By JOSH BURRIS
A young Southern Wells Raiders boys’ track and field team struggled to find their way a bit during the 2021 season.
The team did not have a ton of experience, and coach Gary Paxson moved guys around several events throughout the year until he found the perfect spot for them.
The Raiders came in last at both the ACAC and sectional meets, but Paxson was not disappointed with his group.
“We were learning stuff. We were just so young,” Paxson said. “As coaches we had to manage the meet. Without boys, I think that’s what we did last year. We spent a lot of time managing meets and getting kids to the events they were supposed to be in because we changed them so much.”
Paxson said they should be off to a better start this season as he has a better idea of where all of his athletes perform best.
Joshua Bricker was the team’s top performer in both the ACAC and sectional. His main event was the 3,200 meter run, which he placed fourth in at the ACAC meet and fifth at sectional.
Now a sophomore, Bricker will continue to lead the team’s long distance group.
Bricker was a regional qualifier this past cross country season, and Paxson said he could do the same in track.
“I think Joshua is really close to being a regional qualifier,” Paxson said. “He could be one that could sneak in a place (at sectional).”
Junior Potter Garrett will be another top performer in the team’s distance group. He came in fifth in the 1,600 meter run at the ACAC meet and will continue to focus on that even along with the 800.
Paxson said Garrett has been very focused and working hard in practice and should take a big step forward this season.
“I’m really excited to watch him run,” Paxson said.
Rounding out the distance group will be junior Caleb Stevens, sophomore Andrew Aker, and freshman Colter Kiel.
The Raiders are a lot more thin in the short-distance events, and Paxson is not entirely sure who all will be contributing in that area just yet.
Junior Nick Lozoya will continue to run the 300 meter hurdles and could possibly run the 110 hurdles as well. Sophomore Aiden Brewster will compete in the 200 and 400 meter runs.
Paxson is not sure who will be running long jump, but Lozoya will lead in the high jump along with freshman Levi Woodward.
Also in the field, sophomores Peyton Long, AJ Thompson, and Perrin Gates, along with Woodward and fellow freshman Quinton Darling will be throwing the discus and shot put.
Paxson said as the season goes on they will figure out how to fill those gaps in the sprints and long jump.
“It’s a short season, but it’s a long one,” Paxson said. “We’ve got a lot of meets where we can figure out who is going to be doing some things. And there are going to be some kids that surprise us.”
The Raiders will have a lot of competition in the ACAC meet again this year. Paxson said there will be several schools gunning for the championship this year.
He said you never really know which team may be the favorite because everyone always steps up their game in that meet.
“I don’t know who is going to win the conference to be honest. But the four schools that I think are going to be right up there at the top are Heritage, Woodlan, Bluffton, and I think Jay County is going to be right up there,” Paxson said. “We get to the conference meet, and we all step up our game because that’s the one we are focused on. We are not focused on maybe quite so much winning sectional, but we want to win that conference meet, and everybody steps up that night.”
Once the Raiders get up to speed when that conference meet roles around, Paxson said he thinks the team can move up a few places from last season. He said this team could snag a few more places and move up to sixth or maybe even fifth place.
“I don’t think that we are going to be at the bottom of the conference this year. I think that we are going to be pretty balanced throughout,” Paxson said. “I don’t know how many very high places we are going to get at the conference meet, but I think we are going to get some places and are going to surprise a few people.”
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