What the Shawano Community High School track and field team lacks in numbers, it will make up for with dedication.
At least, that’s what coach Scott Smurawa is hoping.
“We’re down a few, both boys and girls are down a little bit,” Smurawa said. “But what we have, the athletes that came out, are dedicated. It was a very enjoyable week this week because all the athletes are very dedicated.”
The holes on the roster mean the focus for the Hawks will shift.
“With our numbers down a little bit, our concentration is not really the overall team championship score, but more individual champions,” Smurawa said.
Senior Brice Bergner, last year’s Most Valuable Player, returns. He was a sectional qualifier in the 200-meter dash last year.
“I’m excited to see him come back and lead the team,” Smurawa said.
Bergner and fellow senior Carlos Merino, also a team captain and the team’s leading jumper, will lead a group of sprinters that should be a strength for the Hawks.
“We’ll see how they do this year,” Smurawa said. “We’re looking for exciting things from them.”
The coach is also excited to watch senior Kyle Raddant, a distance runner.
Junior Jake Klister (distance) and sophomore Zeke Gueths (thrower) came on strong last year and could make big jumps this year, Smurawa said.
In field events, Smurawa expects the Hawks to be strong in the pole vault, where senior twins Evan and Ethan Braun and junior Dan Boivin return this year.
“We have a few new underclassmen coming up, and we’ll see what they can do, too,” Smurawa said.
Senior Isabella Gonzalez and sophomore Kristina Kurtz are the girls’ returning sectional qualifiers. Gonzalez made it in the high jump, while Kurtz qualified in the 400-meter dash.
The team sent two relay teams to sectionals a year ago, which may be tough to repeat without Teagan Monfils, who was on both the 4x800 and 4x200 relay teams but isn’t competing this season.
Kurtz and junior Kathryn Kugel are the only two returnees to the 4x800 relay team.
Seniors Ashley Knope and Kia Smurawa and sophomore Sara Hokenstad return to the 4x200 relay team.
Kia Smurawa, the girls’ Most Valuable Player last season, will also lead in the jumping events.
“The girls are distributed OK,” Coach Smurawa said. “They have some strong areas. Because of the numbers, we’re not going to be able to fill up the full roster each meet, but I think the ones we put in there are going to score points.”
The Hawks are anxiously awaiting warming weather.
“We’re indoors because of the weather,” Smurawa said. “We’re fortunate the first week because we’re the only sport in season, we started first. It does get tight in these facilities the next couple of weeks here because we’re all fighting for space.”
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