By RYAN WALKER
The Southern Wells track and field program continues to make positive strides, and this year, the team is taking a big jump.
The Raiders lost just one senior but have added four new freshmen into the mix to an already bolstered up roster. In fact, head coach Gary Paxson said the four off of the middle school team was one of the more successful groups in a while.
“We are all a year older and a year stronger,” Paxson said, now entering his 24th season with the boys. “We lost one senior from a year ago. We have lost a few others to injuries and moving away, but for the most part, we are returning a pretty solid group.”
The cross country team in the fall showed signs of that growth coach Paxson is talking about. For the first time ever, the Raiders made it to regionals and even placed ninth. Seven of its members participated in the event, and six of them are on the track roster to make an impact.
Last year was more of a rebuilding year on the track side of things, having new members trying out the sport and seeing where they fit in certain events. Now, those athletes have clarity on where they belong and can grow in those areas.
The team placed ninth at the Eastern Invitational, third at Adams Central, and ninth in the sectional.
Though there were no regional qualifiers last year, Paxson expects a few to step up and have a better shot at making it this year.
Senior Potter Garrett will be one of the top returners in the 400m, 800m, and 1600m races, while his classmate Nick Lozoya returns a key piece in the 100, 200, and high jump.
Garrett and Lozoya both had success on the cross country course this past fall, and now both are signed off to run track for Indiana University Kokomo, and both might also run cross country.
Perrin Gates and Peyton Long will make their mark in the throwing events, and the final member Paxson mentioned was Joshua Bricker in the 1600m and 3200m.
With many top contributors spreading out across multiple events, the freshman group this year is seeing where they fit best and solidifying groups. Expect the Raiders to make some more noise this season.
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