2007 Season: 5th place NEMC

Coach: Jeff Erickson

Returning athletes: Cody Anderson, sr.; Sean Siegrist, sr.; Kane Dietzel, sr.; Jake Burleson, sr.; Spencer Dietzel, sr.; Brandon Kubik, sr.; Dakota Popielarz, sr.; Justin Dahn, sr.; John Blair, sr.; Mike Matthews, sr.; B.J. Lomason, jr.; Matt Ackerman, jr.; Billy Raushi, jr.; Scott Garnett, jr.; Tad Siegrist, jr.; Kyle Koch, so.; Patrick Karash, so.; John McLaren, so.

Outlook: The Cardinals' post-season outlook improved considerably during the off-season when they learned that they will compete at the Division 4 level, rather than in a loaded Division 3 region that was one of the state's toughest. Shot putter Kane Dietzel was W-P's lone state finals qualifier last year, but that could easily change in the Cards' new region, where they could compete for a team title if things go right.

W-P finished fifth out of seven teams at in the NEMC last year; the problem was depth, not quality at the top, where in many events the Cards match up just fine.

Dietzel is the reigning NEMC champion in the discus and took third in the shot; sprinter/jumper Billy Raushi edged Standish-Sterling's Austin Collier for the league high jump title and Tawas Area's Jeff Janis for the long jump and was part of the league champion 4x400 relay team.

The Cards also figure to get a big boost from senior Sean Siegrist, who showed he could compete at any distance from the 100 to 1600-yard runs but was particularly effective in the 200 and 400.

Along with Siegrist and Raushi, sprinters Matt Ackerman and first-time sophomore Chris Downes should give the Cards plenty of options in the short events, as well as a set of dangerous relay squads that should push toward the top of the NEMC.

Overall 18 of the 33 Cardinals were on the squad a year ago, while eight freshman join with seven other newcomers to give W-P a shot at improving their league standing and raking in more individual honors than a season ago.