By Dustin Ortman
Trojan Tribune Staff
*Please note- the first portion of this story is all “theoretical”, predicting the outcome of the 2010 West Central boys’ track team.
-5/30/2010
Before the start of the season, there weren’t many in the state who thought the West Central boys’ track team would be state champion material; that is, except for the West Central boys’ track team. Almost as soon as the 2009 state meet concluded in Rapid City, the boys knew they had what it took to be the best team in the state. They proved it this weekend at Lennox and Howard Wood.
As the team thawed out from the snowy cold winter, the team warmed up for a promising season. As the season progressed, the words “West Central” grew and grew on the list of the state’s strongest teams. From the untouchable 4X800 team to the distance, hurdles, sprint relays, and everything in between, they brought strength in pretty much every event.
The boys qualified for the state tournament in all but one running event on the track. On the first day of competition, the 4×800 team started the team off strong, breaking their own school that they set in the ‘09 season by over ten seconds. In the open 800, the team racked up even more early points with a first and third place. As the meet progressed, the West Central boys separated themselves from any competition, gaining points in nine events on the track and taking the top of the podium in six of them.
At the end of the day, the point totals spoke for themselves. The Trojans had piled up 73 total points, 17 ahead of second place Dakota Valley. Bonne Homme came in third with 50.
If you haven’t figured it out by now, this is a theoretical article that you might (hopefully) see in the days following this year’s state meet. All of us on the track team are really inspired to do well this season and build off of last year’s performance. A state championship is a huge goal to accomplish, but it’s also going to be tough for every other team in the state competing for this goal. All of us on the team will be working hard this season to reach it.
So as training started last week, so did the road to the podium at the State Meet.
And with the new season beginning, a new coach took the helm. Coach Trevor Strobel is in his first year teaching here at West Central. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and ran track at Dakota State University. “I’m looking forward to getting to know all the kids. They like to have fun but still get after it. I’m impressed with their work ethic.” says Strobel. Sophomore Joe Schartz said, “We’re using our time in practice much more efficiently and accomplishing a lot more at this time that were did in seasons past.” You will definitely notice this if you peek in the gym after school. You won’t see half the team playing basketball for a half an hour before practice starts. “We’ve got a lot done, and we’ve done some new, cool workouts. I’m really looking forward to the season.” said Senior Justin Bergeson.
The Trojans’ first meet is Monday, March 29 in Vermillion.
On January 12, tragedy rocked the small island nation of Haiti. It was 4:53 in the afternoon when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Porte-au-Prince, the nation’s capital of nearly two million. The toll of those lost is staggering; some figures are showing 200,000 dead and millions more wounded; both mentally and physically.
