By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
If the Waterford High track and field teams developed a mission statement for this season, it would focus on continued improvement.
Improvement is the vital cog for coach Jerry Glisch’s Wolverines, who are attempting to mix a young core of athletes with a group of talented veterans.
So far, the results have been encouraging.
“Our indoor season has been productive,” Glisch said. “With the young group we’ve got, those early season reps have been really important. As we approach the outdoor season, we’ve gotten some good experience under our belt.”
The Wolverines will face the tough task of trying to repeat the individual successes of the 2013 team that included seven state qualifiers. On the girls side, senior Valerie Knurr leads the way after earn a trip to state in the 400-meter relay.
“Valerie is just a great athlete who is looking to leave her mark,” Glisch said. “As a state qualifier in the 400 meter relay last year, she brings championship experience to a young girls team.”
Alongside Knurr are juniors Hannah Zimmerman and Samantha Dziak, who also ran on the 400-meter relay team. Knurr, Zimmerman, and Dziak were also named first-team all county.
Sophomore Lauren Dziak also returns to the team after earning second team all county honors in the pole vault last season. Lauren Dziak was also a WIAA Sectional qualifier in the 3200 relay last season. Freshman Alex Modrak is already making her mark on the team in the 55-meter dash and high jump.
“We’ve got some talented returning performers on the girls side and some young upcoming performers as well,” Glisch said.
On the boys side, junior Trent Rudeback has enjoyed a successful start to the season.
“Trent is definitely one of our up-and-comers,” Glisch said. “His indoor timers are looking really strong and he’s poised to make a statement in the conference this season.”
Senior Alek Henderson is leading the way for the Wolverines in the shot put.
“Alek is going to be a guy we lean on in the throws,” Glisch said. “He’s already had a personal record this season in the shot and is looking to build on that.”
Rudebeck and Henderson lead a strong group of upperclassmen that have impressed Glisch.
“Some of our upperclassmen have stepped up this year to help our young kids,” Glisch said. “We have a number of juniors and seniors who are doing a really nice job with that so far.”
Other upperclassmen include a talented group of juniors, including Nick Wollmer in the triple jump and 400 dash, Collin Chart in the high jump and 55 hurdles, and Mark Schneider and Alex Fisher in the 1600 and 3200 relay teams.
Glisch is looking for both the girls and boys teams to put it together for the outdoor season.
“We’re looking to continue building our groups as we move forward this season, which we want to be a season of growth and improvement,” Glisch said. “We are focusing a lot on the concept of continual improvement – improving every time we step on the track.”
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