Another northeast Nebraska high school girls and boys track & field program will be gearing up for their season starting with indoor competition before taking part in their regular outdoor schedule.
With 12 girls and 14 boys, Winside numbers are down but effort has been outstanding.
Mark Tonnigeshas been coaching track & field for over 30 years and will be entering his 19th season leading Winside. He said the staff is very pleased.
“We have meetings after every practice and we’re really appreciative of this group,” said Tonniges. “They may be small in numbers but for working out and for listening, for doing, we are really pleased for their output; what they’ve given us this year.”
The Wildcats will be mainly made up of freshmen and sophomores.
Assistant coaches include Austin Buss, Angela Peck, Jeff Kollath along with a volunteer assistant Chuck Peters.
Just two seniors will make up Winside track & field being Lily Umbarger for the girls and Cameron Bilstein for the boys. Bilstein was injured during the football season and is going through physical therapy with plans to return this spring.
Top returners are junior Caleb Offner for the boys who earned a Class D state medal in discus (eighth) and made the finals for shot put (ninth) last year.
Sophomores Ellie Topp and Hadleigh Schutt (throws), sophomore Katelyn Jaeger (distance), freshman Bridget Marotz were highlighted for the girls.
Coach Tonniges added he’s going to enjoy seeing Winside compete along with other members of the Lewis & Clark Conference with some long-time coaches and friends retiring.
“We’re talking Osmond with this year Joe Ortmeier is going to be retiring after this year; an outstanding coach,” Tonniges added. “Then also Greg Conn out of Wausa who has done an excellent job over the years, he’s retiring.”
Winside track & field will open their season on Friday, March 21 at 9 a.m. during the Concordia Indoor Invite in Seward where a few different teams will join with Winside. This will be second of four meets hosted at Concordia University.
The coaching staff continues to work with the team to improve technique in running and conditioning.
“A lot of people think well you can just go out and compete but basically there’s a little bit different conditioning,” Tonniges mentioned. “Compared to volleyball, football, basketball, it’s slightly different. It’s one of the finer things that we can promote of getting them ready for other sports; multi-sport athletes.”
The outdoor season for the Wildcats will follow during a triangular at Wisner-Pilger with Howells-Dodge on Thursday, March 27.
