jump), jr.; Karley Davis (throws), jr.; Breanna Hyde (hurdles, long jump), jr.; Faith Rollandini (sprints), jr.; Hannah Smith (distance), sr.; Haley Taylor (high jump, sprints, mid-distance), sr.; Madtison Whitten (pole vault), jr.; Samantha Wilson (pole vault), sr.; Taylor Wolf (sprints), soph.
Season outlook: Although junior Olivia Barabas starred for Wayland in cross country the past three years, she didn’t compete in track last season because she elected to play soccer instead.
This year, Barabas will be competing in both soccer and track … and she won’t be alone.
Sophomore Ava Makowski is also going to participate in both sports after playing only soccer last season, much to the delight of Wayland coach Ray Antel.
Olivia and Ava will bring some foot speed and distance expertise,” Antel said.
The duo will compete in running events ranging from the 200-meter dash to the 3,200 run.
Antel is expects another newcomer—freshman Kennedy Jasinski—to make her mark this season.
“Kennedy will make some noise with the pole vault,” Antel said.
In terms of returning athletes, seniors Hannah Smith (distance) and Haley Taylor (high jump, sprints, mid-distance) have been named team captains.
“Although our numbers are about the same as last year, we should be a little more solid this year,” said Antel. “The time trials are encouraging.”
Antel, who views relays, hurdles and long jump as some of his team’s areas of strength, hopes to be competitive in most of the conference dual meets this year.
“The OK Gold is a tough conference, even though we switch things up every six years or so,” he said “If we can finish mid-pack, it would be a good year.
“Overall, I’m looking forward to good weather, FAT Timing, lots of volunteer event workers, making great improvements with these awesome girls and having fun.”
Note: No preview information was received from Fennville, Hopkins or Plainwell prior to deadline.