PI track team taking huge steps
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Wildcat track and field program is moving in the right direction, according to the team’s first-year head coach.
That was evidenced on Thursday at the Aroostook League championship meet in Caribou. Presque Isle was the runner-up in both the boys’ and girls’ meets, but the progress from last year has been immense.
In 2015, the PI boys placed fourth at the County Meet and this year improved their point total from 66 to 122, with five less athletes on the roster. The girls scored 152.5 points, up from 118 a year ago and with four less on the roster.
“We gained ground, so I’m ecstatic about the team’s performances,” coach Mike Waugh said. “The kids were very excited and I am too. I think there is a lot to look forward to in the future.”
Waugh’s focus since taking over has been to “get the kids to think as a team” and this is already taking place.
“Some are asking if we can pick up points in certain events, so they are thinking beyond personal bests or placing,” he said.
He is working on building up the roster with more members in years to come, and feels that is attainable and is the next step to building a championship team.
Waugh and his assistant coaches, Jason Johnson and Joe Greaves, have spent the spring focusing on skills, technique and strategy with their athletes.
“I’ve constantly repeated at practice that we need to maximize our time. Doing well at track and field requires a determined focus,” Waugh said. “Every athlete is required to participate in at least three events this year, so that means that practice is constantly in motion, getting time in the events that need the most work.
“Each meet we’ve tried to experiment with getting the kids in events that help the team and also hold promise for them. The kids have done really well with this. Our focus has sharpened and we’re ready for the post-season,” he added.
Presque Isle has three events remaining – the Penobscot Valley Conference JV meet today, the PVC large school varsity championship Friday and the state meet June 4.
The boys leaders have been junior Chan Villatora, seniors Connor Murchison and Jason Bartley and freshman Trace Cyr.
Villatora and Cyr are the Wildcats’ most versatile athletes, with the ability to participate in sprints from 100 to 400 meters in length and all three jumping events — the triple, long and high jumps.
“It’s not just that their technique is sound, but they execute all their events with intensity,” Waugh said.
Murchison is the best high jumper and has come along nicely in the other two jumps, while Bartley is the team’s top distance runner even though this is his first season competing in track and field at the high school level.
All four are vital members of the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams. Senior Parker Lambert and freshman Kyler Caron have also been solid contributors on the boys’ side.
Seniors Regan Nelson and Mandy Graham, junior Tori Koch and sophomore Maddie Wing have been the top scoring girls.
Nelson set the school record in the discus with a 105 feet, 7 inch throw this year and has consistently been one of the best throwers in the region and is a good team leader.
Koch is “an exceptionally gifted young lady,” according to Waugh, and has extraordinary range.
“She’s quick at the 100, 200 and 400, but she’s also a phenomenal jumper,” said Waugh of the Howard Lello Award winner as the top scoring girl at the County Meet.
Graham has been one of the best and most consistent athletes during her four-year career. This year has brought major drops in time for Graham and she is a major threat in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.
Wing is only a sophomore but is also turning into a very versatile athlete. She’s emerging in the race walk, high jump, javelin and hurdles as a dependable point scorer.
Sophomores Maddy Jandreau, Isabelle Jackson and Elizabeth Findlen and junior Skylar Vogel are also emerging standouts in the distance and field events for Presque Isle.
Other members of the Wildcat track teams are girls Elizabeth Deschenes, Kamryn Gilmour, Kate Goulet, Olivia Mosher, Grace Player, Emily Sjoberg and Eleanor St. Peter and boys Dustin Alward, Max Bartley, Drew Cameron, Jonah Clark, Ian Hoyt-Franz, Owen McQuarrie, Garrett Morneault, Zech Morse, Cameron Lahey, Iffy Sargent and Seth Roy.
