AuGres-Sims Track & Field

Coach: Kevin Loga

2005 Record: Boys 3rd North Star League; Girls 6th NSL

Top returning athletes: Nick Garvie, sr., Middle Distance; Justin Kelly, sr., Long Jump, Middle Distance; Jacob Taylor, sr., Distance; Brandon Kelly, so., Long Jump, Middle Distance; David Garske, so., Long Jump, Sprints

2006 Outlook: The AuGres-Sims boys will build around five state qualifiers, including the long-jump trio of Kelly, Kelly and Garske, swept the top three in the NSL and qualified for the state finals together in that event. The Kelly brothers should make their mark in the middle distance events as well, with Taylor one of the league's top returning distance runners.

The girls team was in rebuilding mode last season, with almost entirely underclassmen on the team, and will still be young entering the 2006 season.

Hale Boys & Girls Track & Field

Coach: Bruce Reimer

2005 Record: Boys 2nd North Star League; Girls 2nd North Star League

Boys athletes: (Eight returning): Arthur Alem, so; Eldon Barclay, so.; Keith Dalrick, fr.; Matt Field, sr.; Josh Fifield, sr.; Tyler Fransee, sr.; Matthew Grant, sr.; Ryan Herzog, fr.; Tom Heydon, sr.; Luke Kaiser, jr.; Andy Katterman, sr.; Nick Katterman, fr.; Devin Leidecker, fr.; Shaun Myers, fr.; Ethan Parent, so.; Zach Putnam, so.; Wes Rhein, so.; Chad Skarbek, fr.

Girls athletes: (Six returning): Tarra Caverly, fr.; Shelby Fransee, so.; Liz Lerczak, fr.; Ashley Malin, so.; Kacey McKulsky, jr.; Danielle O'Dell, so.; Kathryn Parent, so.; Chrissy Runyan, so.; Shannon Self, sr.; Dana Sellinger, sr.; Lindsey Skarbek, sr.; Andrea Struble, jr.; Shanna VanHorn, so.

2006 Outlook: The boys team should again be in the running to unseat Fairview from the North Star League’s top spot.

“We have some decent throwers, sprinters and hurdlers, with some distance runners that will do well with some hard work and determination,” says Hale coach Bruce Reimer.

Matt Field placed in the NSL finals in both the shot put and discus, while Tom Heydon was just inches off of breaking into the state-qualifying trio from AuGres-Sims in the long jump. Curtis Barclay also earned a top-six finish in the league 3200 race as a freshman.

The girls team will try to follow up on last year’s surprising second-place finish. The top returner is Ashley Malin, who qualified for the state finals in the 1600. High jumpers Lindsey Skarbek and Dana Sellinger and long jumper / hurdler Shannon Self are among the other returners who performed well at the 2005 NSL meet.

“They should do well in some field events,” Reimer says. “We have a couple of young sprinters that will be able to fly with some more practice, and one or two long-distance runners who will do very well when healthy and in shape.”

Ogemaw Heights Boys Track & Field

Coach: Doug Grezeszak

2005 Record: 5-1 in NEMC duals, NEMC finals champion

Top returning athletes: Dan Morrison, sr., Long Jump (21-0), High Jump (6-0), Pole Vault (13-0), Hurdles; Joe Evans, sr., Discus (130's), Shot Put (45-0), Sprints; Pete VanOosten, so., 1600 (4:45), 800 (2:10); Bruce Vermillion, jr., Sprints, Pole Vault (12-0); Tim LeForce, so., 3200 (10:25); Bryan Williams, so., Sprints.

2006 Outlook: Young Falcons will take some time to grow, but Falcon coach Doug Grezeszak, in his 19th season at Ogemaw, hopes they'll be ready to challenge pre-season favorite John Glenn for the league title by mid-May.

"We have to progress a lot with our new young people to be a good team," he says. "If we look good it won't be until May 15."

Ogemaw has plenty to start with, including state finals qualifier Dan Morrison, who regularly tops 21 feet in the long jump, as well as topping 13-feet in the pole vault and six feet in the high jump. Thrower/sprinter Joe Evans, vaulter/sprinter Bruce Vermillion, sophomore middle distance runner Pete VanOosten and sophomore Tim LeForce and Bryan Williams will also be key building blocks.

With strength in the field and distance events, the Falcons will emphasize developing their sprints and hurdles, where they lost a lot of talent to graduation last year.

