Loyal track team gears up for outdoor season

As the track and field season gets going, Loyal High School track coach Jim Genteman once again has high expectations for his team.

“We’ve kept our numbers up and have some freshmen that I expect will produce right away,” said Jim Genteman. “Coach (Rebekah) Smith does a really good job with the middle school kids and getting them ready… We have a core group of athletes. For the most part, they all have good experience already.”

With 38 kids out for the sport, a strong program can be built.

On the girls’ side, there are six seniors, two juniors, nine sophomores and four freshmen. The girls’ team had seven seniors graduate last year.

“All the seniors will be missed, especially Abrial Kubista, who went to state in the triple jump, and Haven Peroshek, who made it to sectionals in the shot put. Losing seven senior girls is hard, but there is a good group of freshmen girls looking to compete for those open positions. There is also a real good group of kids returning, especially the 4-by-100 (meter relay) and 4-by-200 girls that went to state,” said Jim Genteman.

Members of the 4X100m team that took fourth at state last year include Leah Scherer, Sheila Tellock, Alyssia Zvolena and Aubre Robida, with Noelle Teschner and Haven Peroshek as alternates. Members of the 4x200m team that made it to state last year are Molly Zvolena, Tellock, Lisa Steffens and Scherer, with Alyssia Zvolena and Peroshek as alternates. That team took 16th place. Besides Peroshek and Steffens, the rest of the runners are returners this year.

Jim Genteman said the girls’ team was “very competitive” internally for which athletes would compete in which events. He said there were plenty of sprinters, but he was still looking for more distance runners.

“We have one miler right now but we need more distance runners. We also need a two-miler,” he said.

In other individual events, last year, Alyssia Zvolena made it to state for the high jump and took sixth place with a jump of 5’2”.

“We are real strong with the high jump. We have four real good high jumpers, not just Alyssia,” said Jim Genteman.

Tellock also competed individually at state last year and took 10th in the pole vault at 9’.

“Sheila is looking to maybe get a second pole vault appearance,” said Jim Genteman.

On the boys’ side, there are two seniors, two juniors, seven sophomores and six freshmen. The boys team lost one senior to graduation last year, Bo Bogdonovich. Although the team is young and the next couple of years will likely be focused on building the program, several athletes still show potential to go far as individuals.

“Connor (Genteman) is pushing for making it to state in the mile or 800,” said Jim Genteman.

Connor, a junior, earned his first trip to the state cross country meet in the fall.

“A couple of our freshmen have a lot of potential,” Genteman added. “And Roby (Beranek) has a goal to get on to state in shot put. He’s a senior, so it’s his first year and he’s still learning, so we’ll see what happens.”

The team has had several indoor meets and is scheduled to have its first outdoor meet April 13 at Medford.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO