April 15, 2009

Track season begins

By Neal A. Shipman
Farmer Editor

With this winter’s record snowfall and the late arrival of spring due to cold, wet temperatures, it may have seemed like track season was never going to happen in North Dakota. But at long last, Watford City’s boys and girls track teams are finally starting their competitive season as the Wolves will compete in the Mohall Invitational at Minot State University on Friday.
And with Watford City’s track emerging from the snow piles quicker than many other schools in western North Dakota, the Wolves track team got in considerably more outdoor practice time than did other teams.
“We had three full weeks to train our athletes this year and now that the competition is ready to begin, we are going to be ready,” predicts Greg Brown, girls head track coach. “The girls team is looking good and the girls have set some high goals.”
Leading the Watford City girls track team will be Kara Johnsrud, the only senior on a young, but experienced team.
“Kara has been an excellent example for all of the  girls this year with her hard work,” states Brown. “We will be surrounding her with juniors Stephanie Deutsch and Sibee Jokela  who are both returning individual place winners at State last year.”
The Watford City boys track team will be looking for strong leadership from its senior athletes.
“We have some very solid senior leadership, especially with Casey Jore, Justin Flatland and Greg Skurupey returning with state experience, and Nolan Swenson who is completing his sixth year in boys track,” states Dave Dougherty, boys head coach. “They will be the leaders on our team this season.”
According to Dougherty, the boys team will have good balance this year and will be able to score on the track and in the jumping and throwing events.
“We will have difficulty replacing our sprinters from the previous year,” states Dougherty. “But we will have added experience and depth in the middle and long distance events. We should score consistently in the high jump, shot put, discus and javelin.”
Completing the girls varsity roster are juniors Shakira McLauglin and Olivia Sundeen; sophomores Shelbi Auen, Justine Homiston, Cylee Johnson, Peyton Martin, Marti Quale and Kristen Stenehjem; and freshmen Brianna Allex, Charlie Hystad, Ciera Reeves and Kade Ross.
Rounding out the boys roster area is senior Joel Brown; juniors Adam Brenna, Chans Brown and Ben Haugeberg; sophomores Tyler Flatland, Nolan Kalberer, Curtis Lohse, Brady Lund, Sterling Ross, Jason Shipman, Nathan Stoker and Daniel Tank; freshmen Hayes Feilmeier, Shawn Fulwider and Gus Rockeman; eighth graders Tyler Bates, Brice Brenno, Colter Brown, Reid Brown, Austin Garmann, Josh Johnson, Cole Rolfsrud, Guy Ross, Michael Schulz and Davis Zubke; and seventh graders Branden Allex, Dustin Kleppen and Riley McCarthy.
This Saturday, Watford City will  host a Junior High track meet beginning at 11 a.m. Teams are expected to be coming from all of the surrounding regions to compete as the weather has made it difficult for schools to find meets at which to compete.

WATFORD CITY WEATHER