Ogemaw Heights Girls Track & Field

Coach: Rick Frank

2005 Record: 6-0 in NEMC duals, NEMC finals champion

Top returning athletes: Jessica Rutherford, sr., Discus (state champion), Shot Put; Sara Steinhurst, sr., Discus (state qualifier); Alanah Pietryga, sr., High Jump, Sprints, Middle Distance; Laura Budge, sr., Sprints, Long Jump; Catherine Laurion, sr., Sprints; Holly Mester, jr., Distance; Noelle Mester, jr., Distance; Chelsea LeForce, jr., Distance

2006 Outlook: The Falcons have the quality to defend their North East Michigan Conference title, but coach Rick Frank isn't ready to chalk up another trophy for his team just yet.

"Depth and numbers are lower than I would like," Frank says. "Lack of depth in some field events will be something we have to work to develop."

If depth will take time to build, there is no doubt there is strength at the top of the Ogemaw depth chart. The throwing events should be very strong, with state discus champion Jessica Rutherford and state qualifier Sara Steinhurst both returning in those events and the shot put.

The junior trio of Holly Mester, Noelle Mester and Chelsea LeForce gives the Falcons three potential state qualifiers in the distance events. Alanah Pietryga (high jump and some running events), Laura Budge (sprints and long jump) and Catherine Laurion (sprints) are other top returners.

"Our no.1 goal will be to defend the NEMC title," Frank says. "It will take hard work and dedication the entire season. Also, it will take the girls to be willing to try different or new events so we can be strong in all 17 events and leave no events terribly weak.

"Also we want to get athletes to the state meet and come home with more than one state medal. And we always want to work hard and improve event marks the entire season."

Oscoda Track & Field

Coach: Kim Courey

2005 Record: Boys 1-5 NEMC, 6th at finals; Girls 0-6 NEMC, 7th at finals

Top returning boys: Jeff Mertz, sr., hurdles; A.J. Gary, sr., hurdles; Justin Collier, sr., throws.

Top returning girls: Maggie Stalker, sr., hurdles; Hannah Businski, sr., sprints; Chrissy Brown, sr., throws; Heather Sweet, sr., throws.

2006 Outlook: The Owls hope to move up in the NEMC behind an influx of young athletes, particularly on the boys' side.

"One of our big problems has been with numbers," says Oscoda coach Kim Courey. "Our guys team had almost twice the turnout we had last year. We have a lot of freshmen, but it should be a better year for us."

The Owls have three senior boys returning, including hurdlers Jeff Mertz and A.J. Gary and thrower Justin Collier.

The girls boast reigning NEMC 300-meter hurdles champion Maggie Stalker, as well as returning senikors Hannah Businski in sprints and Chrissy Brown and Heather Sweet in the throwing events.

Tawas Area Boys Track & Field

Coach: Kevin Mielock

2005 Record: 5-1 in NEMC duals, 3rd at NEMC finals

Top returning athletes: Kyle Redd, sr., Throws; Tyler Bischoff, jr., Distance; Tim Warner, sr., Sprints; Kyle Whitford, sr., Throws; Thomas Domarese, so., Pole Vault; Tyler Klenow, so., Sprints, High Jump; Wayne Enzenberger, jr., Pole Vault, High Jump, Middle Distance; Evan St. Aubin, jr., Hurdles; Ky Barnes, jr., Throws.

2006 outlook: The Braves lost five of their top eight point-scorers from last season, but return a strong group of underclassmen that collectively were strong enough to win last year's Ogemaw 9/10 invitational.

"We have a hungry group of underclassmen who are eager to jump in and contribute," says Tawas coach Kevin Mielock. "Many of them have shown a lot of promise in practice."

The underclassmen will be looking to senior Kyle Redd, a two-time NEMC runner-up in discus, and junior captains Tyler Bischoff, Evan St. Aubin and Ky Barnes. Bischoff is one of the league's premier distance runners, while Barnes specialized in throws and St. Aubin in the hurdles.

Senior Tim Warner is a consistent top-three sprinter while junior Wayne Enzenberger handles pole vault, high jump and middle distance. Sophomores Thomas Domarese (pole vault) and Tyler Klenow (sprints, high jump) will also be expected to contribute.

"I don't know if we have anyone yet who can step up and win four events every night," Mielock says. "But using the team approach, hopefully we can tally enough points to win our share of meets.

"As always we're looking to have a strong season and challenge for the conference and regional titles. With a lot of hard work and a little luck, we ought to have a good chance of accomplishing those goals."

Tawas Area Girls Track & Field

Coach: Chris Lerczak

2005 Record: 3-3 in NEMC duals, 5th at NEMC finals

Returning athletes: Sarah Otto, sr.; Amanda Anderson, jr.; Kristen Brown, jr.; Amanda Kaiser, jr.; Quinn Knox, jr.; Krissy Simmons, jr.; Erica Lundy, jr.; Sandy Brandt, so.; Bethany Britt, so.; Brittany Combs, so.; Vanessa Landon, so.; Chelsea Schneider, so.

