South Track Teams are Ready to Run
J. C. Tilton
The Twin Valley South Track teams had a respectable finishes last year with both the girls and boys teams winning their respective districts. The boys additionally won the league and county meets as well. I was able to catch up to the two coaches and see what they had in store for 2006.
Coach Farenholtz was asked about prospects for the boys team. “Daniel Donaldson, Justin Stebbins, Ben Anspahr, are three returning members of the 4 X 400m relay team that qualified for state. They will also contribute in the 100m, 200m and 400m races. Freshman Brandon Scott moved into the district from Eaton and he will be a welcome addition at 100m. So the short distances are covered.”
“At long distance we have Adam Martin and Steve Taulbee, they were our main people last year. Scott Leedy comes back in the high jump. Jesse Simpson, a regional qualifier, comes back at shotput and discus. Jake Unger another regional qualifier comes back at pole vault. J T Stone and Matt Kuntz should do well in field events. Matt Wentlander will be back at long jump. Joe Maleski should contribute in sprints and high jump. The relay teams should be good.” He is hoping to have Josh Boggs back, who won the 800m at the CCC League meet. So the team is returning some solid performers. Coach Farenholtz feels that he is coming back with a strong team, the only problem he sees is depth. There are a few more people that he would like to see come out to fill out the roster. “We won the county, league, and district last year and we'd like to do that again.”
When asked if there were any new faces this year, he responded that he was disappointed with the low number of freshmen that came out this spring. Who will be the competing for the league title? “Arcanum I think could be strong. Bethel was runners up last year and they return a lot.”
Coach Mabry has some key performers coming back for the girls track team. “Senior Kate McCollum is back at hurdles and high jump. Kate Ervin went to regional last year as a freshman in both the shot and discus. Genny Ingram is back, a sophomore high jumper and 300m hurdler. Amber Niswonger a junior went to regionals in the 100m dash. We had three relays go to regional last year. I think that we have the ability to be as strong as last year, maybe stronger.”
“We are young with 9 new freshman on a squad of about 24 girls. Then about 7or 8 sophomores. Some of them are going to have to step it up. In basketball some of your freshman are not going to contribute right away, but in track they have to. They are going to have to step it up right away. I see Ashley Groff is one I look at as being a sprinter. I have some others we are going to use in the relays. When you have 4 relays you need someone that will produce.” Coach Mabry did concede that distance will be a problem for the team. “But there are 17 events, we can go out there and be competitive in 12 of them, they you will be alright.”
In the league, Coach Mabry sees Covington as being the team to beat, “They won last year and they have a lot of girls coming back. Ansonia will be good, but two teams I see improving are Bethel and Arcanum. The conference will be a lot tougher this year. The teams will have their first meet of the season Saturday, April 1 at Tipp City. The Fred Durkle Invitational will be held at South Thursday, April 13. South has now added team calendars to their webpage: <http://www.tvs.k12.oh.us/tvshs.html> - click on athletics to see all the sports schedules for this spring. Comments: email: Chris Tilton <mailto:email: Chris Tilton>
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