2014 Warriors have small gaps to fill

 

 

South Winn is blessed with an abundance of male runners for the 2014 track season, which began Tuesday, March 11. Members of this year’s team include (front, l-r) Blake Hageman, Adam Tollefsrud, Nathan Ward, Alex  Holthaus, Jacob Ling, Matthew Holthaus, Anthony Pearson; (middle) Alex Shatek, Carson Lensing, Mitch Herold, Chris Brincks, Jordan Rommes, Ben Meyer, Cole Schmitt, Kevin Davis; (back) Treyton Jacobsen, Mac Faldet, Garrett Bohach, Luis Uribe, Juan Uribe, Jared Schroeder, Cody Fisher, and Terrance Emanuel. Not pictured are Devin Franzen, Nathan Meyer, Noah Kuboushek, and Brennan McDermott. (Becky Walz photo)

 

2014 Warriors have small gaps to fill

 

 

Becky Walz
News Editor
bwalz@fayettepublishing.com

 

 

A tremendous amount of experience, combined with success in other sports, has South Winn coach Scott Conway hopeful for what the 2014 may bring.

The coach, now in his 12th year at the helm, led his Warriors to back-to-back UIC titles in 2012 and 2013 and sent five events to Des Moines for the State Track and Field Meet.

Missing from the dynamic team are graduates Colton Hageman, Austin Breitsprecher, Alex Stammeyer, and Daniel Lechtenberg, three of whom had made State Track Meet appearances during their high school careers.

The nucleus of experience comes from six seniors: Devin Franzen, Alex Shatek, Jared Schroeder, Nathan Meyer, Chris Brincks, and Garrett Bohach. Of those six, five made a state appearance a year ago.

In fact, the entire distance medley team of Shroeder, Jordan Rommes, Bohach, and Franzen will look for a return to trip to the blue oval after finishing 18th in 2013.

Finishing eighth in the 4x100, Schroeder, Rommes, and Shatek return but look to fill the final leg after Hageman’s graduation.

Rommes is also looking to improve on his 15th-place finish in the high jump.

After the graduation of Stammeyer, Bohach, Franzen, and Nathan Meyer are also looking for a fourth teammate to step in for the 4x800 relay, which finished 11th last season at the State Track Meet.

“Our seniors will need to do a good job of creating and building a team atmosphere, as well as help the freshmen and sophomores realize their potential,” said Conway on what he expects for leadership.

Other returning letterwinners are Ben Meyer, Carson Lensing, Juan Uribe, Treyton Jacobsen, Mitchell Herold, Jordan Rommes, Luis Uribe, Cody Fisher, Mac Faldet, and Kevin Davis.

Aside from the experience that returns to the team is a large contingent of newcomers in Alex Holthaus, Matthew Holthaus, Jacob Ling, Nathan Ward, Noah Kuboushek, Brennan McDermott, Anthony Pearson, and Terrance Emanuel.

“We lack some of the depth we have had in some events. We are going to need our younger guys to develop and be ready to compete at a level they may not be used to yet,” said Conway.

The longtime coach has been very impressed with the work ethic and ability of the new guys to this early point in the season.

“They have the makings of being an important core group of athletes for us in the future,” stated Conway. “From what I have seen so far, several of them are going to fill in and help us toward the end of the season.”

Taking a look at the UIC, Conway stated that North Fayette Valley is one of the best teams in northeast Iowa and will have even more depth. He noted that the addition of Starmont and Ed-Co to the conference will add depth to events and shake up the conference.

He doesn’t count out Sumner-Fredericksburg, Central Elkader or Turkey Valley, either.

In order to have the season he knows the Warriors can have, Conway needs to keep his athletes healthy, as well as see his seniors demonstrate what is expected of the underclassmdn.

“They need to show the rest of the team how to compete and be fearless, regardless of the event,” concluded Conway. “Several individuals may be asked to compete in events they are not used to or don’t see as their strength.”

The Warriors will finish their indoor season on Saturday, March 29, at Luther College.

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