Falcons to combine youth, experience on the track
By Nathaniel Underwood
The Abbotsford Falcons track and field team is ramping up for another season as a host of returners are set to lead a number of newcomers in 2024.
At the core of this year’s Falcons are a number of athletes that will be bringing years of postseason success to the table. Eleven of the 14 athletes that competed at last year’s sectionals will be back for Abbotsford.
On the girls’ side, seniors Sydney Falteisek, Sommer Brodhagen and Briseida Escalera and junior Chloe Cihlar have also been to the state meet in La Crosse. Falteisek placed 13th in the 100-meter hurdles last season and all four were part of the 4x100-meter relay team that took 11th in 2022.
In addition to the quartet with state experience, the Abbotsford girls will be buoyed by a number of other athletes who have placed well in postseason events that will give them a well rounded approach to add to their sprinters.
“Our girls return solid kids in lots of events,” head coach Jake Knapmiller said. “Brodhagen and Margo Pogodzinski both in the throws, Azul Diaz, Ana Flores, Iris Cruz, and Celia Schindler in the mid distance relays, hopefully some newcomers in the jumps.”
“Our younger groups have raw talent but a lot depends on if they learn to compete and handle practicing with goals in mind,” he continued. “Several of the freshmen broke middle school jump records in years past.”
The boys team will also have several athletes returning this year that competed at the 2023 sectional meet. Christian Fuentes, Chase Boller and Emilio Escalera were all part of the 4x200-meter relay team that made it on to the second round. Fuentes also competed in the 200-meter dash and the long jump and Boller battled in the high jump at the sectional meet.
The Falcons will be missing 2023 graduate Marcus Bohl, who represented the team last year at state and, much like the prior season, they will have a lot of youth contributing to their efforts.
“The guys team has been young for years and this team is a little more experienced but to only have two returning seniors is still pretty young,” Knapmiller said. “Our throwers return juniors Fernando Perez, Daniel Davila, and Andrew Hirsch along with sophomores Irvin Davila, Angel Tzintzun, Marcus VanLuven and a pair of freshmen.”
“The sprints are really young with one returning upperclassmen in Escalera,” he added. “Christian Fuentes and Irvin Aguilera lead the sophomore group with how much time and effort they put into getting better. A handful of freshmen should really help as well. And then, our boys distance group has the largest jump of any group. They have great numbers but a lot of first year players who are figuring out the track world. Jack Schindler highlights the top distance returner with a few other returning underclassmen.”
With many of their top athletes returning and good numbers of younger members on the roster, the Falcons will be looking to take a step forward this season, though not just only in final results but also in how to tackle the challenges that come up over the course of a season.
“We are really looking to kids to learn to compete and be comfortable in uncomfortable settings,” Knapmiller said. “Lots of kids avoid situations with pressure. Some rise to the occasion. We have done our best to create a supportive team opportunity this season.”
That season will begin with the indoor track season, which will consist of four meets for both squads. While snow and cold usually force the team to practice indoors at this time of the year, this year’s unusually warm weather has created a slightly different environment.
“I think sometimes being inside allows a little more structure so we still start practices inside but if it is nice out we really try to get them outside,” Knapmiller said. “[This year], we have been able to put spikes on more and get starts and runway marks way before normal times. Our throwers love being able to throw disc too.”
The first indoor meet will be held in Marshfield, where the boys will compete on Tuesday, March 19. The girls’ meet will follow on Thursday, March 21. Both are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
2024 ABBOTSFORD GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD - The 2024 girls track and field team, pictured above starting in the back row left to right, are Lynxa Olson, Hazel Flink, Asia Atkinson, Riley Podevels, Sommer Brodhagen, Briseida Escalara, Oriah Harris, Sydney Falteisek, Celia Schindler, Marilyn Hammock, Margo Pogodzinksi, Jackie Soto, Ana Flores and Olivia Thorson. In the front row, left to right: Montserrat Ochoa, Esmeralda Altamirano, Campbell Brodhagen, Ava Bleck, Azul Diaz, Angie Chavez, Paola Tzintzun and Azalea Atkinson. Not pictured are Faith Sperl, Iris Cruz and Chloe Cihlar. The Falcons’ head coach is Jake Knapmiller.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
2024 ABBOTSFORD BOYS TRACK AND FIELD - The 2024 boys track and field team, pictured above starting in the back row left to right, are Max Torres, Julian Aguilera, Jovanny Cruz, Andrew Hirsch, Jack Schindler, Marcus VanLuven, Emmanuel Manzanaraz, Ashton Hammel, Jack Sheahan, Kamron Krueger and Gunner Graves. In the middle row, left to right, are Eduardo Acuna, Edwin Cossio Aguilera, Luis Lujuan Gonzalez, Emilio Escalara, Dan Davila, Warren Flink, Luis Tzintzun, Irvin Davila, Jesus Reyes, Angel Tzintzun, Marco Garcia, and Manny Rojas. In the front row, left to right, are Justavo Diaz, Tyler Yeske, Jairo Antonio, Natanael Santiago, Preston Belanger, Gavin Reis, Carter Cihlar, Fernando Tzintzun and Javier Lopez-Bautista. Not pictured are Christian Fuentes, Irvin Aguilera, Tavo Acevedo, and Chase Boller.
STAFF PHOTO/NATHANIEL UNDERWOOD