Newcomers: Emily Holton, sr.; Mallory Deyarmond, jr.; Katie Deyarmond, jr.; Hope Kolts, so.; Aston Cotter, so.; Chelsea Adamczak, fr.; Shelby Bonoit, fr.; Morgan Bolen, fr.; Sammy Duvall, fr.; Amy Johnson, fr.; Kelley Kosminder, fr.; Kayla Koenig, fr.; Hannah Kolts, fr.; Autumn Smith, fr.

2006 Outlook: Returning state qualifiers Sandy Brandt (1600) and Quinn Knox (discus) will lead a team that has only two seniors. Brandt, a sophomore, also is a two-time cross country state qualifier.

"After losing five meets last year by five points or less our young kids won the Ogemaw JV meet last year, so we are looking for some more breakout performances," says Tawas coach Chris Lerczak.

Lerczak is looking for big things from the sprinting trio of Krissy Simmons, Erica Lundy and Amanda Kaiser. But big losses to graduation in the field events may mean some changes in the way the Braves approach their meets.

"We usually try to win the meet before the running events start," Lerczak says. "This year we have a lot of new faces, so it is going to take a few meets."

Whittemore-Prescott Boys Track & Field

Coach: Jason Helms

2005 Record: 1-5 in NEMC duals; 5th place NEMC finals

Returning athletes: Tyler Dietzel, sr.,; Sean Siegrist, so.,; Jared Dietzel, jr.,; Hugh Jenkins, so.,; Jacob Bookie, jr.; Jacob Burleson, so.; Justin Dahn, so.; Jared Dietzel, jr., Kane Dietzel, so., Eugene Herriman, jr.; Mike Matthews, so.; Mark McBride, sr.; Kevin Prince, sr.; Anthony Torrez, sr.

New to varsity: John Bluemlein, sr.; Brian Clement, sr.; Spencer Dietzel, so.; Scott Garnett, fr.; Mark Hollars, jr.; Robert Johnstone, jr.; Brandon Kubik, so.; Roy Lash, so.; Bryandt Lomason, fr.; Joseph Payne, jr.; Dakota Popielarz, so.; Chancey Rattie, fr.; William Raushi, fr.; Joseph Rotarius, fr.; Eddie Schulte, sr.; Thadius Siegrist, fr.; Michael Torrez, so.

2006 Outlook: Cards took fifth overall at NEMC meet last year, but showed promise for the future with a second-place finish at Ogemaw's 9/10 meet. Those sophomores and juniors make up the bulk of the Cards' returners. W-P looks to be strongest in throwing events, especially Tyler Dietzel in the shot put, while middle distance runner Sean Siegrist and hurdler Hugh Jenkins showed promise late last season. Six freshmen and 10 other newcomers could make the Cards a wild card in the NEMC race.

Whittemore-Prescott Girls Track & Field

Coach: Sandy Schulte

2005 Record: 4-2 NEMC; 4th at NEMC finals

Returning athletes: Alisha Banks, jr.; Shayla Barlow, jr.; Katie Borushko, jr.; Sarah Clement, so.; Annie Collard, sr.; Catherine Daniels, jr.; Rachel Jordan, sr.; Brittnie Lomason, sr.; Heather Ostrander, so.; Heather Popielarz, jr.; Alyssa Quintanilla, so.; Torie Vollmer, jr.

New to varsity: Stephanie Aviles, jr.; Deanna Chapel, fr.; Kayla Cicalo, so.; Erin Grezeszak, sr.; Jessica Hamacher, so.; Brandy Howell, fr.; Ashley Lowell, so.; Willow McLaren, so.; Emily Mead, so.; Rachel Pokorny, fr.; Robin Sievers, jr.

2006 Outlook: The Cardinals surprised a few people by finishing fourth in their return to the NEMC last year. The good news for W-P is that of their nine top-eight finishes at the NEMC finals (not including relays), seven athletes return to those events.

Seniors Rachel Jordan (sprints) and Brittnie Lomason (hurdles) and juniors Catherine Daniels (shot put and discus), Katie Borushko (3200) and Heather Popielarz (hurdles) all were league medalists and should provide strength in those events. Lomason also competes in the long jump. Popielarz and Jordan also were part of the 4x200 relay team (with Shayla Barlow, also returning) and 4x100 (with returner Annie Collard) that finished third and second at the league meet.