Waukon boys track team returns 10 letterwinners for 2023 campaign
2023 Waukon boys track team ... Left to right - Front row: Jared Snitker, Owen Grimstad, Kelby Cahalan, Isaac Johanningmeier, Zach Perkins, Colton O’Neill, Brayden Engrav, Jacob Jones, Draemon Berger, Micheal Duncklee, Keagan Palmer, Noah Evans, Jeremiah Howe, Cody Dunham, John Marti, Conner Stilwell; Second row: Ryland Egan, Isaac Reisinger, Kaeden Sullivan, Graine Curtin, Pryson Rasmussen, Preston Dietrich, Ethan Baker, Carson Hager, Judah Johnson, Garrison Byrnes, Jaxon Brinkman, Talon Hutchens, Max Jones, McKinley Rostvold, Brandon Teslow, Damon Berger; Third row: Ethan Gibbs, Jack O’Neill, Ethan Kelly, Shawn Martin, Kole McCormick, Dylan Flack, Brody Berns, Jacob Courtney, Isaac Ericson, Wyatt Gulla, Skyler Dugan; Back row: Nathan O’Neill, Nate Keenan, Josh Keenan, Josh Reichard, James VanderVelden, Brock Bockman, Nick Park, Cael Rethwisch, Tyler Jones. Not pictured: Ethyn King-Marshall, Connor Cahoon, Drake Hankes, Mason McKee, Brandon Leppert, Joey Courtney, Eden Aguilar.
2023 Waukon boys track returning letterwinners ... Left to right - Front row: Isaac Reisinger, Nate Keenan, James VanderVelden, Graine Curtin, Ethan Gibbs; Back row: Nathan O’Neill, Jack O’Neill, Josh Keenan, Brody Berns, Skyler Dugan.
A total of 10 letterwinners return for the Waukon boys track team for its 2023 season, with those veteran returnees coming from all grade eligible grade levels to help headline this spring’s squad of 59 young men reporting for early-season duty. The experience that a trio those veterans brings back with them comes at the ultimate level of competition, the State Track Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.
Four of those returning veterans come from this year’s senior class, including those three State Meet competitors. Nathan O’Neill brings two consecutive years of competing in that season grand finale in individual distance races, and he also joined fellow seniors Nate Keenan and Josh Keenan in competing in the 4x800 at last spring’s State Meet as well. James VanderVelden rounds out that list of senior returning letterwinners.
The remaining veteran-eligible returning classes each have a trio of letterwinning veterans, including juniors Brody Berns, Skyler Dugan and Jack O’Neill. Sophomores Graine Curtin, Ethan Gibbs and Isaac Reisinger round out this season’s list of letterwinning returnees.
In addition to those returning varsity veterans, this season’s squad has a number of other proven athletes who will be looked to for making similar contributions on the track or in field events. “We have a lot of guys who have contributed at the varsity level in one sport or another,” Waukon boys track coach Ted Snitker said. “We would like those guys to bring their experience to help our young athletes develop and mature as competitors.”
The Indians were scheduled to get their team competition season underway Tuesday, March 21 at the Northeast Iowa Conference Indoor Meet at Luther College in Decorah. The Waukon boys will then begin their outdoor schedule at the Sumner-Fredericksburg Invitational Tuesday, March 28 before the track Tribe will host its own Early Bird Invitational Thursday, March 30.
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