MHS Track Season Starts
Milbank Area Track and Field March 21, 2016 Staff Writer 0
The Milbank High School track and field team kicked off its 2016 season with their first practice Monday, March 14. Eric Townsend heads into his sixth season as the Bulldog’s head coach. He will be assisted by Lane Lindquist (throws), Joe Frederiksen (jumps), and Ryan Conrad (sprints). Volunteer coaches are Amy Thue (hurdles) and Christine Townsend (throws). Coaches for the middle school athletes are Jeremy Tostenson (boys) and Melissa Bastian (girls.)
“We have a large group of letter winners returning for the season,” said Townsend. Back to lead the program, are seniors Nolan Foss, Dylan Johnson, Kyle Montag, and Morgan Schmitt; juniors Jake Anderson, Nate Bien, Caden Bjordahl, Cody Dockter, Tanner Gauer, Kody Johnson, Caden Wollschlager, Riley Wollschlager, and Mackayla Schuelke; sophomores Derrick Aho, Jonny Ash, Tanner Bock, Cole Dockter, Elias Magilke, Shea Hooth, Christina Lusk, Molly Rick, Sophia Seffrood, and Katie VanderWal; freshmen Jake Karges, Gabbie Cummins, Elisabeth Schwenn, Taylor Thue, and Kimberly Van Sambeek; and eighth grader Danica Schulte. Other seniors, looking to add depth to the team, are Josh Pillatzki, Dallas Seezs, Cara Berkner, Shauna Pauli, and Mikayla Street.
Team goals for this season are similar to previous seasons, according to coach Townsend. “We hope to peak at the end of the season and run, throw, or jump our best by that point. We want to qualify as many athletes for the state meet as possible.”
The boys team finished fifth at the Northeast Conference meet and second at the region meet last year while the girls team took fifth place at both meets. “We want to improve on those marks and score as many points as possible at the state meet,” explained Townsend.
Milbank has not participated in the Howard Wood Relays for the past couple of seasons, but plans are being made to send a group of athletes this year. Townsend feels Aberdeen Roncalli will be the team to beat this year. “They traditionally have a strong program. Groton and Webster also field a strong track team.”
The Bulldogs will wrap up their season with the State Class A meet slated for Friday and Saturday, May 27-28. Prelims will take place in Madison with finals for all three classes together in Sioux Falls.
Following is the complete schedule for the 2016 season:
| Date | Time | Event | Location |
| 04/05/16 | 3:30 p.m. | Whetstone Invitational | Milbank |
| 04/12/16 | 3:30 p.m. | Milbank SDNG Invitational | Milbank |
| 04/19/16 | 3:00 p.m. | Deuel Kiwanis Invitational | Clear Lake |
| 04/26/16 | 12 p.m. | Groton Kiwanis Invitational | Groton |
| 04/29/16 | 1 p.m. | Sisseton Legion Relays | Sisseton |
| 05/03/16 | 3 p.m. | Milbank Valley Queen Cheese Invitational | Milbank |
| 05/06/16 | 5:30 p.m. | Redmen Twi-Light Invitational | Sisseton |
| 05/06/16 | TBD | Howard Wood Relays | Sioux Falls |
| 05/07/16 | TBD | Howard Wood Relays | Sioux Falls |
| 05/13/16 | 11 a.m. | Northeast Conference Meet | Redfield |
| 05/19/16 | 12 p.m. | Region 1A Meet | Groton |
| 05/27/16 | TBD | State Class A Meet – Prelims | Madison |
| 05/28/16 | TBD | State Class A Meet – Finals | Sioux Falls |
Staff Writer
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