Blue Devil Winter Track
Looks to Reload
There’s been a shuffling of the deck for the boys’ winter track team at Huntington High School as head coach Ron Wilson has many spots to fill in a line-up hit hard by graduation.
The Blue Devils finished second in the league championships last year but “lost quite a few decent seniors who covered a number of events,” Wilson said. Among the integral team members that have moved on are jumpers Josh Daves and Jacob Gayle, who are both now running at SUNY College at Cortland, distance runner Brian Cotter, who is at Quinnipiac Univ. and shot put throwers Brian Ruggiero and Joe Brown, who are at Tufts Univ. and SUNY Maritime College, respectively. Wilson said that losing the group was “huge.”
But, the coach is never one to hang his head, especially since so many talented athletes are back, including sensational sophomore Tyriek Johnson. “He was a county and league finalist in both the hurdles and the 4 x 200m relay team,” gushed Wilson. “He should definitely improve this season in the hurdles and the long jump. He's an outstanding athlete that couldn't wait until the winter season started.”
Senior Luis Lopez was also part of that same relay team. Lopez also placed in the triple jump during the league championship last year. It was his first time participating in track and Wilson expects the year of experience to pay dividends this winter.
Throwers Dante Allen (junior), Ricardo Caballero (senior), Richard Fernandez (junior), Louie Contino (junior), and sophomores Conor Reilly and Trayvon Toney all return with some experience from last year. Reilly placed second in the freshmen championship last year with a throw of 34'6.
Distance runner Brad Dwyer has been sidelined due to an injury he sustained during the football season but he's expected to make a full recovery and be ready for action toward the end of December. Another distance runner hopeful is Ryan Ackerman, who is still shaking off an injury he suffered during the fall cross country campaign.
“There are a couple of new faces this year on the track team that we are hoping to benefit from,” Wilson said. Sophomore Tyre Brown switched from basketball to track. “He should help us in the short sprints and jumps.” Wilson said. “He's a phenomenal athlete with unlimited potential. If he dedicates himself to the work-outs, he can be a top sprinter in our league, possibly the county.”
Junior Damon Dash is another newcomer who decided to pick up a pair of spikes to wear on the track. “He's another speedy kid that can do well if he dedicates himself to the work-outs that we have in store for him,” Wilson said.
Eighth grader Tyler Wolfe is expected to be among the top newcomers and has the potential to make an immediate impact. “He did an outstanding job on the cross country team,” Wilson said. “He is definitely going to be one to watch in the upcoming years.”
Sophomore Dan Plant, who was sidelined from the football team as a result of an injury he suffered last spring, has signed onto the shot put and sprint units. Juniors Matt Poellnitz and Stephan Dietrich are first time starters that will also make some noise for this young and inexperienced, yet athletic team.
Wilson will be assisted by Gary Powder, who volunteered last winter with Huntington’s superb 4 x 100m relay team, which set a new FAT school record of 43.3 seconds.
Just how much this team can accomplish is anyone’s guess right now. But, Wilson has shown the ability to get the most out of the athletes he coaches and no one expects this year to be any different.
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