The track team is looking to finish off the season with a burst of energy.

WIth the losses of Will Riley and Brayden Hafen who graduated, the boys have had to turn to other athletes who are ready to step up. On the girls’ side, the team also lost Makena Cruse and Emma Gardner, who ended up winning state in girls shot put. 

“We took some huge losses this off-season with losing multiple Sectional winners which is definitely tough, but we have multiple kids that I have seen a lot of growth and hard work out of that are ready to take that next step and become Sectional winners themselves,” Mr.  AJ Linville, sprints coach, said.

From county rivals like Whiteland, Franklin Community and Greenwood Christian Academy to powerhouse schools like Center Grove and Edinburgh, the Woodmen have a tough draw for Sectionals. 

“We may not have the most talent or the biggest and strongest kids in the Sectional, but to us, that does not matter. We have been putting in a lot of work, and our coaches have been pushing us to our limits because they know we have the chance to make some noise this year,” junior Jack Siminski, 800 meter run, said.

The off-season is when athletes gain the real edge on their opponents.

“During the off-season I went to all of our strength coach Jerrod Watsons workouts and those really helped me get better and faster,” senior Cadence Mobley, 100 meter run, said.?

The countless hours spent working to get better separates the good athletes from the great athletes.

“My goal this year is to win the 100 meter sprint because it is my favorite out of all the events and I have been working really hard up to this point so hopefully I can prove myself and make my coaches and teammates proud,” junior Ava DelPriore, 100 and 200 meter run, said.

With it being some seniors’ last laps around a track, they have to make it all count. 

“With this being my senior year and potentially my last time being part of a team, I want to make it all count and win for me and my teammates. I have been putting in nonstop work this off-season to win the 400 meter dash and make all the hard work for the past four years pay off,” senior Nic Grimes, 400 meter run, said.

Girls track and field Sectionals take place next Tuesday at Franklin. Boys track and field Sectionals take place next Thursday at Shelbyville.