Bobcats take to the track

The 2016 Hot Springs County High School Track season is underway, with the Bobcats having competed in their first meet, the Yellowstone Sports Medicine Invite at Cody, March 19.

Returning to the track this year for the girls are 2015 letter winners: senior Zoe Stehlin, juniors Maggie Ryan, Makayla George, Jules Ward and Kaili Johansen and sophomore Haley McDermott.

Joining their fellow Bobcats are juniors Elizabeth Rhodes, Stacy Lewis and Chandra Maddock and sophomore Josie Thurgood, rounding out the 10-person team.

Returning letterers for the boys include seniors Tyler Cornwell, Domanic Jensen, Cody Bjorhus and Jacob Hart, and sophomore Cullen Becher.

Hart and Jensen, along with Ryan Bradshaw and Choc Maddock, broke the 2014 4x400 relay record last year, setting a new time to beat at 3:29.99

Making up the rest of the 19-person team are seniors JD Phillips and Cameron Igou, juniors Alex Jensen, Trey Davis, Brant Turner and Brock Tillack, sophomores Logan Meier and Jared Little, and freshmen Ethan Becher, Chandler Maddock, Kolby George, Ryan Slagle, Justin Kaitchuck and Aaron Hason.

Igou had the most personal records in 2015 for the boys team with eight, and Stehlin had the most for the girls with 10.

Coach Ernie Mecca said he is excited about the season, with 29 students competing. There are several returning letterers, he noted, as well as some potential champions.

The boys, Mecca said, “have the nucleus of their team,” with a core group of seniors including Hart, Cornwell, Bjorhus and Jensen. Mecca noted these four were a part of the 2014 State Championship team. Igou and Phillips, he said, also have the potential to qualify for State and score in their events.

As for the girls, Mecca noted Stehlin’s scoring in her events at state last year, and Ward’s being a state champion in the 3,200-meter. Ward also set the high school record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:94.84. Mecca further spoke to the potential of the team, adding, “all 10 of the girls should qualify for state and score.”

The team’s schedule is as follows:

Saturday, April 2: Jerry Campbell Invite at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Thursday, April 7: D & D Invite at Worland, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 9: L.A.K Invite at Powell, 9 a.m.

Saturday, April 16: Roy Peck Invite at Riverton, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, April 19: Riverton Twilight, 2 p.m.

Friday, April 29: Wyoming Track Classic at Casper, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 30: Kelly Walsh Invite at Casper, 9 a.m.

Friday, May 6: Bobcat Invite at Thermopolis, 1 p.m.

Friday, May 13-Saturday, May 14: Regional Championships at Lander

Thursday, May 19-Saturday, May 21: State Championships at Casper