Superior Bobcats feature mix of experience and youth
Senior Lady Bobcats shot putter Eddy Betts, show here during the District tourney in Missoula last year, is one of a solid core of returnees to this year's Superior track team. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
The theme remains the same for spring sports at Superior High School: a good group of experienced athletes with another year under their belts, and a promising core of underclassmen eager for their chance to shine.
Such is the pleasant conundrum facing head Track and Field coach Logan Labbe as the Bobcats and Lady Bobcats prepare for the 2024 season to begin.
A steady group of athletes returns for their senior year, all of whom were state championship competitors last spring.
The promising group includes school pole vault record holder Lucas Kovalsky, who has his sights set on 14 feet and beyond this season after shattering the old school record last year.
Kovalsky also runs both relays for the Cats, who appear to be solid in the sprints, relays and throwing events. Kovlasky is joined in the pole vault event by freshman Gannon Quinlan, a rapidly blossoming athlete in several sports including football and basketball. In addition to pole vault, Quinlan is a candidate for the relays with his sprinting abilities.
Senior Jaxson Green, who qualified for the state championships last year in the shot put and discus, is back for another go, as is senior Jason Merrill (javelin, shot put, discus), and Wathen Reese, a solid competitor in the javelin event.
Sophomore Tristan Avila is an up-and-comer in the sprint events for the Bobcats, while freshman Landon Richards, a 6-5 basketball standout, gives the team points potential in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Gone from the boys line-up is now graduated Decker Milender, while the girls are without sprint star Isabella Pereiara (who signed a track scholarship with Whitworth College and Payton Milender, a multiple event contributor last season.
The Lady Cats also bring back some good experience and a talented group, topped by senior hurdler Alysha Ryan, and middle distance standout Braelynn Mangood. Both athletes were state level qualifiers last year, with Mangold running the 400 and 800 meter races, relays, and both the long and triple jump events. Also back for the Lady Cats is Mariysa Swope (javelin and high jump), and Eddy Betts, shot put.
The mix is fine with Labbe.
“Lots of young talent,” he said. “And we have some great senior leadership”.
Labbe said building a cohesive team out of the 34 athletes who came out for track is an attribute the coaching staff would like to build on.
“Continuing to build on our positive team culture,” he cited as a goal to improve on. “We have 34 athletes out this year and we are excited to see what this team can achieve. Believing that with a team-first mentality, hard work and dedication, post-season team and individual championships are not out of reach”.
The boys and girls open the 2024 season this Friday at the Blue Devil Invitational in Corvallis.