Over 150 girls and boys showed up Feb. 27 for the first day of track and field practice.
“We are really excited about the group this season. We have a lot of kids, which is great, but we also have kids who are excited about the season,” Head Coach Kevin John said.
To prepare for the upcoming season, the coaches have put together an Octathlon to expose runners to the different events offered.
“The Octathlon is mostly for fun, as it gives every kid a chance to do events they wouldn’t normally do. It brings the kids together, as they gain a greater amount of respect for the events that other teammates are doing,” John said. “It also gives us a chance to see if anybody on the team has a hidden talent that we may want to try to develop.”
Head Coach Kristen Witt’s expectations for the team are to be at practice everyday and for the athletes to give their best effort.
“My goals for the season would include to be able to instill a love of track and field for all athletes we have out there and perform well at the conference, district, sectional and state meets,” Witt said.
This year, the girls and boys track and field teams are combined at practices, and circuit workouts have been added as another way to condition the athletes.
“We always try to tweak a few things, but this year won’t have huge changes like last year did. We don’t have any new coaches, for example,” John said. “Hopefully this season will be an improved version of what we tried to do last season.”
Witt and John are both eager to see the season results.
“I’m really excited to have so many students out for Track and Field this year. I think we’re going to have a successful year and a lot of fun as well,” Witt said.
![Holding the disc, senior Nathan Thompson waits for an opportunity to pass to senior Timmy Fry. Parkway United’s ultimate frisbee team is made up of students from each of the four Parkway schools. “The one thing I really like about ultimate [frisbee] is the community because it’s so different from any other sport I've been a part of. [My] national teammates are people who we play against in the regular season, so we see each other all the time. It's always fun hanging out with [them],” Thompson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/C96A6823-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Josie Grunzinger watches the football game intently from the sidelines on Oct. 18. Grunzinger stood out to the crowd as the only girl on the football team, encouraging other girls who want to play football to take a chance and go for a sport outside of their comfort zone. “If you think you could [play football] and you want to do it, just try it, because all it takes is to actually try it out,” Grunzinger said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-1200x675.png)
![With her arms held high, junior Jenna Rickelman throws the ball across the pool during a girls water polo practice. With hours of practice after school and over the summer, Rickelman saw many improvements in her water polo skills. “When I look at [my] stats, I'm so much better than I was last year,” Rickelman said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-2-.png)
![Putting on his helmet, catcher and senior Tommy Eschbach prepares to get in his primary stance. Despite losing 6-1 against Eureka on April 16, Eschbach didn’t let the tough loss affect his playing or mental health. “It's [so] easy to get caught up in the sport and what you're doing that [after] one bad game or a stretch of games it is hard to remind yourself that your worth as a person isn't directly related to your performance on the field,” Eschbach said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0415-1-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Sports organizations have changed lives on and off the field, improving athletes’ muscle strength, reducing their risk of diseases and building energetic work capacity worldwide. However, many student-athletes struggle to balance schoolwork and athletic commitments, hoping to seek more understanding and support from their teachers and coaches. “To lessen mental strain student-athletes [face] and create a healthier, more comfortable lifestyle, there shouldn’t be any homework. I'm already [at school] for eight hours and [homework] creates a bigger load for student-athletes in AP or honors classes,” track and field sprinter and sophomore Lucy Penton said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0095-1-e1713883278514-1200x847.jpg)
![At the Spring Pep Rally on March 8, boys varsity water poloist and junior Jack Brau stands with the boys water polo team. The group, hoping to include everyone — whether boy or girl, varsity or JV — cheered on the girls water polo team during the sports team runouts. “Even though we all play separate games and have different practices, we like to see ourselves as one big group who represent one water polo [team],” Brau said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_8810-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Looking for an open teammate, freshman Patrick May passes the ball across the court at the Nov. 28 game against Parkway Central. May started in the game against the Colts. ”Growing up, [my parents] always gave me a basketball, [and] we had a basketball hoop outside. I grew up playing [all the time], playing on the [driveway] and shooting hoops with my dad.” May said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image2-1-1200x801.jpg)
Pam Heaton • Mar 23, 2017 at 6:59 pm
Well written and interesting story, Sarah!
Joyce Ulrich • Mar 22, 2017 at 12:19 pm
wow! 150 students taking part in track and field. i enjoyed reading your story and knowing about the season. it may be a good place to bring my grandsons on a pretty day.
Susan Lashly • Mar 21, 2017 at 6:00 pm
Great story, Sarah! I know you are having fun participating with your fellow “tracksters.”