HIGH SCHOOL

Gibsonburg boys and girls track previews

Jeremy Bickelhaupt

Gibsonburg’s girls track and field team wants to win the Toledo Area Athletic Conference title this year after finishing second a year ago. That, however, might all hinge on the strength of its sprinters.

As juniors, twins Colleen and Kendall Reynolds raced all the way to the state finals. Colleen finished fourth in the 400 and Kendall was sixth in the 100.

Colleen’s 2014 accomplishments also include a first-place finish in the 400 at regional. Kendall took second at the regional in the 100.

“The team’s strength should come from the sprinting events with the return of the Reynolds twins and regional qualifiers Selena Alejandro and Isabel Del Toro,” Gibsonburg coach Glenn Owens said.

Alejandro and Del Toro qualified for regional in the 1,600 and 800 relays. Other regional qualifiers include Taylor Weickert (800 relay), Annie Castillo (long jump), Mikayla Druckenmiller (3,200 relay), Jasmine Stein (3,200 relay), Abbey Castillo (shot put) and Hannah Ernsthausen (high jump).

Owens — now in his sixth season — also believes Gibsonburg can be competitive in the distance events despite losing Molly Burkett to graduation.

“Molly was the fourth-leading point-scorer and tops among the distance runners,” Owens said.

The Golden Bears’ coaches expect Druckenmiller, Stein and newcomer Johanna Ehrenhard to fill the void left by Burkett.

The boys team will seek its second straight TAAC title, after last year’s conference championship, it’s first.

Gibsonburg will have to overcome the loss of graduates Andy Burmeister and Alex Garcia. Both were TAAC champs in the 800 relay. Burmeister also was a champion long jumper.

“A difference-maker for us this season will be the person that steps up in the sprinting events to replace the success of (Burmeister and Garcia),” Owens said.

The Golden Bears’ strength will come from seniors Tyler Hovis and Jacob Kiser and juniors Marcus Tille and Josh Dyer. Hovis qualified for state in shot put, while Kiser was conference champion in the high jump. Tille was TAAC champion in both the 1,600 and 3,200 and Dyer, along with Erik Jahna, was conference champion in the 800 relay.

According to Owens, the outlook on his throwers looks good. Hovis will lead a group of promising underclassmen, which includes his brother Trent Hovis.

“Trent has improved a lot from last season,” Owens said. “He has already thrown the shot put during the indoor season over eight feet farther than his best throw last season.”

There are several key newcomers on the team as well. Julian Arriaga, a senior, will throw discus and shot, as will freshman Alex Dix and Austin Dix. Nathan Shammo and Camden Sondergeld — also freshmen — will shore up the mid-distance events, while fellow frosh Dylan Biddle will run the long-distance races. Sondergeld is also expected to help returning junior Wes Campbell lead the pole vaulters this season.

As it stands now, Owens sees Toledo Christian as this year’s favorites to win the TAAC. If Gibsonburg can adequately fill the vacancies left by graduation, however, their chances of winning a second consecutive conference title look good.