The Centerburg track and field teams are looking forward to a big season with a group that has almost doubled in size for both the boys and girls.
“Our coaching staff is very confident this will be a breakout year for our program,” said Coach Noah Menuez. “Any time a team grows as quickly as ours did, coaches are going to be excited. We have a lot of athletes returning that have proven they can compete at a high level and our newcomers are eager to learn the sport and compete.”
Last year’s team was very small and they had a lot of events that couldn’t be filled, leading to the, giving up some points at meets. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams placed sixth at the KMAC Championship and are looking to place much higher this spring.
There are several seniors to look out for this year, who have had strong careers at Centerburg. Mason Turske is the returning KMAC champion in the 100 meter dash, and was first team All-KMAC. He should be in line for another strong spring with another year of running experience for the Trojans. The team has Greg Beard, Nathan Dickhof and Alex Riegel, who were on the regional qualifying team and state qualifying 4x800 meters. Chase Netting will also be on the 4x800 meter team.
“Our seniors are Greg Beard, Mason Turske, Nathan Dickhof, Alex Riegel, Chase Netting and Camden Runyon,” Menuez said. “We do have two senior girls this year who are out for the first time, Breana Ball and Margo Lermuseau. Both are valuable additions to the team.”
Sophomore Nazthaniel Caudill will be throwing shot put and discus, and Menuez said he is a serious competitor who barely missed the regional tournament last year. Maren Mead is the returning KMAC runner up in the 100 meter dash, and second team all-conference, and has also improved from last season.
For the girls, juniors Olivia Griffith and Allison Moore return for springs, and Menuez said they have shown big improvements over last year. Sophomore Evie Stowe will be throwing shotput and discus.
“Our team's greatest strength is that our athletes have a very competitive mindset and are able to race well and place high in most of their events,” Menuez said. “Our greatest weakness is that we have very few 100, 110 or 300m hurdlers, and we do not have pole vault so there are points that we just can't get at meets.”
Menuez noted that there are a few meets this year that should be good indicators on how the teams will perform in the postseason. They will be competing at Newark Catholic on May 2, where thee will be several schools they are racing against in the district championship meet. The Loudonville Invitational on April 13 is another to watch out for, as there will be several solid teams that they have not been up against before.
This is the fourth year coaching for Menuez, all at Centerburg, and his third as head coach for the boys’ and girls’ teams.
“Our coaching staff emphasizes teaching athletes how to do an event as correctly as possible,” Menuez said. “There is definitely a learning curve for athletes, especially in field events, where they can initially throw or jump farther with bad form and poor technique, but in the long run they are limited. Teaching kids how to throw, jump and run properly increases their potential later in their career.”
High School Boys Roster
Blane Ball
Jackson Ballinger
Greg Beard
Logan Brison
Grayson Caudill
Nathaniel Caudill
Cruz Clayton
Andy Cornejo
Nathan Costa
Andrew Dickhof
Nathan Dickhof
Vincent Gallo
Walter Greene
Trevin Harris
Jake Hayden
Ethan Jackson
Jaydon Joiner
Caylan Lemaster
Miles Marshall
Maren Mead
Skyler Merklin
Avery Murray
Carter Netting
Chase Netting
Pasquale Pizzuti
Lincoln Plagge
Brady Retherford
Carter Rhodebeck
Alex Riegel
Cameron Riley
Camden Runyon
Thomas Schaller
Dylan Tiffany
Mason Turske
Levi Wolford
Eddie Ocker
Girls Roster:
Breana Ball
Gwennan Ellis
Audrey Garner
Olivia Griffith
Claire Hill
Margo Lermuseau
Alli Marcinko
Allison Moore
Meredith Nash
Grace Neighborgall
Mckenzie Nelson
Madelynn Richardson
Tiara Sheppard
Evie Stowe
Payton Tucker
Alli Wilhelm
